China ends Google block

Chinese authorities appear to have lifted their block on Google.

Users in Shanghai and Beijing report the site is available for the first time since the beginning of the month.

Previously those trying to reach the site found themselves rerouted to search engines run by private Chinese companies.

There has been no official explanation for the ban or its lifting, but analysts believe pressure from businesses could be the reason.

The site is widely used because it has a powerful feature for finding Chinese-language material online.

Rival US search engine AltaVista remains blocked, though users are no longer being rerouted to Chinese sites.