Apple fans queued in Asia, Europe and North America on Friday for the new iPhone 5, which appeared set to break sales records despite lukewarm reviews and complaints about its mapping system.
Apple's iPhone 5 is one of the biggest product launches ever in the sector, and may also deliver a well-timed stimulus to the US economy ahead of the presidential election, analysts say.
Apple delivered its new iPhones on Friday in a global launch marked by long queues at its retail stores but also frustration over the sellout of some models.
The iPhone will be front and center at Apple's upcoming media presentation even as the California tech giant steps up its efforts in content and services for its devices.
US online retail giant eBay unveiled plans Tuesday to spin off PayPal, aiming to help the unit compete better in the fast-moving online payments segment.
EBay ended its troubled marriage with Skype on Tuesday, agreeing to sell a majority stake to a group of investors in a deal that values the Web communications service at 2.75 billion dollars.
Several thousand angry villagers in southern China clashed with police during protests over local land requisitions and village elections, police and reports said Thursday.
Chinese special forces and Tajik troops are preparing for anti-terrorist exercises due to take place next week in the mountains of the ex-Soviet state, the Tajik defence ministry told AFP Thursday.
China denied reports Thursday that reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il was preparing to visit Beijing and reiterated that it was not considering amending a mutual defense treaty with Pyongyang.
Air France-KLM chairman and chief executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said Thursday he was mulling greater cooperation with China-based airlines in a bid to add more routes to key mainland cities.
China said Thursday that newly announced rules for foreign media which drew criticism would not affect their ability to report on the country.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday the social network giant is focused on mobile devices and should be seen as a smart bet despite a "disappointing" stock market debut.
Facebook said Tuesday it has finalized its charter for its "independent oversight board," giving the panel the authority to overrule chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on questions of appropriate content.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg met Thursday with US President Donald Trump and members of Congress on a political reconnaissance mission to Washington, where he rejected calls to break up the world's biggest social network.
Opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume and award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin'ono were granted bail on Wednesday at their fourth attempt after being detained in July for calling for protests.
After food, fuel, medicine and electricity, the Zimbabwean capital Harare is adding running water to its list of basics that are in short supply.
