-- Taiwan residents who fail to recycle mobile phones or optical discs, including CDs and DVDs, face fines of up to $6,000 New Taiwan dollars (US$184) under a law that went into effect last week. An official at Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration said the idea to fine violators was hatched after a trial run of residential recycling in three major cities.

Global fact

771.1M: Number of cellular connections in the Asia-Pacific region (including Japan) in last year's third quarter, up 5 percent from the Q2 level.

Source: Gartner Inc.