As the death toll from China's earthquake continues to rise, some Web users wonder about the consequences for the Beijing Olympics, while others ask just how much the authorities knew prior to the disaster.

A US court sentenced spammers Sanford Wallace and Walter Rines to pay a 230-million-dollar fine to MySpace, after the two were accused of sending 725,000 emails to site users, some with links to adult material.

NATO is launching a cyber defence training centre in the Estonian capital Tallinn, aimed at fending off the kind of cyber attacks that forced the temporary closure of government websites in Estonia last year.

The US is adding the polar bear to its list of threatened species due to the progressive melting of the Arctic, though critics say Washington is offering a gift to oil companies and short shrift to the polar bear. (Story: N. Rushworth)

French archaeologists have found what is thought to be the oldest existing statue of Julius Caesar in southern France. The bust is believed to be the sole portrait made during his life.

NASA has reported that the Phoenix probe should land on Mars on May 25th, as planned, after a nine-month-trip. The probe's mission is to dig for signs of life in the soil and ice in the arctic region of the planet.

Barcelona has ordered 63 shipments per month of water to supply its population. Persistent drought has forced Spain's second city to use this last resort solution never tried before at this scale. 6.3 million people live in Barcelona.

The French Assembly has rejected a law proposed by the government on genetically modified crops. PM François Fillon has appointed a commission of deputies to find a consensus and put the proposal back on the table. (Analysis: D. Crossan)

The personal information - such as phone numbers, postal address and social background - of six million people in Chile could be found on the internet after a hacker succeeded in breaking into government sites.

A thick cloud of ash hangs over the horizon a week after the Chaiten volcano erupted in southern Chile, spewing ash as far as Argentina. Authorities are struggling to evacuate the area, as many cling to their homes. (Story: S.Sissmann, T.Grucza)

US software giant Microsoft filed an application to the European Court of First Instance to annul a record 899-million-euro fine handed down by the European Commission for using high prices to discourage competition.

Having reached 16% of Brazil's total energy output in 2007, sugarcane biofuel has overtaken hydroelectric power as the country's second energy source, according to an annual official study released Thursday.

In a major bet on WiMax wireless Internet, Sprint Nextel and Clearwire said Wednesday they would combine their networks into a new company with investment from Google, Intel and others.

For the first time, the platypus genome has been decoded showing this unique animal is a potpourri of bird, reptile and mammal. Researchers say it is a 'ticket back in time' to help understand how humans and other mammals first evolved.

The second test satellite of European navigation system Galileo successfully sent its first signal to Earth with an accuracy never reached before. The first four operational satellites will be sent in 2010.

Within three years, half of Borneo's orangutans may disappear due to expansion of palm oil plantations. If Indonesia is the main world palm oil producer, Borneo, with Sumatra, is the last living place for wild orangutans.

The 12th edition of the Webby awards honoured Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am for his popular video supporting presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The clip, titled 'Yes we can', was viewed 17 million times.

The French National Centre for Scientific Research claims scientists have developed a powder that can capture twice as much carbon dioxide as current powders. It may help reduce global warming caused by road traffic.