1Topix World Best News

Sony and Sony Ericsson have come out on top of the latest Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, although most companies saw their scores drop due to a new ranking system based on wider criteria.

While many look forward to a fresh season, those with allergies may approach springtime with caution and Kleenex. And they might suffer even more because of their location.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released its annual list of the Top 100 most challenging places to live with spring allergies for 2008 last week. The AAFA used pollen counts and medication utilization data from last year and the number of board-certified allergists per patient in an area to rank the 100 largest cities in the country.

A nude photograph of France's first lady, Carla Bruni, has been auctioned for $91,000 (£46,098) - more than 20 times the expected price.
The image was taken by photographer Michel Comte in 1993, when Ms Bruni was a highly sought-after model.
The picture was bought by an anonymous bidder on behalf of a collector, said Christie's auction house in New York, which sold the image.
The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has declined to comment.
Christie's said the photograph had been expected to fetch between $3,000 and $4,000.

From clothing to gadgets to toys, manufacturers are working hard to create environmentally friendly products for an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base. Take the Apple MacBook Air. The new ultra-thin computer has a recyclable carrying case and was given a silver rating by the new Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard from the Green Electronics Council. Lloyd Alter, a correspondent with environmental advocate sites Treehugger.com and Planetgreen.com, believes the move is significant.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Tuesday condemned the disruption of the Olympic torch relay in London and Paris, vowing it would not impede the Olympic spirit.

Officials in Paris on Monday were forced to extinguish the Olympic flame and carry it by bus when anti-China protesters tried to seize it. During the British leg the day before, activists waving Tibetan flags and shouting "Shame on China" turned the event into an obstacle course.