"In the past, when peacekeeping missions were not properly defined, we've seen major failures. There are the bad memories of Bosnia. This time we want the answers beforehand, so we don't come to the problems when they have happened."

Agnès Romatet-Espagne, Spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry, on problems in recruiting a peacekeeping force for Lebanon

"When the methane was emitted into the air, it raised air temperatures, which, as a result, intensified the greenhouse gas effect there."

Kuang Yaoqiu, a researcher with the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, claiming that a methane leak contributed to the worst drought in southwest China's Chongqing in 50 years

"Preventive wars aggravate the problems they presume to tackle. Only George W. Bush could think that the world is safer since the occupation of Iraq."

Segolene Royal, France's leading candidate for president, describing U.S. President George W. Bush's "axis of evil" designation as simplistic and the invasion of Iraq as a mistake

"China will continue to actively promote Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organization."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told Vietnamese Communist Party leader Nong Dec Manh

"The probability is high that China will surpass Japan as the company's second biggest electronics market by sales in two to three years. In three to five years, China will become the most important country for Sony."

Shizuo Takashino, head of Sony China, explaining the company's decision to increase investment in China