"Because the benefits start right from the first feeding, any amount of breastfeeding is a reason to feel proud."

- Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the UK National Childbirth Trust discussing the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby on May 8. The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, so its government set a target to increase the number of women breastfeeding their babies by 2 per cent a year in 2003.

"We are working hard to get it on the market in 2006 and scaling our ambitions to fit with that."

- Bill Gates describing Microsoft's plan for releasing its next generation operation system - "Longhorn". This much-heralded successor to Windows XP has been badly delayed and key components won't be ready for launch until the end of 2005.

"I'm a native of Hunan, a proud Hunanese fond of eating hot pepper, a dignified Chinese and also a Taiwanese who loves Taiwan."

- People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong explaining his sense of identity on arrival at Huanghua Airport in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan Province, May 8.

"Her songs express the most beautiful musical notes of Chinese culture."

- Tiger Hoo, the host of a new five-part TV series "When Will You Come Back Again" - made by Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television to commemorate famous singer Teresa Teng, who died from an asthma attack in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 10 years ago.

"We empathize with those who have lost loved ones, lost jobs and lost hope. We are moved, therefore, to help and to share the burden."

- Malcolm Wood, brother of Douglas Wood who has been taken hostage by insurgents in Iraq. After the kidnapping on May 6, his family pledged to make a charitable donation to the people of Iraq to help secure his release.

"Every day, every minute, this place makes me full of awe."

- Zuo San, a reporter from the Zhengzhou Evening News, after finishing a journey across the Lop Nur desert. The exploration team, including 45 journalists from various Zhengzhou media, set off on its journey on May 4. On May 9, the team finished crossing the desert, known as the "Sea of the Dead."