"In any other museum in the world, people go to see painting, sculpture and art. This one, on the contrary, displays all that the country has lost and the wealth it used to own."

- The director of the Argentina Debt Museum describing the unusual institution, whose exhibits include schedules of the country's debts, carts used by beggars and photos of starving children. Argentina entered a severe economic crisis between 2001 and 2002, after piling up debts of US$125 billion.

"None of the prison governors would be opposed to hosting the country's richest person in their institution. They hope his money could be used to improve their buildings and conditions. In that sense, he is not a criminal but a gift."

- A Russian official revealing that even before oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky begins his life in prison, the nation's prison governors are hoping to attract this "honoured" convict.

"I am not worried about large rivers and lakes because they are always the focus of attention during the flood season. What concerns me more are the safety problems of small or medium-sized reservoirs in remote areas."

- Flood-control expert Cheng Xiaotao commenting on the flood season, which started on June 1 this year. China has 84,083 reservoirs and nearly one-third of them are not up to the standards required to survive heavy flooding.

"Now, when I enter the classroom, there are many shining glasses in front of me."

- Zhang Jing, a primary school teacher, saying she was saddened to see so many children wearing glasses from an early age. It is estimated that more than 100 million Chinese primary and middle school students are near-sighted.