Satellite operator CETV sums up best television

'WE cannot give lobsters to everyone' - Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's prime minister, countering concern that a small group of business moguls with high-level political connections had been doing very well when it came to obtaining government contracts.

'HERE we go again . . . everyone's got smiles on their faces, they've got that warm feeling about life' - mine owner Geoffrey Stokes as nickel fever broke out in Australia.

This came after a sensational new discovery of high grade nickel deposits 45 kilometres from Kalgoorlie.

'IT'S an unfortunate co-incidence' - Asahi Mutual spokesman Akira Ishii after the Japanese life insurer admitted buying five million shares in Daiwa Bank. The purchase took place just before the bank disclosed that a rogue bond trader in its New York office had racked up US$1.1 billion in losses, sending its share price plunging.

'THIS is the biggest risk Asia faces today. There is an 80 per cent chance the two sides will end the situation positively, meaning there is a 20 per cent chance it will end disastrously' - Bob Broadfoot, managing director of Political and Risk Consultancy.

He made the comment after China ruled that a 'covert independence movement' on the part of the Taiwan authorities constituted sufficient grounds for an invasion.