11.   European Union veterinary officials leaned toward easing the ban on British beef exports Wednesday but put off a final decision until next week.

12.   One of the few indications that some Chinese officials lean toward Gore came in an article last month in the Beijing Review, a state-run magazine.

13.   The senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. officials were strongly leaning toward a less confrontational discourse shying away from public censure of Chinese rights.