"Countries issuing major reserve currencies should adopt responsible economic measures, keep their currencies relatively stable to avoid negative spillover impact and maintain stability in the international financial market."

Xie Xuren, Chinese Finance Minister, when speaking at the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting on October 24 in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea

"It is in the common interest of China and other countries to maintain freedom and security of navigation in the region."

Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, saying China has always guaranteed freedom of navigation in and flying over the South China Sea in accordance with international law in his keynote speech at the opening of the Xiangshan military forum in Beijing, which discussed Asia-Pacific security issues

"About 10 minutes after the quake we heard a loud, thunderous sound. We went outside and saw the wave coming. We tried to run away to higher ground but the wave was much quicker than us."

Survivor Borinte, a farmer from a coastal village in the North Pagai island in Indonesia. A tsunami and a volcanic eruption on October 25 have killed more than 300 people with over 400 missing and tens of thousands displaced in the country, authorities say

"There is growing evidence climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of climatic events."

Anna Moss, an environmental analyst, on a new 170-nation climate-change index that identifies South Asia as the world's most vulnerable region

"They want good relations in return. Lots of other things in return, Afghanistan and Iran have neighborly relations."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, admitting his chief of staff has received "bags of money" from Iran but insisting the payment is transparent and a form of aid from a friendly country

"We have our own priorities. We have our own sense of timing."

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, when asked by reporters about U.S. pressure to launch an offensive against Taliban militants in the North Waziristan tribal area

"These countries are really faced with a double burden."

Timothy Armstrong, an expert on chronic diseases with the UN World Health Organization, on new medical challenges to Africans from diabetes and relevant bad habits, in addition to AIDS or malaria