"Inflation expectations are more dire than inflation itself. I am confident of keeping prices at a reasonable level."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, urging people to remain confident and government agencies to stabilize prices during a question-and-answer session on a recent live radio program

"[It] raises serious questions about selective prosecution—and about the rule of law being overshadowed by political considerations."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, expressing concerns over Russia's conviction of two former business tycoons, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev

"I am shocked that a group of people have concrete plans to commit a serious terrorist attack in this country. I want to stress that regardless of today's event it remains my conviction that terrorism must not lead us to change our open society and our values, especially democracy and free speech."

Danish Prime Minister Loekke Rasmussen, commenting on an imminent terrorist attack that Danish and Swedish police thwarted on December 29. Five suspects were arrested for planning to shoot as many people as possible in a building housing a newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad

"If the U.S. Government is going to expel our ambassador there, then do it. If the U.S. Government is going to break off diplomatic relations, do it."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying he is ready for the United States to expel Venezuela's ambassador and break off diplomatic ties in retaliation for Venezuela's five-month refusal to welcome the Obama administration's choice of the next U.S. envoy to Venezuela

"I don't want to write this book, but I have to. I have already spent 200,000 pounds for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, saying he's being forced into penning an autobiography to keep his organization from going under

"A higher percentage of soldiers with higher education degrees are being recruited to enhance the army's ability to master modern weapons and tactics."

Chinese Defense Minister, General Liang Guanglie, on China's defense and military modernization