Gao Yaojie

"When a social problem just appears, only those who are really courageous enough dare to face it."

Hu Jia, Chinese AIDS activist, hailing Gao's leading role in raising the Chinese public's awareness of HIV/AIDS risks

"With capital flows being so global it's hard for action in a large country like China not to have an effect on other markets."

Amanda Smith, who helps manage $6 billion at ING New Zealand Ltd. in Auckland, commenting on a global sell-off sparked by the biggest plunge in Chinese shares in a decade on February 27

"It will contribute to closing a page of history, that was dramatic, very painful and very damaging for many, many

people."

European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, welcoming the International Court of Justice's ruling on February 26 that clears Serbia of direct involvement in genocide during the Bosnian war in the middle of the 1990s

"I'm gaining ground. I feel more energetic, stronger."

Cuban leader Fidel Castro, calling in to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's radio talk show on February 27

"We are right to deplore Islamophobia and the branding of Muslims as terrorists, but we must face up to the horrible truth that many of the worst terrorist attacks in recent years have been committed by people who claim to be acting in the name of Islam."

Jordan's Queen Rania, urging Muslims to reject extremism on February 25

"The benefit of having a licensed vaccine against a potential pandemic influenza virus strain must be weighed against the risk of having no vaccine at the time of an inevitable influenza pandemic."

Norman Baylor, Director of the Vaccine Office at the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration, calling for the government's approval of the first bird flu vaccine as a stopgap measure, despite its limited effectiveness

"I'm glad it's taken this long. It's been worth it."

U.S. Director Martin Scorsese, speaking at a press conference on February 26 after the $90-million thriller The Departed won him his first Oscar after six unsuccessful bids