There were some places where the situation was not good. But there wasn't anything frightening, at least when we were there. – Head of the Arab League monitoring mission to Syria, Sudanese general Mustafa Dabi
For me, it's been a pleasure. Good fortune. Goodbye. – Anne Doyle signs off after reading her final news bulletin on RTÉ television on Christmas Day
Being with me was not going to serve him positively, career-wise or any other wise. – Sinéad O'Connor, announcing her separation from her fourth husband 16 days after the wedding
There should be dialogue. But in what form? I'll think about that. – Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin on talking to those protesting over the rigging of last month's election
There has been a sharp increase in the numbers contacting the department anonymously. You could say there has been a cultural shift in people's attitudes to making such reports. – Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, commenting on the rise in the number of anonymous tip-offs about suspected social welfare fraud. The number has risen from 600 in 2005 to more than 16,000 this year
The people are all crying tears of blood. – Soldier describing fellow mourners of Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, North Korea
In the first three hours of business today some tenants have matched a full day's trading last year. – Dundrum Town Centre marketing manager Jeanette Jordan on a good start to the sales on St Stephen's Day
When looking up at the starry sky, we are full of longing and yearning for the vast universe. – Zhang Wei of China's National Space Administration announcing China's decision to put a man on the moon