"Through our partnership with UNESCO, we seek to show the world that women should be treated the same as men and to create real leadership opportunities for women and girls. We look forward to Zheng Jie helping us toward this goal."

David Shoemaker, COO & General Counsel, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

"In light of Resolution 2758, it is not legally possible to receive the purported application of Taiwan] for membership."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at a press conference on September 18 at the UN headquarters in New York, with reference to

the application of the Taiwan authorities to join the world body in the name of "Taiwan"

"Today's action is intended to help forestall some of the adverse effects on the broader economy that might otherwise arise from the disruptions in financial markets and to promote moderate growth over time."

Statement of the U.S. Federal Reserve, after it decided on September 18 to cut U.S. interest rates by a hefty half-percentage point to 4.75 percent,

the first reduction since June 2003

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, warning that the world should brace for a possible war over the Iranian nuclear crisis but seeking a solution through talks should take priority, in an interview broadcast on French television and radio on September 16

"I will not tolerate continued non-compliance."

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, vowing to enforce the European Commission's 2004 record fine of 497 million euros ($690 million) on Microsoft for the giant's abuse of its Windows monopoly. The European Court of First Instance, the EU's second highest tribunal, upheld most of the commission's antitrust ruling on September 17

"For this government, failure is not an option."

Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma, pledging to improve the lives of people who live in this world's second poorest country, where a

10-year civil war ended in 2001