"We are ready to strengthen international cooperation in this regard," the spokeswoman, Jiang Yu, told reporters.

A spokeswoman for G.E. told reporters today that the company still expected to close the acquisition by the end of September.

Goldstein was released from the hospital on September 26, 2008, a spokeswoman told AP.

A spokeswoman for the paper told The Independent that it would have no comment because of "ongoing legal proceedings."

A spokeswoman for the sheriff's department told People magazine that Richie "was released early due to overcrowding in the jail system.

"Normally, the French go on vacation in August; they leave en masse," a spokeswoman for the chain told me later.

(A spokeswoman told me on Friday that the Congressman had not intended to offend anyone.)

The visit is meant "as a speical treat for them," her spokeswoman in London told Reuters.

A spokeswoman told The Mirror that "steps have been taken to ensure it doesn't happen again."

A spokeswoman for the prize told the BBC that the change in the submission rules was to give more flexibility.