Li Na and Zheng Jie Makes China Proud in Australian Open

Li Na put China on the map with her tremendous showing in the quarter-finals against Venus Williams in the Australian Open tennis championship.

In a brilliant three-set game, she bested Venus 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 and moved on to the finals. This was done the day after Zheng Jie beat Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-3 to move on to the semi-finals.

Li-Na met with Serena Williams and, after an impressive showing, lost in a thrillingly tight two-set match. Forced into several tie breakers, Li Na made it clear that she was a force to be reckoned with. Zheng Jie lost to Belgium's Justine Henin, 6-1, 6-0. Serena and Justine meet in the finals later on this week.

Although the two Chinese ladies did not make it all the way, their ability to play has been printed indelibly in the tennis world's minds. They will be two to watch.

Boardroom Posts for Women in France

France is now requiring that French companies reserve 40 percent of all boardroom posts for women. In a new bill sponsored by President Sarkozy's party, UMP, the move will help increase the percentage of women in boardroom posts from 10 percent to 40 percent.

The original bill attempted to provide a 50-50 gender equality in the boardroom, but was considered unworkable. In the new version, companies will have three years to build the number of women on their boards to 20 percent and then have three more years to get the number up to 40 percent.

The revised bill is already drawing scrutiny from other European countries where several leaders are working on decreasing disparities based on gender issues. In Britain, equalities minister Harriet Harman is keeping a close eye on the situation. She has been working on reducing the gender pay gap and will likely use lessons learned from the French process to help her fight for the Equalities Bill.

France is following the footsteps of Norway which implemented a quota for female representation in the boardroom in 2003, and Spain which introduced something similar in 2007.