Merkel tops Forbes’ most powerful list

GERMAN leader Angela Merkel and businesswomen dominate Forbes magazine’s new list of powerful women, while First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn’t break the top 30.

Merkel headed the list for the fourth year running, with the magazine highlighting her role as leader of the huge German economy and her likely re-election in September.

Reflecting the world’s focus on recession and the struggle to keep the financial markets afloat, Merkel was followed almost exclusively by businesswomen.