Scottish First Minister Sturgeon enters Forbes' most powerful women list

Political figures dominate the new Forbes list of the most powerful women figures in the world today, with Nicola Sturgeon entering the fray for the first time.

Sturgeon is the second highest ranked female from the UK, behind only Queen Elizabeth II. The leader of the Scottish National Party has provoked a new bid for Scottish independence and was described by the list's compilers as a vocal critic of the Brexit campaign.

Angela Merkel topped the annual list again for the sixth successive year, closely followed by Democrat presumptive nominee Hilary Clinton.

Angela Merkel topped the annual list again for the sixth successive year, closely followed by Democrat presumptive nominee Hilary Clinton.

Having previously been populated by various celebrities from the entertainment industries, Forbes have shown a ruthlessness in this regard, as Taylor Swift, Ellen Degeneres and Angelina Jolie all drop out of the list. Oprah Winfrey was the highest-ranked entertainment figure at 21.

In come various business and political leaders, including seven world leaders and two philanthropists.

Taiwan, Nepal, Croatia, Mauritius and Lithuania have all elected or re-elected female presidents during the last year. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi makes the list for the first time at number 26, after her party won a landslide election victory in Myanmar's landmark elections.

South American power figures Dilma Rouseff and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner lose their places after corruption scandals in Brazil and Argentina respectively.