©Kai Wiedenhoefer
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
In her favourite phrase ‘step by step’, Angela Merkel has become the most powerful woman in Europe - and probably the world. In this exclusive interview, the German chancellor opens up to Quentin Peel on why she went into politics, on promoting women and reveals her wry sense of humour
©Levon Biss
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
The heptathlete talks about winning Olympic gold, supportive men – and how she learnt to live with her muscles
©Elisabeth Moch
David Pilling
from
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
The will of the people is still strongly behind The Lady. Even in the isolated villages of the Irrawaddy Delta, people conjure her name as if it were magic
©Caroll Taveras
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
The creator of TV series ‘Girls’ doesn’t want to be the voice of her generation – even if she is. Emily Steel meets her. Plus, Lena on Lena in tweets and photos
©Luis Grañena
Matthew Engel
from
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
Though the structure of the world’s greatest soap opera has remained unchanged all this time, now there is a new feminine angle; there are in effect three queens
©Writer Pictures
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
It’s surely not the way she planned it, but this former lawyer, now facing life in jail, has changed the course of Chinese politics
©Shara Henderson
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
Two of her son’s killers are finally in jail. But her fight for justice goes on – as does her battle with grief
©Luis Grañena
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
Had the Brooks baby been the only headline about her in 2012, this might well have been a year of unmitigated happiness
©Alexey Kuzmichev
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
While her two bandmates languish in jail following their anti-Putin stunt , the Pussy Riot activist is back on the streets – and ready to cause a stir
©Elisabeth Moch
From
LIFE & ARTS
Dec 14, 2012
The 15-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl’s courage resonated throughout the world with thousands petitioning for her to be given a Nobel prize
*FT has grown in every major readership survey 
©Maija Holma/Alvar Aalto Museum
Through the keyhole of architects’ homes, from Gropius to Aalto
