If there was anything to admire about Anthony Weiner’s bid to be the next Mayor of New York, it was his aides’ extraordinary success in taking their candidate to a lead in the polls, despite his embarrassing history of extramarital sexting.

What’s her story?

Inez McCormack was a Belfast Protestant who left behind her family's unionist background to become a lifelong activist in the fields of civil rights, human rights, women's rights and fair employment. A rare bird in Northern Ireland terms, she rose to become a trade union leader in a highly male-dominated scene. Often the sole woman on boards and committees, she once remarked drily, "there is no fun in being the first woman on anything."

More than one month after winning a second term, President Barack Obama was last night due to unveil his first move in what will be a wide-ranging reshuffle of his top advisers and cabinet members, formally nominating Senator John Kerry to be America’s next Secretary of State.

The fourth conference for the “Friends of the Syrian People” was set to open today after the US said the new Syrian opposition coalition is the “sole legitimate representative” of the Syrian people.

1. Mount Fuji.

Was it illness, an assassination attempt...or simply political brinkmanship? 

The video of the Taliban executing a woman in the street, only miles from Kabul, is a sobering reminder of dismally disappointing legacy of foreign intervention in that hopelessly divided country from which Western countries are now hurrying to disengage themselves.

Routes to Afghanistan can be used again after US statement on killing of 24 soldiers in air strike

Life is so confusing for well-educated young women. Can they really have it all? Do they first have to find a partner who will let them? Even if they do, will they feel guilty about neglecting their children? You can see why many are tempted to find a rich husband and play at being yummy mummies instead.

London insurers withdraw vessel's cover after pressure from US authorities

Adam Sherwin on a new drama that the Clinton family may wish to avoid

Delhi faces sanctions if the US determines it has not made a sharp reduction in imports

Amid claim and counter-claim, the details of US dealings with the blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng are far from clear. What is certain, however, is that any deal to end the diplomatic stand-off between the US and China over Mr Chen's future has unravelled.