The coalition-builders have about two weeks to forge alliances and senior cardinals who may themselves have little chance of becoming pope can still exert a considerable influence over the others.

BBC: Conclave: How cardinals elect a Pope

The Liberals were in a strong position to exert considerable influence, and yet achieved virtually nothing.

ECONOMIST: The party is either being very clever, or very stupid

Senior U.S. military officials have said the assessment shows that the Taliban exert "considerable influence" over a third of the country.

CNN: U.S. commander says Afghan war winnable, new strategy needed