Putin tops Forbes "World's Most Powerful People" list, Obama in second
New
York (AFP) - For a second year in a row, Russian President Vladimir
Putin has beaten Barack Obama to the title of world's most powerful
leader as ranked by Forbes.
In
a year in which Russia annexed Crimea, stoked a conflict in Ukraine and
clinched a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline deal with China that
Forbes called the world's largest construction project, Putin remained
on top.
It
was the third time in Obama's presidency that he has lost top billing
-- twice to Putin and once to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
"So
who's more powerful: the omnipotent head of (a) corroding but still
feisty power or the handcuffed head of the most dominant country in the
world?" Forbes asked.
"For
the second year running, our votes went with the Russian president as
the world's most powerful person, followed by US President Barack
Obama."
The
2014 list of 72 powerbrokers was chosen to reflect one for every 100
million lesser mortals on Earth and the top five remained unchanged from
last year.
Third
prize went to Jinping, who is expected to rule for a decade in which
China is set to eclipse the United States as the world's largest
economy.
Pope Francis was number four and German Chancellor Angela Merkel number five.
Among
12 newcomers are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, number 15;
Alibaba founder—and China's richest man Jack Ma, number 30; and Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State group,
number 54.
While
26 on the list come from the United States, Asia Pacific made a strong
showing with 19 from the region, including six from China.
The
list includes 17 heads of state who run nations with a combined GDP of
$48 trillion and 39 CEOs and chairs who control over $3.6 trillion in
annual revenue.
Nine
women made the cut -- but for the first time two women -- Merkel and US
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen -- reached the top 10.
The entire list can be seen at www.forbes.com/power
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