US President Barack Obama has regained the top spot in Forbes magazine's list of the world's most powerful people, edging out Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and last year's winner, Chinese President Hu Jintao, who slipped down to third.
Mr Obama, who topped the list in 2009 only to be dethroned by Mr Hu in 2010, has had a difficult year at home as the American economy struggles to emerge from a crippling recession, but he did enjoy a number of foreign policy successes.
"Sure, his jobs bill was gutted, his debt-ceiling negotiating was derided and his popularity has plummeted, endangering his re-election, but Obama regains his position as the most powerful person on the planet this year," Forbes said.
Forbes lists Obama's 2011 highlight as a Navy SEAL raid the president ordered inside Pakistan that killed the world's most wanted man, al-Qa'ida leader Osama bin Laden.
"In second place is Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is poised to regain the Russian presidency this year from his loyal underling President Dmitry Medvedev," Forbes said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was ranked fourth, followed by Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Pope Benedict XVI, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Below is the complete list of the Top Ten Most Powerful People:
1. US President Barack Obama
2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
3. Chinese President Hu Jintao
4. German Chancellor Angela Merkel
5. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
6. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
7. Pope Benedict XVI
8. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the US Federal Reserve
9. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
10. British Prime Minister David Cameron
wow thanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteUS has always be the no 1 !
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