Vladimir Putin tops Forbes World's Most Powerful People 2013 listOctober 30, 2013 - 18:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Vladimir Putin has batted away competition from Barack Obama, Bill Gates and the Pope to be named the most powerful person in the world this year, The Independent said. According to the World's Most Powerful People 2013 list compiled by Forbes, recent weak displays on the international stage - from inaction on Syria to the Government shutdown -have seen the US president knocked off the top spot he held last year. Putin's strengthening control in Russia, meanwhile, has resulted in what Forbes described as a clear "shifting of individual power dynamics". Xi Jinping maintains a strong position as the third-most powerful person, while Pope Francis is the highest newcomer - in at number four. Angela Merkel comes fifth, among just nine women in the list of 72 - one power-wielding individual for every 100 million people on the planet, Forbes said. The list as a whole features 17 heads of state, 27 CEOs and chairs of individual companies and 12 'entrepreneurs'. Of the 72, 28 are billionaires, wielding a combined wealth in excess of $564 billion. Britain managed just one person in the list, with Prime Minister David Cameron dropping from number 10 last year to eleventh place today. Forbes criticised Cameron for a recent "flip-flop approach to green taxes", though credited him with "guiding the world's sixth largest economy". Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. |