Russian president Vladimir Putin topples Barack Obama on Forbes magazine's list of powerful people

It is the first time in three years that the US president has not come in at number one on the annual list and came as US-Russia relations slid to a new low.

Forbes magazine says the Russian leader has solidified power after 13 years of dominant rule, while Mr Obama is more of a "lame duck", recently plagued by domestic issues in his second and final term as US president.

China's new president Xi Jinping follows behind in third place, while Pope Francis, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, is a newcomer to the list at number four .... http://www.abc.net.au