'Sonia, Shahrukh among 50 most powerful people'

New Delhi, Dec 21: The prestigious US based magazine 'Newsweek' have included Congress President Sonia Gandhi and bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan in the 50 most powerful people list topped by US President-elect Barack Obama

Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, the Pakistan army chief, who is incharge of country's nuclear weapons, is placed 20th on the list of the global 'power elite' at the beginning of the 2009 in the magazine's January issue.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan have been ranked among the 50 most powerful people in the world by the prestigious US-based magazine 'Newsweek' magazine in a list topped by President-elect Barack Obama.

Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who controls the the country's nuclear weapons, is placed 20th on the list of the global "power elite" at the beginning of 2009 in the magazine's January issue. Barack Obama, who scripted history by becoming the first black-American to be voted to the White House, is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

A notable point is the inclusion of Osama bin Laden, whom the Newsweek describes as 'global terrorist.' North Korean dictator Jim Jong II also finds a place in the list.

Newsweek which placed Sonia Gandhi in the 17th spot said that though Indian political scene is riven by factions, Congress remains the strongest national force and rules unchallenged. "In the world's largest democracy, she is the queen."

The magazine describes Shahrukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the 'King of Bollywood'. "It's not just that his (Shahrukh Khan's) romantic flicks make gazillions it's where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mullahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.)

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)