TIME magazine names 100 people who most affect our world annually. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Robert Pattinson.... are on the list. 1. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva When Brazilians first elected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva President in 2002, the country's robber barons nervously checked the fuel gauges on their private jets. They had turned Brazil into one of the most inequitable places on earth, and now it looked like payback time. Lula, 64, was a genuine son of Latin America's working class — in fact, a founding member of the Workers' Party — who'd once been jailed for leading a strike. By the time Lula finally won the presidency, after three failed attempts, he was a familiar figure in Brazilian national life. But what led him to politics in the first place? Was it his personal knowledge of how hard many Brazilians must work just to get by? Being forced to leave school after fifth grade to support his family? Working as a shoeshine boy? Losing part of a finger in a factory accident? No, it was when, at age 25, he watched his wife Maria die during the eighth month of her pregnancy, along with their child, because they couldn't afford decent medical care.

SAN FRANCISCO - Lady Gaga has dethroned Britney Spears as "Twitter Queen" with more than 5.7 million followers on the microblogging site and promised no online celebrity nonsense during her reign. An "inaugural message" posted by the pop music diva at her official YouTube channel had been viewed 345,145 times by yesterday afternoon. "Thank you for beginning my reign as Twitter Queen," Lady Gaga said in video that showed her sitting at a make-up table backstage with a lacy crown atop her head and a glowing wand in one hand.

PETA’s all in an indignant tizz again, and this time it’s Lady Gaga wot done it. The singer/performance artist/nutcase was photographed for Japanese Hommes Vogue in a bikini. Which itself sounds alright, except for the eensy detail that she was photographed in a MEAT bikini. She’s going more above and beyond in her duty to be even more mental than Michael Jackson. But is it art? PETA doesn’t seem to think so. Relations between the singer and the animal rights group seem to have soured – where at one point bosses were begging Gaga to be a spokesperson for their “I’d Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur” campaign , they now seem to feel a bit let down. President of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, said on the matter: “No matter how beautifully it is presented, flesh from a tortured animal is flesh from a tortured animal .. Meat represents bloody violence and suffering, so if that’s the look they were going for, they achieved it.” Ouch. Looks like Gaga’s got some serious kissing up to PETA to do if she wants to get back in their good books. What do you think of the ad campaign? Is it artistic or in bad taste? Comment below to let us know your thoughts.

Lady Gaga is making a statement with her weird fashion sense again. This time, at MTV's Video Music Awards (of which she won several), Lady Gaga donned a full-fledged meat dress designed by Franc Fernandez, according to Entertainment Weekly. The dress didn't end there. PETA issued a statement saying "no matter how beautifully it is presented, flesh from a tortured animal is flesh from a tortured animal" in a release made on the MTV website. The following morning on the premiere of Ellen, the vegetarian gave Gaga a bikini made of kale as the controversial singer wore her meat dress again. Madonna The fashion statement made by Lady Gaga is sure to be compared to those of the pointy bra that Madonna used to wear. The Material Girl has made such a mark on fashion that Rihanna even wears a pointy thing up on stage, as pictured in INF Daily. Madonna at least took her controversies to different levels as her career went forward. When the pointy dress wasn't enough, it was provocative videos. Then it was having a love child. Now she's a more toned-down mom who has adopted African children. Lady Gaga is just starting her tumult into intentionally raising eyebrows, and she is showing no signs of stopping. Career Pathways Lady Gaga's career clearly is moving forward. Picking up the Video Music Awards in eight categories proves her marketability as a pop star. The difference between Lady Gaga and other controversial fashionistas in the music world is simple. Lady Gaga is the new Michael Jackson. She is an image, created by whoever it is behind the scenes, and her musical talent is only as good as her image presented to the public. The more controversial and risqué Lady Gaga is, the better for her album sales.

From Julian Assange, Glenn Beck to Hu Jintao, take a look at this year's TIME 2010 Person of the Year candidates and give them your rating!