| LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands -- International judges sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison Wednesday, saying he was responsible for "some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history" by arming and supporting Sierra Leone rebels in return for "blood diamonds." BLOG POSTS  | Arianna Huffington: Austerity: 2011's Darling Becomes 2012's Pariah
There's a new scarlet letter in town. Actually, it's the same letter -- "A" -- but it stands for a different word that's increasingly regarded as shameful: Austerity. The darling idea of 2010 and 2011 has become the pariah concept of 2012. And the evidence of profound change is all around, from France and Greece to Germany and -- gasp -- the Republican Party. The change, when it comes to the conventional wisdom on austerity, has come from a combination of public pressure and leadership: one pushing up from below, the other pressing down from above. None of this means that we should break out the Keynesian champagne any time soon. But it's clear the forces of austerity are in retreat. And that's a very good thing. |  | Carina Kamel: Egypt's New President Must Hit the Ground Running or Face Tahrir
The task ahead of Egypt's next president is gargantuan. Egyptians will want to see progress and they will want to see it fast, or it will not be long before they return to Tahrir. |  | The European Magazine: Kirchner Joins the Resource Wars
Argentina, Bolivia, Egypt: Countries around the world embrace resource nationalism and pursue the nationalization of oil and gas companies. |  | Ahmed Shihab-Eldin: The Arab World and the Media's Symbiotic Revolutions
There has been much speculation as to how central a role social media has played in catalyzing the Arab Revolution or the Global Occupy Movement. But little has been discussed about its role in spurring the media revolution. |  | Mark D. Steinberg: Picturing Putin's Russia
Laughing mockery of power may let off steam. But it may also be a sign of something consequential: that many Russians, audacious and without fear, feel that Putinism has become an embarrassment and a hindrance. | | MOST POPULAR ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM |
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
