Political Economy

The first multi party elections ever in the history of the Maldives took place last November. Even though this small island nation of 300,000 people gained independence from the British in 1965, the journey to become a democratic nation has been slow and sidelined. Political parties were banned in the country until 2005, and the now former president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled the country for 30 years. Allowing for the existence of political parties and the first multi-party elections is one of the many things that came about due to a reform process that was initiated in 2005, following a number of riots and protests.

At 2am the invisible force that controls Daylight Savings Time grabbed the minute hand on America's collective clock and wound it back an hour. Who or what controls this give and take of an hour? Andrea Thompson has written a very interesting piece for LiveScience.com, which offers insights into the political and economic origins of "Daylight Savings Time."

If he were a character in a Saturday Night Live sketch, he would be Unfrozen Caveman Prime Minister. Yes, Silvio Berlusconi is at it again, this time demonstrating his own brutish form of sexism while reacting to the newly-appointed Spanish cabinet.