Weekend open thread

Posted By Blake Hounshell Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 9:53 AM Share

What's going on in the world today?

EXPLORE:OPEN THREAD

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EKERKNOWS

5:59 PM ET

March 15, 2008

Blast Kills 1 at Restaurant in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) â€” A bomb exploded in the back garden of an Italian restaurant crowded with foreigners in Pakistan's capital on Saturday, killing a Turkish woman and wounding 11 others including five Americans.

Personnel from the U.S. and British embassies were among the wounded after what appeared to be the first attack targeting foreigners in a recent wave of violence in Pakistan.

A list of victims was posted in the reception area at Islamabad's Poly Clinic. Five U.S. citizens were listed as undergoing surgery. One Japanese citizen, one Canadian, one Briton and three Pakistanis also were wounded. Foreigners crowded around the list; some burst into tears.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jMxBOP0lwBWUHdK7sDHPvtcI-fLgD8VE4NCO0

JGARZIK

6:11 PM ET

March 15, 2008

Saturday brief

Bomb in Islamabad injures Pakistanis, Americans, and a Turk. US embassy personnel were among the wounded.

Tornado hits Atlanta, damaging CNN HQ and surrounding area.

China vs. Tibetan independence continues.

Iran preliminary election results. No power shifts of note. Reports on State-run Press TV claim reformists gained 6 seats. Wikipedia outlines the branches of government in Iran.

Thousands of Italians march in an anti-mafia protest.

The flap over Obama's pastor, Rev. Wright, continues.

Gossip: Was Spitzer's downfall Wall Street's revenge?

JGARZIK

6:17 PM ET

March 15, 2008

US immigration

It saddens me that American polticians, both Democrats and Republicans, have managed to forget a fundamental fact: America is an immigrant nation.

While Canada continues to welcome immigrants to address labor shortages, Microsoft's Bill Gates rightly notes that America's current immigration policies force jobs overseas, particularly high-value skilled workers.

Full disclosure: I work in tech, which feels the H-1B visa pain. Speaking only for myself, of course.

JGARZIK

8:41 PM ET

March 16, 2008

Sunday brief

JP Morgan purchases Bear Stearns for $236 million in a stock-swap.

Greenspan states the obvious to FT: we will never have a perfect model for risk. The credit crisis has left many talking about risk management, but fundamentally, you cannot prepare for every eventuality.

Tibetan protests spread.

French Socialists made gains in local elections, which were viewed as a test of Sarkozy's popularity.

McCain and other senators tour Baghdad and the Middle East.

Aptly illustrating state media controls, Zimbabwe screens journalists in advance of elections.

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.