May 11, 2009

Featured TwitPic: Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia


"Petronas towers, KL. Take 2" (Posted by @ajclarke on May 11, 2009.)

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U.K. journalist tweets being shot

Per the Liverpool Echo, Tony McDonough, a deputy business editor at the Echo, was one of three men injured by a spray of gun pellets after shots were fired in a "ride by" shooting at a Liverpool pub.

McDonough, still fairly new to Twitter, did what he was taught to do - he reported on the incident through tweets:

  1. Tony McDonough
    tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) I've been shot in West Derby Village - pellets have grazed my cheek - I'm ok I think
  2. Tony McDonough
    tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) i have four shotgun pellets lodged in the side of my head. Two of my friends were also hit.
  3. Tony McDonough
    tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) We were stood drinking just inside the doorway of the Sefton Arms when a gunman on a motorbike opened fire from outside - not aiming at us
  4. Tony McDonough
    tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) My t-shirt and jeans were covered in blood
  5. Tony McDonough
    tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) I believe two doormen were also hit but not seriously hurt.

The quick reaction has Twitterers from at least three continents discussing the incident, with more than 100 retweets about the news. Here's a few of the tweets:

  1. John McKerrell
    mcknut (Euston, U.K.) Local journalist @tonymc39 gets shot and then tweets the aftermath http://is.gd/yTIy (via @alisongow)
  2. Anders Frick
    frick (Taipei) @AndersOlofsson Undra just om @tonymc39 kommer att få fler än de nuvarande 17 followsarna... (Just wondering if @tonymc39 will receive more than the current 17 followers.)
  3. Ryan Gilchrest
    ryangilchrest (Macon, Ga.) I can only hope I would do the same. RT @askymi RT @paulbradshaw Reporter @tonymc39 tweets being shot: http://bit.ly/K0NwJ
  4. sarahhartley
    foodiesarah (Manchester, U.K.) @alisongow @tonymc39 good blog post after remarkable tweets - just hope that doesn't become too much a norm for getting a splash!

The Echo's news report on the incident can be found here.

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Roxana Saberi freed from Iranian prison

Per BBC, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi has been released from prison after a successful appeal of spying charges.

According to BBC, news agency AFP quoted Saberi as saying: "I'm OK. I don't want to make any comments but I am OK."

The first to report the news on Twitter was Lily Mazahery, a human rights attorney, who also broke the news of the execution of Delara Darabi on May 1.

  1. Lily Mazahery
    LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) She's out of the prison
  2. calperry
    calperry (Middle East) RT @lilymazahery "She is out of the prison"
  3. Lily Mazahery
    LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) She has left Evin and is now at home in Tehran with her family. RT @freeroxana: Roxana to be FREED! http://tinyurl.com/paoqud

For others, Steven Herman (@W7VOA), a South Asia correspondent for Voice of America broke the news, just moments after Mazahery. Thousands of "Roxana Saberi" tweets followed, as she jumped to the No. 6 Twitter trend.

  1. Steven L Herman
    W7VOA (New Delhi, India) Roxana Saberi is now free.
  2. Mari Kurisato
    MariKurisato (Denver, Col.) YAY! RT @W7VOA: Roxana Saberi is now free.
  3. Tony Durham
    rhamdu (Undisclosed) RT @W7VOA Roxana Saberi is now free.
    3 minutes ago from twhirl
  4. Lisa Goldner
    goldlis (San Antonio, Texas) Awesome news! RT @rhamdu RT @W7VOA Roxana Saberi is now free. 3 minutes ago from twhirl

Most tweets on Saberi's release this morning were brief, with "glad" and "happy" the most common responses. A few Twitterers expanded on their thoughts:

  1. Mom Vs Wild
    MomVsWild (USA) @ricksanchezcnn So glad Iran came 2 their senses and freed Roxana Saberi.Now we have 2 other reporters that need freed from North Korea.
  2. Nassim Assefi
    nassefi (Fethiye, Turkey) V happy about Roxana Saberi's release, but not relieved enough to visit Iran myself yet. Ironically, Kabul feels a lot safer to me.
  3. Wayne Norman
    waynenorman (Durham, N.C.) is happy for Roxana Saberi and her family, and for what her release might be telling us about diplomacy and reason(ableness) in high places.
  4. Ted Haller
    TedHaller (Cadillac, Mich.) Glad to hear fellow NU alum Roxana Saberi has been released from Iran. I will feel much better when she finally steps back onto U.S. soil.
  5. Emily
    emilyhilleren (Chicago, Ill.) In happy news: RT @Suntimes UPDATE: Roxana Saberi has been reunited with her parents outside prison.
  6. ElisabetMcLauryLewin
    podcastmama (Des Moines, Iowa) Relieved and glad that journalist Roxana Saberi is being released by Iran. What a scary time for her.
  7. Shawna Ohm
    ShawnaOhm (Undisclosed) Roxana Saberi is getting released. I haven't seen so many journalists this excited since Obama won...


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South Africa’s new cabinet hailed

Per AfricaNews: South Africans have generally welcomed new president Jacob Zuma’s cabinet. Veteran cabinet minister Trevor Manuel moved from his former finance ministry to the newly formed National planning portfolio. The changes have raised relative fear as to how the rich Africa nation’s economy would fair without Manuel directly at helm of affairs.

Per BBC: The entire cabinet is expected to be sworn into office later on Monday. The cabinet meets within the next week to map out its plan of action. Zuma hopes to deliver on his promises as expectations are high.

Twitterers in Johannesburg share their thoughts about the new cabinet:

  1. David Smith
    SmithInAfrica Zuma's cabinet: Trevor Manuel leaves finance. Barbara Hogan moved from health despite praise from Aids campaigners. No place for Winnie.
  2. Anish Sana
    Anish_Sana Zuma's new cabinet doesn't look too bad at all. let's hope they focus on what's the real priority of the country
  3. Mongezi Mtati
    Mongezi RT @shapshak Zuma names new Cabinet. What does Siphiwe Nyanda know about telcoms? http://tinyurl.com/reazsv
  4. Simon Dingle
    simondingle Impressed with Mr. Zuma's new cabinet choices for the most part. I really hope this works out for South Africa. What changes would you make?
  5. Daniel Born
    danielborn Not too many complaints about Zuma's new cabinet http://tinyurl.com/timesnewcabinet , but what has become of Mashatile and Winnie?
  6. Pearl Moagi
    Tshegs is digesting President Jacob Zuma's new cabinet. It looks rather promising. I really hope they don't disappoint!



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