104-year-old woman tweeting in Britain

Per United Press International, a 104-year-old British woman, Ivy Bean, joined Twitter yesterday and she is tweeting at @ivybean104, according to the manager of an elderly care home in Bradford, England.

She's already amassed more than 3,000 followers, and this story has hit media outlets from Brazil to Belgium.

Here's a sample of some of her first tweets:

1. 
   
   
   
   
   IvyBean104 Hello had a nod just having a cuppa and biscuit im excited to be on twitter 14 May 2009 from web


2. 
   
   
   
   
   IvyBean104 just had breakfast now chatting to my friend mabel 15 May 2009 from web


3. 
   
   
   
   
   IvyBean104 Deal or no deal in 4hrs 15 May 2009 from web


4. 
   
   
   
   
   IvyBean104 im having a rest now had a busy morning thankyou everybody 15 May 2009 from web

She's also been sending @ replies and interacting with users.

Here's some of the initial buzz about one of Twitter's newest members:

1. 
   
   
   
   
   Pretty313 (Michigan, USA) @IVYBEAN104 hello & its an honor to follow you *hugzs* 15 May 2009 from web


2. 
   
   
   
   
   geekgirl444 (Kent, England) Just so sweet that @IvyBean104 follows @GeekSquadUK. 15 May 2009 from web


3. 
   
   
   
   
   jaime_ldn (Undisclosed) Is it too late to #followfriday? @IvyBean104 She IS 104. God bless her. Thanks to @bruxedo, follow him too. 15 May 2009 from web


4. 
   
   
   
   
   weeelady (Scotland) This marvelous lady is 104 years young and a keen twitterer. Please follow @IvyBean104 15 May 2009 from TweetDeck

104-year-old woman tweeting in Britain

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. 
   tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) I've been shot in West Derby Village - pellets have grazed my cheek - I'm ok I think 09 May 2009 from mobile web
2. 
   tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) i have four shotgun pellets lodged in the side of my head. Two of my friends were also hit. 10 May 2009 from mobile web
3. 
   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 10 May 2009 from mobile web
4. 
   tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) My t-shirt and jeans were covered in blood 10 May 2009 from mobile web
5. 
   tonymc39 (Liverpool, U.K.) I believe two doormen were also hit but not seriously hurt. 10 May 2009 from mobile web

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. 
   mcknut (Euston, U.K.) Local journalist @tonymc39 gets shot and then tweets the aftermath http://is.gd/yTIy (via @alisongow) 11 May 2009 from Nambu
2. 
   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.) 11 May 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to AndersOlofsson
3. 
   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 11 May 2009 from web
4. 
   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! 11 May 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to alisongow

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

U.K. journalist tweets being shot

Featured TwitPic: Clouds in France

"Clouds in France." (Posted by @redta on May 10, 2009.)

Featured TwitPic: Clouds in France

Gas explosion sends flames high into sky in Moscow

Per Reuters, "A gas pipeline exploded in southwest Moscow early on Sunday, sending flames 100 metres (300 feet) into the air and setting buildings and cars ablaze." The Bolshaya Ochakovskaya street blast was visible for miles.

Sergey Smirnov (@eych), age 30, tweeted a link to this YouTube video of the fire:



Tweets from near the scene described the incident and added context.

1. 
   vvtimofeyev (Moscow, Russia) Strange fire behind MSU information center. 09 May 2009 from web
2. 
   Biggimot (Moscow, Russia) there is a HUGE FLAME towards the city, looks over 12 storeys high, never seen anything burning this , can't see what burning #fire #moscow 09 May 2009 from web
3. 
   Lizzochka (Moscow, Russia) i see a huge 100 m-high fire from my window - gas explosion... terrible. really terrible.... 09 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   arkhangelskiy (Moscow, Russia) it looks beautiful from a long distance, especially skyes over fire, i have vid btw, if you need it okay 15000$ and its yours=) 09 May 2009 from web
5. 
   vitalik09 (Moscow, Russia) Great fire is near of us.it is really scary. 09 May 2009 from mobile web
6. 
   iDiod (Moscow, Russia) Picture is pointless and can only show the height of fire - It was above the 17-storey building on the foreground 09 May 2009 from web

Gas explosion sends flames high into sky in Moscow

A Day in Bari, Italy

Bari, Italy is the capital of the Puglia region in southern Italy. It is on the Adriatic, making it a port town and it is widely known as the second largest economic stronghold in Southern Italy. Bari is also home to a university and Saint Nicholas, which makes it a well known pilgramage site for those of Christian faith.

Twitter gives us the opportunity to see how people in this modern town with ancient roots and its suburbs have spent their Friday thus far:

1. 
   this_is_mike at the breakfast spot waiting for my cappuccino and croissant. 
2. 
   rodenic Alessandro è appena arrivato in ufficio!- Allessandro has arrived in the office!
3. 
   dardeile Havin' a massage done is the most relaxin thing on Friday morning. Later 2day we r gonna have a barbecue @ a friend's. Have a good day!
4. 
   clarita82 è davvero stanca dopo stamattina ma ha deciso di impegnare questo pomeriggio mettendo in ordine le sue stanzette-really tired after this morning but decided to commit this                          afternoon putting in order the rooms

A Day in Bari, Italy

Russia responds to NATO act by expelling Canadian diplomats

Per BBC, "Russia has expelled two Canadian diplomats working for NATO's Moscow office in response to an 'unfriendly act' by the military alliance."

The move followed two Russian envoys being expelled from NATO's headquarters in Brussels last week, allegedly as a result of spying.

Canadian Twitterers were baffled by the news:

1. 
   rickster_CA (Toronto, Canada) Russia expels 2 Canadian diplomats??? What did we ever do to them? http://tinyurl.com/d7rvyx 05 May 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   tommydoubleu (Toronto, Canada) That's it. We're going to war with Russia. How do you expell a Canadian diplomat? Ask them nicely? Insult their hockey team of choice? 06 May 2009 from web
3. 
   markmackinnon (Canada/Asia) I know one of those tossed. If he's a spy, I'm a point guard for the LA Lakers. 06 May 2009 from web
4. 
   danjl (Montreal, Canada) Russia expels Canadian diplomats; Makes Canadians feel bad-ass. http://tinyurl.com/dyenln 06 May 2009 from web
5. 
   lifeonqueen (Toronto, Canada) The diplomatic equivalent of kicking the dog after fight with spouse RT@nytimesworld Russia to Expel CDNs http://bit.ly/47sTC #nato #canada 06 May 2009 from web

No Russian tweets about the incident could be immediately found.

Russia responds to NATO act by expelling Canadian diplomats

Feud between Italy PM Berlusconi and his wife continues

Per The Independent, Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has demanded a public apology from his wife, Veronica Lario, a day after she told the Italian press that she would file for divorce from the flamboyant 72-year-old.

Telling his side to the Corriere della Sera, one of Italy's prominent newspapers, Silvio explained that there was no harm in hiring women who happened to be of statuesque beauty for his cabinet and that political enemies influenced Veronica to file for divorce just weeks before European elections, per The Independent.

Reaction to the news from Italy is streaming in today via tweets:

1. 
   affaritaliani (Milano, Italy) Berlusconi a Porta a Porta: "Veronia ammetta l'errore. Ho rispetto per le donne" (Berlusconi a Porta a Porta: "Verona admit the error. I have respect for women") 05 May 2009 from web
2. 
   andrejmrevlje (Italy) Is Berlusconi married to Veronica Lario or to 75% of Italians. Sorry but this so far comes only in Italian. http://tinyurl.com/ 05 May 2009 from web
3. 
   maxcontri (Rome, Italy) si chiede dove siano i 3 italiani su 4 che amano berlusconi... (wonders where the 3 Italians out of 4 who love berlusconi ...) 05 May 2009 from twhirl
4. 
   VecchiaCasa (Umbria, Italy) The Vatican has now joined in the fight between Berlusconi & his soon to be ex-wife Veronica, imagine having to tell the PM how to behave!!! 05 May 2009 from web
5. 
   xantar76 (Padova, Italy) #Berlusconi: "Tutte calunnie della sinistra e non è vero che frequento minorenni" (#Berlusconi: "All of the left and slander is not true that minors attend") 05 May 2009 from web

Others in the Twitterverse are also buzzing about this political power couple.

1. 
   DivorceNews (U.S.A.) ITALY: Who will take custody of Silvio Berlusconi and Veronica Lario’s 3 kids? http://ow.ly/4VAZ 03 May 2009 from HootSuite
2. 
   NewsBell (Connecticut) >Wife of Italian Prime Minister and media baron/billionaire, Silvio Berlusconi just said she wants a divorce because of his wandering eye 03 May 2009 from web
3. 
   RichJava (Undisclosed) Italian Prime Minister is a pervert! Cavorting with young women & asking his wife to apologize to him (via @bevysmith) Ever Visited Italy? 04 May 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   zitokarenblake (Boston, Mass.) 72 year Italian Prime Minister in war of words with 52 year old wife over 18 year birthday girl. Yeesh! 05 May 2009 from web
5. 
   TRUEdatBlog (New York, N.Y.) Blogging 'Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Hot Water with his Wife, Veronica Lario' http://tinyurl.com/dlezve 05 May 2009 from TypePad
6. 
   GWeitz (New York, N.Y.) the Italian Prime Minister makes 17 year old girls call him "papi"? That lucky bastardo Berlusconi 05 May 2009 from web

Feud between Italy PM Berlusconi and his wife continues

Georgia claims attempted coup at military base

Per Reuters, the defense ministry of Georgia accused Russia of a planned coup shortly after soldiers at a military base rebelled near Tbilisi.

CNN reports that the rebellion involved about 500 troops and it was quickly brought under control, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili. There was not “direct evidence” to suggest outside involvement, according to CNN.

A journalist in London provided the first tweet on the incident, which was soon followed by a Twitterer in Tbilisi posting a blog entry in Georgian:

1. 
   samgadjones (London, U.K.) #Georgia Defense Min: Military Coup Under Way - Reuters ... no sign of Twitter revolution yet, a la Moldova... 05 May 2009 from web
2. 
   BigCrow (Tbilisi, Georgia) Military armed revolt in #Georgia #tbilisi : http://bigcrow.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/military/ 05 May 2009 from web

Initial reaction soon came in from around the world in the form of tweets, including additional context from CNN News Editor Saeed Ahmed:

1. 
   CNNSaeed (Atlanta, Ga.) #Georgia attempted mutiny quashed. Goal was to disrupt NATO exercises beginning tomorrow 05 May 2009 from TwitterFox
2. 
   floco (Germany) weiterer pr-coup? RT @Gudat: RT @reutersfeeds: #reuters #news Georgia says uncovers Russian-planned military coup http://tinyurl.com/ddg2j 05 May 2009 from Netvibes
3. 
   lepetitvagabond (Singapore) Breaking news from Georgia? Must be some Ruskie plot. 05 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   Chen_Zhen (Jiangsu, China) Georgia has uncovered an attempted military coup.this [expletive] will never occur here in china where army serve party 05 May 2009 from web

Georgia claims attempted coup at military base