Breaking Tweets » Politics

Explosions rock Southern Afghanistan

Fahad Zuberi — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:22:33 +0000

Four suicide bombings rocked Kandahar city in Southern Afghanistan on Saturday.

Voice of America reports, Afghan officials say suicide bombers targeted four different parts of the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least 30 people and wounding 46 others. Authorities say they now have the situation under control.

A Twitter user travelling in Afghanistan has been tweeting the latest developments.

strickvl (Kandahar, Afghanistan) Attacks tonight in Kandahar hit multiple targets: incl prison, opposite Continental Guesthouse, police HQ, and Indian Consulate office 13 Mar 2010 from TweetDeck

strickvl (Kandahar, Afghanistan) There was also a rocket that seems to have hit the ANP Barracks in Kandahar City 13 Mar 2010 from TweetDeck

strickvl (Kandahar, Afghanistan) Phone lines were cut for a bit within the city, a curfew was imposed, and there was some sporadic gunfire (probably panicked guards) 13 Mar 2010 from TweetDeck

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Twitter users are concerned and are praying for the safety of people living in Afghanistan.

JuniorAli (Sugar Land, Texas) Breaking News inside of Afghanistan in the province of Kandahar 4 suicide bombings kill at least 35 and wounds 47 others pray for them 13 Mar 2010 from web

EricSutphin (Kabul, Afghanistan) Multiple bombs reported in #Kandahar with dozens killed. Sounds like a mess. #Taliban striking in advance of ISAF declared Kandahar ops?? 13 Mar 2010 from web

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Abu Dhabi bails out Dubai with $10 billion

Fahad Zuberi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:46:41 +0000

Oil rich Abu Dhabi decided to help out their Emirates neighbor Dubai on Monday with a 10 billion dollar bailout.

Times of India reports, The move was the least expected of all options Dubai had on the table after requesting a standstill on $26 billion in Dubai World debt on Nov. 25, alarming markets and shaking the image of the emirate as a regional business hub.

Twitter users are worried for the future of Dubai, but are happy to know that Abu Dhabi has decided to help.

msliedrecht (Dubai, UAE) Whoo Dubai gets AED36 billion bail out from Abu Dhabi. 14 Dec 2009 from TwitterBerry

Koolpep (Dubai, UAE) @tomsp Dubai would bail out their companies if they could, my friend. They simply can’t. The other side of todays news, I guess. 14 Dec 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to tomsp

miamigemini (Miami, Florida) Abu Dhabi had to bail out Dubai today for $10B+. It really is bye bye, Dubai… http://bit.ly/MKHNJ 14 Dec 2009 from TweetDeck

HannahHaniya (Casablanca) Wasn’t it kind of obvious that #Abu Dhabi would bail out Dubai? Wondering what took so long. 14 Dec 2009 from Echofon

siyabulelas (Johannesburg, South Africa) In debt? Dont feel isolated, even Dubai needs a bail out of mammoth proportions. Geez! 14 Dec 2009 from mobile web

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Website publishes apparent text messages from 9/11

Marcus Wekenmann — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:55:04 +0000

According to CNN.com, a website says it has released thousands of intercepted text messages from the hours leading up to, during and after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.

Wikileaks.org began releasing the messages Wednesday to mirror the times they were supposedly sent, starting at 3a.m., and ending 24 hours later.

The site says some texts originated from text pagers carried by government officials, yet some carry a personal tone.

According to the Associated Press, a Wikileaks spokesman says the texts were submitted to the site anonymously, but that the data is valid.

Tweeters around the world were both emotionally affected and suspicious of the messages:

Marianuum (Molde, Norway) Seriously? they have published all of the text messages that was sent during 9/11? Am I the only one who finds that disrespectful? 17 Nov 2009 from web

valeposh (Italy) …ok, seriously, I don’t think it’s right to release 9/11 text messages. Show some respect. People died. #911txts 25 Nov 2009 from web

SouthernCanuck (Texas) how the hell did wikileaks get a hold of 570,000 text messages from 9/11? 25 Nov 2009 from Netvibes

carfullofpandas (Calgary, AB, Canada) If anyone wants to ruin their afternoon Wikileaks is releasing pager text messages intercepted on 9/11. Really chilling/upsetting/disturbing 25 Nov 2009 from UberTwitter

yarnpr0n (Waterloo, ON Canada) Reading Wikileaks of text messages sent during 9/11 attacks. Has anyone else read these? Absolutely chilling. 25 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

dwmurphy2 (Cleveland, Ohio) I can’t believe CNN is showing those personal text messages from 9/11. 25 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific

Klondike (Washington, DC) I’m growing rapidly more uncomfortable about this whole 9/11 text messages release. They didn’t even anonymize phone numbers. 26 Nov 2009 from web

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One in six Americans go hungry

Fahad Zuberi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:44:53 +0000

A new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows more Americans are going hungry.

USA TODAY reports, forty-nine million people in American households one in six went hungry or had insufficient food at some point in 2008, the highest number since the government began tracking the problem in 1995.

Twitter users in the United States are wondering why they don’t hear more about this. Some users are being thankful for what they have in these tough times.

SexyNexBoy73 (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)That is so sad.
Economic news – CNNMoney.com
>1 in 6 Americans goes hungry 16 Nov 2009 from txt

CYRSV (Santa Clara County, California) 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry – those who can give need to dig a little deeper this holiday season http://tinyurl.com/ya5hsgv 16 Nov 2009 from web

aMj89 (Greenville, North Carolina) 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry, maybe it should be 5 outta 6. http://bit.ly/2Mj0Tk 16 Nov 2009 from web

LiquidIvory (Sherman Oaks, California) 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry http://twurl.nl/7opaw6 Be thankful people 17 Nov 2009 from Tweetburner

KCMcCoy_PhD (Fresno, California) Why don’t we hear more about this? (CNNMoney.com) – 1 in 6 Americans goes hungry http://bit.ly/coBNa #cnnmoney 17 Nov 2009 from web

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Obama in China: Twitter users in region address Beijing visit

Craig Kanalley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:57:43 +0000

As part of his first tour of Asia, U.S. President Barack Obama met Tuesday with Chinese leader Hu Jintao in Beijing, participating in a summit to discuss a number of issues, per BBC.

@stevebruskCNN tweeted the following about the event, “CNN live now…President Obama and President Hu make comments after their meeting in Beijing. Unlike many such events, no questions allowed.”

Twitter users in China are paying close attention to Obama’s visit to their country.

Annie_He (Beijing) #Obama talks abt human rights, the police arrests 20 dissidents & activists. http://is.gd/4WL0F what’s happening during Obama in #China . 17 Nov 2009 from web

amojiang (Beijing) Obama is here in BJ, that’s why the traffic was so slow around Chang an jie this morning…brrr…I was late for work 17 Nov 2009 from web

pmdfoster (Beijing) Obama’s limo and motorcade parked right on front steps of Great Hall of the People. Tried to sneak a peek. Shooed away. 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

telinida (Shanghai) cannot believe the number of Obama-Mao images springing up here in China….hmmmm oh the symbolism! 17 Nov 2009 from web

mlh2537 (Beijing) From HU’s facial apperacnce, a successful talk with Obama? 17 Nov 2009 from TwitIQ

Others in Asia have also been keeping a close eye on his trip:

casha527 (Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) Obama is ok…I think…what’s their problem??? 16 Nov 2009 from web

Tootal (Japan) Is Obama going to sacrifice The Dalai Lama, blatant human rights violations, and Internet censorship to pally up with China? 17 Nov 2009 from web

technicolours (Seoul, South Korea) [grumbles about Obama for what must be the millionth time] 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

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Car bomb in Pakistan kills 24, wounds dozens

Fahad Zuberi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:52:13 +0000

At least 24 people were killed and over a dozen injured when a car bomb ripped through a crowded market in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province on Tuesday.

Gulf News reports, the bombing, apparently aimed at causing maximum civilian casualties, was the third blast in as many days in or close to Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province, an area bordering the tribal region where the army is pushing into a key Taliban and Al Qaida sanctuary

Twitter users are in disbelief that another bomb blast has taken place in Pakistan.

1stkingmatt (United Kingdom) More Deaths in Another Pakistan Bomb Explosion, http://hubpages.com/t/eab74 10 Nov 2009 from web

JosephBrady(Denver, Colorado) Bomb Kills More Than 20 Outside Crowded Pakistan Market – Wall Street Journal I thought Islam was about peace & love? http://bit.ly/3RjKEq 10 Nov 2009 from TweetMiner

Rohu87 (Nagpur, India) Pakistan celebrates diwali everyday in d form of BOMB bLASTS…. 10 Nov 2009 from web

kushanmitra (location undisclosed) Wow, there has been yet another bomb in Peshawar! Is self-inflicted genocide the right term for Pakistan nowadays! 10 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

altnews_ (London, UK) Car bomb strikes northwest Pakistan: At least 30 people killed in third attack in three days in and aroun.. http://bit.ly/9×1Jl
#news 10 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed

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Anniversary of Berlin Wall collapse sparks Twitter comments, TwitPics

Joe Siebelts — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:01:05 +0000

As residents of Berlin commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall, Twitter users around the world are sharing their personal thoughts and reflections.

The event reunited a once divided Germany, and marked a symbolic end to communist regimes during the Cold War era.

Twitter users around the globe shared different reactions, some of which celebrated the event:

jasonkenney (Richmond, VA) There area handful of historical moments one measures their lifetime by. The fall of the Berlin Wall is one of those moments. 09 Nov 2009 from web

sheiskilla (Germany) Remembering the fall of the Berlin Wall exactly 20 years ago. I’m proud to be a citizen of the United Germany (: 09 Nov 2009 from web

BookRiff (Vancouver) thinking of the Berlin Wall celebration 20 years ago…. I flew there for the weekend to be part of the changing world. Beautiful moments… 09 Nov 2009 from web

jeffkwalters (Undisclosed) My college class voted the fall of the Berlin Wall as the most significant event of our senior year. Can it possibly be 20 yrs.? 09 Nov 2009 from Power Twitter

Other comments focused on the extent of problems still present today:

n667 (Undisclosed) #berlinwall must have fallen dwn, but still ,there exists an imaginary berlin wall btw every country and its neighbours 09 Nov 2009 from web

preparsed (Seattle, WA) Berlin Wall, are we celebrating you as a victory or a defeat? 20 yrs on, not sure it was the ideological finish line it was billed to be. 09 Nov 2009 from web

JBandChocolate (Undisclosed) 20 years since the Berlin wall has fallen…now we have new walls that need to be brought down…World is not rid of walls yet…. 09 Nov 2009 from web

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Some Twitter users shared photos from the events in Berlin:

"These blocks of wall will fall soon like dominos, in Berlin" from @sbink

"I love this! Dominos where the Berlin wall used to be that will be toppled during the celebrations tonight." from @des_pudels_kern

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Israel claims to have stopped Iranian arms ship

David Adams — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:51:29 +0000

Per BBC, the Israeli Navy has seized a ship reportedly headed by Iran carrying weapons disguised as civilian cargo, yet Iran has denied the allegations.

The Israeli Navy has reported that the arms ship was on its way to Hezbollah, where fights between Israeli and Iranian forces has been active.

Several hundred tonnes of weapons were seized making it the largest involving Iran since 2002 when the Israeli military found 100 tonnes of arms.

People in the Middle East reacted to the news through Twitter.

petitedov Smthg nice to wake up to: Israel seizes Iranian ship bound for Hezbollah loaded with rockets, anti-tank rockets, and light arms – IDF 04 Nov 2009 from web

DannyAyalon The recently discovered arms ship is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Iranian efforts to destabilize the region 04 Nov 2009 from web

asfand http://bit.ly/3lGSF7 Israel captures Iranian arms ship. FIGHT! FIGHT FIGHT! 04 Nov 2009 from web

moweezle Our Israeli Navy is working overboard! We just intercepted a shipload full of terrorist weapons: http://is.gd/4N827 04 Nov 2009 from PeopleBrowsr

foxbutters RT @keewatinrose Sea of Green is peaceful. Those urging U to pick up arms, B violent R not your friend #iranelection #iran #gr88 04 Nov 2009 from web

ASoldiersMother @sarinaot UN can’t do anything about 500 TONS of weapons seized by Israeli Navy today; too busy talking of Goldstone failed report 04 Nov 2009 from Seesmic in reply to sarinaot

LeilaSaleh @AliDahmash it doesn’t ultimately mean the the ship was carrying arms for Hezbollah. Iran is much more intelligent to give weapons to them 04 Nov 2009 from web in reply to AliDahmash

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Microsoft cuts 800 worldwide jobs

Lisa Wyczesany — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:28:08 +0000

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Microsoft has laid off 800 people in midst of their cost-reduction program announced in January of 2009. Without revealing too much detail, a spokesman confirmed cutting 800 jobs today that will “affect staff internationally and in a range of business units.”

Among one of the most unsuspected to have lost their job with MS is Don Dodge (@dondodge) – Microsoft’s Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team – according to a TechCrunch article. Despite being laid off, Dodge is rather optimistic in his blog.

It’s estimated that after the program is done eliminating jobs, approximately 6.3% of the company’s employees will have been let go.

It’s no surprise that Twitter is full of comments regarding the current situation, affecting people both involved and uninvolved with Microsoft.

peHUB (Boston) I look forward to what you’ll do next. RT @dondodge:Goodbye Microsoft, I have been laid off in the latest round of cuts http://bit.ly/40GW3V 04 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

dbonev (Sofia, Bulgaria) MS laid off @dondodge! This is not simply a HUGE mistake! This simply sucks. I’m sure he’ll quickly find the next big thing. MS loses. A lot 04 Nov 2009 from web

amananderson (Orlando, FL) MIcrosoft announces lay-off of 800 staff today, what’s Apples Secret? I think Apple laid off like 100 people in 2007? – http://tr.im/E9Tf 04 Nov 2009 from DestroyTwitter

defrag (Denver) i’d hate to be the moron that decided to let don dodge go (not knowing the PR sh&tstorm that’d happen). wow. 04 Nov 2009 from web

michblondin (Boston, MA) Microsoft cuts another 800 jobs… just when you think things might turn around.. http://ow.ly/zi4v 04 Nov 2009 from HootSuite

joshdusseau (undisclosed) whats the world comeing to when microsoft is cutting jobs 04 Nov 2009 from txt

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New Zealand mayor: Pay underclass not to breed

Kari O'Rourke — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:04:17 +0000

A New Zealand mayor is under attack after proposing a solution to the country’s child abuse problem by paying the “appalling underclass” not to breed, according to new.com.au.

Michael Laws wrote on the Web site of a New Zealand radio station where he hosts a talk show, “That it would be far better for this appalling underclass to be offered financial inducements not to have children.”

Twitter users did not share the same sentiment:

mcquillanator (Wellington, New Zealand) “What’s every parent’s nightmare?” “Having a child that turns out like Michael Laws.” Win. 29 Oct 2009 from web

christina_evans (Christchurch, New Zealand) Michael Laws wants to sterilise the “underclass” to prevent future crime. Because that’s never gone wrong before, and isn’t highly unethical 30 Oct 2009 from web

sbuxryry (Auckland, New Zealand) Michael Laws should dig a hole in Thailand, get in it and wait for the next Monsoon. 30 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

DorothyDentata (Wellington, New Zealand) Jesus Christ, Michael Laws. What an idiot, let’s just suggest pushing people of low socio-economic backgrounds into being sterilised. *duh* 30 Oct 2009 from web

LianaKaiwai (Brisbane, Australia) Michael Laws – a NZ politician said that the appalling underclass should voluntarily sterilise themselves. Gee thanks Hitler! 30 Oct 2009 from web

gnat (Ti Point, New Zealand) the biggest problem in New Zealand politics is that it’s too late to sterilise Michael Laws’s father. 01 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

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