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Updated 18 Mar, 2016 02:01pm

From Abbottabad raid to 'Oscar selfie' — memorable events in decade of Twitter

WASHINGTON: Over its 10-year history, Twitter has marked numerous world events and created its own unique moments.

Here are a few key milestones in Twitter history:

March 2006

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (@jack) sent the first tweet, an automated message saying “just setting up my twttr”. That same day, he sent the first live tweet, "inviting coworkers".

Top Twitter accounts.-AFP

April 2008

US university student James Buck (@jamesbuck) got off a one-word tweet “Arrested” after being taken into custody by Egyptian authorities at an anti-government protest in that country.

In what is seen as an early demonstration of the power of Twitter to rally people to a cause, the resulting outcry prompted authorities to quickly restore his liberty.

He proclaimed his release in a tweet reading "Free".

January 2009

“There's a plane in the Hudson. I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy.”

Latvian-American Janis Kums (@jkrums) delivers news of a US Airways jet that crash-landed on the Hudson River in New York, breaking the story ahead of mainstream media outlets.

May 2009

The first tweet from space from astronaut Mike Massimino (@astro_mike): “From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!"

2011

The #ArabSpring hashtag takes hold on Twitter, underscoring the importance of the messaging platform in pro-democracy uprisings starting in Tunisia.

May 2011

“Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event)."

IT consultant Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) unknowingly tweets about US Navy Seals raiding a nearby home in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding.

Bin Laden was killed during the operation.

See: Bin Laden tweeter becomes Internet sensation

November 2012

President Barack Obama (@BarackObama) tweets “Four more years” to proclaim his re-election victory along with a picture of him and his wife, Michelle, hugging. The post was the most shared tweet at that time.

December 2012

Pope Benedict XVI launched the first papal Twitter account (@pontifex), which was continued by his successor, Pope Francis.

The first message was “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."

March 2014

A picture tweeted live from the Oscars ceremony by Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) with Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt and taken by Bradley Cooper is retweeted more than three million times, a record:

“If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars"

Know: Oscar selfie becomes highest retweeted image in history

June 2014

The Central Intelligence Agency (@cia) shows a sense of humor:

"We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet."

June 2015

Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) makes her new transgender identity public.

"I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me."

The message is retweeted more than 250,000 times.

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