Gareth O’Connor
@garethoconnor.bsky.social
Broadcaster, journalist (NUJ) Executive Producer 📺 📱 💻
🌍 Ireland, Planet Earth. GenX https://linktr.ee/garethnews
🌍 Ireland, Planet Earth. GenX https://linktr.ee/garethnews
Pinned
Lesson: social media followers are often ‘borrowed audiences’, own your own digital media real-estate. Write a blog or newsletter.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
The statement from Ireland ⤵️
January 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
The statement from Ireland ⤵️
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
BREAKING: Deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face charges after an indictment, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says. Follow AP's live updates.
Live updates: US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had struck Venezuela early Saturday and said its president, Nicolás Maduro, had been captured and flown out of the country.
bit.ly
January 3, 2026 at 12:33 PM
BREAKING: Deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face charges after an indictment, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says. Follow AP's live updates.
The ‘fog of war’ is real, check your sources in a time of crisis like this. 📱
January 3, 2026 at 11:36 AM
The ‘fog of war’ is real, check your sources in a time of crisis like this. 📱
First EU response to the fast-moving events in Venezuela
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 11:14 AM
First EU response to the fast-moving events in Venezuela
Another crisis brewing here
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insisted that “rioters must be put in their place” after a week of protests that have shaken the Islamic Republic, likely giving security forces a green light to aggressively put down the demonstrations.
Iran's leader says rioters 'must be put in their place' as protest death toll reaches at least 10
Iran’s supreme leader has addressed the ongoing protests, insisting that “rioters must be put in their place.”
bit.ly
January 3, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Another crisis brewing here
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
If no one noticed yet the events in Venezuela are also a sign that when things hit tipping point in Tehran then Russia and China won't be able to save the regime in Iran either
January 3, 2026 at 10:24 AM
If no one noticed yet the events in Venezuela are also a sign that when things hit tipping point in Tehran then Russia and China won't be able to save the regime in Iran either
Sky News sources say it was a “negotiated exit” by Maduro with the Americans
January 3, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Sky News sources say it was a “negotiated exit” by Maduro with the Americans
Those TV shots of low-flying military helicopters, apparently Chinooks, over Caracas now make sense.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Those TV shots of low-flying military helicopters, apparently Chinooks, over Caracas now make sense.
Be interesting to see what stance western governments, including Ireland, take on this one
January 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Be interesting to see what stance western governments, including Ireland, take on this one
Trump says Maduro “captured” by U.S. forces
BREAKING: Trump says the U.S. has carried out a 'large scale' strike against Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Live updates: Explosions reported around Venezuela's capital
Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.
nbcnews.to
January 3, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Trump says Maduro “captured” by U.S. forces
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
Trump, whose political ascent within the Republican Party would likely not have been possible without the nightmare of Iraq, seems a born again convert to regime change. Potentially big consequences for the MAGA movement and internationally. Could be just the beginning.
January 3, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Trump, whose political ascent within the Republican Party would likely not have been possible without the nightmare of Iraq, seems a born again convert to regime change. Potentially big consequences for the MAGA movement and internationally. Could be just the beginning.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
Videos showed explosions in Venezuela's capital Caracas and the coastal city of Higuerote in the early hours of Saturday.
https://l.euronews.com/mzxn
https://l.euronews.com/mzxn
January 3, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Videos showed explosions in Venezuela's capital Caracas and the coastal city of Higuerote in the early hours of Saturday.
https://l.euronews.com/mzxn
https://l.euronews.com/mzxn
CBS News, citing U.S. officials, says Trump has ordered airstrikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities.
January 3, 2026 at 7:54 AM
CBS News, citing U.S. officials, says Trump has ordered airstrikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
APNewsAlert: CARACAS, #Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government accuses US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states; no word from US.
January 3, 2026 at 7:45 AM
APNewsAlert: CARACAS, #Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government accuses US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states; no word from US.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
Explosions reported in Venezuelan capital Caracas
Explosions reported in Venezuelan capital Caracas
Loud noises and low-flying aircraft heard in the Venezuelan capital and a southern part of the city was without power
Explosions, loud noises and low-flying aircraft have been heard in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and a southern part of the city was without power, according to reports and witnesses. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosions
At least seven explosions were heard about 2am local time and people in various neighbourhoods rushed to the street, the Associated Press reports. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Explosions reported in Venezuelan capital Caracas
Breaking news: Explosions in Caracas, Venezuela
January 3, 2026 at 7:27 AM
Breaking news: Explosions in Caracas, Venezuela
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
Watch Iran in 2026
Trump threatens Iran over protest deaths as unrest flares reut.rs/4qx7zOh
Trump threatens Iran over protest deaths as unrest flares
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them, days into unrest that has left several dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years.
reut.rs
January 2, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Watch Iran in 2026
Saturday front pages 📰 #TomorrowsPapersToday
January 2, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Saturday front pages 📰 #TomorrowsPapersToday
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest electric car seller
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest electric car seller
Sales at Elon Musk’s company slump after Donald Trump’s withdrawal of EV subsidies
China’s BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest electric carmaker in 2025, after the US company run by Elon Musk reported a slump in deliveries at the end of the year.
BYD sold 2.26m battery electric cars during the year, easily outstripping the 1.63m deliveries reported on Friday by Tesla for the same period. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest electric car seller
BBC 10pm leads with the deadly ski resort fire and the heartbreaking search for the missing teenagers
January 2, 2026 at 10:03 PM
BBC 10pm leads with the deadly ski resort fire and the heartbreaking search for the missing teenagers
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
BREAKING: Swiss officials believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling.
Swiss investigators believe sparkling flares atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire
Swiss investigators believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to a crowded bar’s ceiling.
bit.ly
January 2, 2026 at 3:26 PM
BREAKING: Swiss officials believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
Due to feedback from our testers, we have decided to patch "Happy New Year" to "Acceptable New Year" to avoid disappointment and better match the realities of the market.
January 2, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Due to feedback from our testers, we have decided to patch "Happy New Year" to "Acceptable New Year" to avoid disappointment and better match the realities of the market.
Reposted by Gareth O’Connor
FTSE 100 at a record high 10,000 points today!
Impressive!
Accounting for inflation it's the highest since 2018, ish. And possibly heading levels not seen since the Global Financial Crisis.
Impressive!
Accounting for inflation it's the highest since 2018, ish. And possibly heading levels not seen since the Global Financial Crisis.
January 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM
FTSE 100 at a record high 10,000 points today!
Impressive!
Accounting for inflation it's the highest since 2018, ish. And possibly heading levels not seen since the Global Financial Crisis.
Impressive!
Accounting for inflation it's the highest since 2018, ish. And possibly heading levels not seen since the Global Financial Crisis.
Watch Iran in 2026
Trump threatens Iran over protest deaths as unrest flares reut.rs/4qx7zOh
Trump threatens Iran over protest deaths as unrest flares
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them, days into unrest that has left several dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years.
reut.rs
January 2, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Watch Iran in 2026