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Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Machado Wins Nobel Peace Prize as Trump Misses Out

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The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Venezuela’s opposition leader and democracy advocate, Maria Corina Machado, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday.

Machado was honoured “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo.

Before entering politics, Machado studied engineering and finance. She briefly worked in business before founding an organisation dedicated to supporting street children in Caracas.

According to the Committee, Machado “meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate.”

It added, “She has brought her country’s opposition together. She has never wavered in resisting the militarization of Venezuelan society. She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy.”

Meanwhile, President of the United States, Donald Trump, who had claimed he deserved to win the prize, was not selected.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has repeatedly asserted that he should receive the award because, according to him, he has ended at least “seven wars.”

On Wednesday, October 8, he took credit for what he described as the possible end to an eighth conflict after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire based on his 20-point peace plan.

The following day, he reiterated his position.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do, really, but I know this: that nobody in history has solved eight wars in a period of nine months, and I’ve stopped eight wars,” Trump said on Thursday. “So that’s never happened before, but they’ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I saved a lot of lives.”

This year’s Peace Prize announcement is part of the Nobel week of recognitions running from October 6 to 13.

A total of 338 nominations were received for the 2025 award, including 244 individuals and 94 organisations.

The Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, and literature were created under the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite who died in 1896.

The prize in economic sciences was later introduced by Sweden’s central bank in 1968.

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FeaturedWorld

El Salvador President Skips UNGA, Calls Summit “Pointless Waste of Time”

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El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele opted out of this year’s United Nations General Assembly, describing the event as “pointless” and a “waste of time.”

Bukele announced his decision on social media, sharing a video of his speech from last year’s session for those interested in his previous remarks.

Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has routinely attended the annual gathering in New York, making this year’s absence a notable departure from tradition.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Bukele wrote: “I skipped the United Nations General Assembly this time, it felt pointless this year. But you can always watch last year’s speech if you feel like wasting time the way I did.”

A two-minute video attached to the post captures his 2024 speech to the assembly, where he delivered a stark warning about the erosion of liberty in democratic societies.

He described a grim landscape of urban decay, marked by rampant gang violence, drug abuse, and organized crime.

He also accused governments of coercing social media platforms into silencing dissent, portraying a world where freedom of expression is increasingly under siege.

“Today, the free world is no longer free. This is no exaggeration. Tragically, we can see undeniable evidence of this decline every day,” he said in the 2024 video.

“The new threats of war continue to grow. When the free world became free, it was thanks to its principles of freedom of expression, equality under the law, unity, and respect for private property. But once a nation abandons the principles that make it free, it is only a matter of time before it loses its freedom completely.

“The consequences are playing out before our eyes. We can see them. In some cities, in the so-called first world, stores need to lock their wares behind glass doors to prevent theft.

“It is not limited to expensive items; simple things like chocolate bars or razors are locked away. In other cities, the streets no longer belong to the people; they have fallen prey to homelessness, gangs, organised crime, and drugs.”

Bukele’s absence comes amid his increasingly confrontational stance toward international institutions and human rights organizations.

His government has been operating under a state of exception since 2022, allowing mass arrests without warrants in a sweeping crackdown on gangs.

While this policy has led to over 89,000 detentions and a dramatic drop in violent crime, it has also drawn criticism for alleged abuses and wrongful imprisonments.

Despite international scrutiny, Bukele remains highly popular at home. He won reelection in February 2025 with over 80% of the vote, despite El Salvador’s constitution previously barring immediate reelection.

His party later passed reforms allowing indefinite presidential terms, a move seen by critics as entrenching his power.

Bukele’s tough-on-crime policies have earned praise from U.S. President Donald Trump, who cited El Salvador’s approach as a model during his own UNGA speech. Bukele responded with gratitude, highlighting their cooperation on migration and gang enforcement.

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World

Hundreds Walk Out on Netanyahu’s UN Speech

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Several hundred diplomats from across the globe staged a mass walkout at the UN General Assembly hall as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered to deliver his address.

Those who exited included representatives from Arab, Muslim, and African nations, as well as delegates from several European countries.

Netanyahu’s supporters attempted to overshadow the protest by clapping loudly and standing in ovation for several minutes.

Joining the premier’s entourage in the side-gallery with Sara Netanyahu was New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York sparked demonstrations as dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber while he spoke to world leaders today.

The mass exit underscored the sharp rifts within the United Nations over Israel’s policies. While some applauded Netanyahu, others staged a protest walkout. In his remarks, Netanyahu said Tel Aviv must finish the fight against Hamas.

He claimed that Hamas indoctrinates children to hate Jews and destroy Israel. Netanyahu denied allegations of targeting civilians in Gaza. He also condemned countries recognizing a Palestinian state, calling it disgraceful, and described Israel’s mission as a battle against terrorism.

More than 100 diplomats from over 50 countries staged the walkout as Netanyahu entered the hall, according to a tally by the Washington Post.

Netanyahu’s speech came a day after Donald Trump declared he would block Netanyahu from annexing West Bank territories in response to growing international support for Palestinian statehood. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank … It’s not going to happen,” Trump said.

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Netanyahu Dodges Europe, reroutes flight to UN over ICC fears

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane took an unusual route to New York on Thursday, skirting several European countries en route to the United Nations General Assembly.

Netanyahu left Israel with his wife on Wednesday evening for the UNGA and is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House.

His flight, which would normally cross several European countries, instead travelled the length of the Mediterranean Sea and over the Strait of Gibraltar, according to flight tracking platforms.

The jet briefly passed over Greece and Italy, FlightRadar24 reported, but deliberately avoided French and Spanish airspace, extending the travel time.

Although France had authorised Israeli use of its skies, a French diplomatic source confirmed to AFP, flight data showed Netanyahu’s aircraft opted for a southern detour.

After entering Greece and Italy, the flight veered south through the Strait of Gibraltar before heading across the Atlantic.

Britain, France, and Portugal were among countries that recognised a Palestinian state this week, a move Netanyahu fiercely opposes.

Ireland and Spain had announced similar recognition in May.

Israeli outlets reported that the detour was meant to bypass countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, which could enforce an International Criminal Court warrant in the event of an emergency landing.

In November, the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Spain recently declared support for the ICC investigation and set up a team to probe human rights violations in Gaza as part of its push to pressure Israel.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday before meeting Trump in Washington.

“I am now leaving with my wife for the UN General Assembly and Washington. At the UN General Assembly, I will speak our truth — the truth of the citizens of Israel, the truth of the IDF soldiers, and the truth of our country,” Netanyahu said before departure.

“I will denounce those leaders who, instead of denouncing the murderers, rapists, and child burners, want to give them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel. This will not happen,” he continued.

“In Washington,” he added, “I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump and discuss with him the great opportunities that our victories have brought and also our need to complete the goals of the war: to return all our hostages, to defeat Hamas, and to expand the circle of peace that is open to us following the historic victory in ‘Am Kalavi’ and other victories that we have achieved.”

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World

Trump Attacks UN, Europe, Claims Credits for ‘Ending 7 Wars’ at UNGA

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President Donald Trump lashed out at the United Nations during his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, insisting he had ended seven “unendable wars” and lamenting that the global body failed to act.

In his first UN appearance since his return to the White House, Trump also faulted the institution for not supporting his peace efforts in Gaza, Ukraine, and other hotspots.

“What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump asked during his nearly hour-long remarks. “It has such tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that.”

Depicting the UN as outdated and ineffective, Trump claimed he resolved conflicts the body ignored.

“It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them,” Trump said. “I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalizing the deal.”

The former president also griped about a malfunctioning teleprompter and a broken escalator at the venue, saying the organization had “tremendous potential” but continued to fall short.

While pushing for peace — and eyeing a Nobel Prize — Trump’s tone was unmistakably combative.

He rebuked European leaders on immigration, warning their nations were being “destroyed.” He threatened drug cartels, vowing to “blow you out of existence.” He derided climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” and slammed allies for considering Palestinian statehood, calling it “too great a reward for Hamas.”

Trump touted his crime-fighting policies, referencing the deployment of troops to Washington and deadly strikes on Venezuelan drug boats.

“To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence,” he declared.

His second term has ushered in hardline nationalist policies limiting US cooperation with global bodies. He has withdrawn from the World Health Organization and the UN climate accord, reduced development aid, and imposed sanctions on foreign judges he accuses of violating sovereignty.

Opening the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that US-led aid cuts were “wreaking havoc” worldwide.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also raised alarm over “anti-democratic forces” in his country, tied to a coup attempt by his predecessor — an ally of Trump. Still, Trump said he and Lula shared a hug and agreed to meet next week.

On Ukraine, Trump is set to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky again, following his August talks in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin — a meeting that eased Moscow’s isolation but yielded no breakthrough.

Ahead of Trump’s speech, the US Secret Service announced it had disrupted a plot by “nation-state threat actors” to interfere with telecommunications around the UN.

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FeaturedWorld

Israel-Palestine: 138 Nations Back Two-State Solution at UN (Full List)

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Nigeria, on Friday, joined 138 other nations in endorsing the New York Declaration on the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Applause filled the UN General Assembly Hall as member states backed the declaration on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of a two-state solution with Israel.

The New York Declaration followed an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, co-organised by France and Saudi Arabia, with sessions scheduled to resume later this month.

Out of 193 UN member states, 142 voted in favour of the resolution supporting the document. Israel opposed it, along with nine other countries: Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States, while 12 countries abstained.

Ahead of the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont stressed that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution.”

The roadmap includes an immediate Gaza ceasefire, the release of hostages, the creation of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, disarmament of Hamas, its exclusion from Gaza governance, normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab nations, and collective security guarantees.

Speaking before the Assembly, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the plan, saying, “this one-sided Declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, only as another hollow gesture that weakens this Assembly’s credibility.”

He added that “Hamas is the biggest winner of any endorsement here today” and would present it as “the fruit of 7th October.”

The July high-level conference took place amid the war in Gaza and fading prospects for achieving a two-state solution.

At the opening, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the stance that the two-state solution is at the core of peace in the region.

“The central question for Middle East peace is implementation of the two-State solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic States – Israel and Palestine – live side-by-side in peace and security.”

(NAN)

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IPU: Natasha Akpoti afraid to return to Nigeria – Sources

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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended Kogi Central Senator, is reportedly afraid to return to Nigeria following her remarks at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), sources have revealed.

According to sources close to the senator, she fears that she will be arrested as soon as she arrives in the country.

On March 11, during an IPU session held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about her suspension, claiming it was an attempt to silence her over her sexual harassment allegations.

She also condemned what she described as an “unlawful suspension” from the Senate.

Her speech at the IPU followed the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate after it received a report from its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Neda Imasuen.

Following her statement at the IPU, sources reveal that she has been unable to return to Nigeria due to fears of being arrested.

Reports indicate that the embattled senator is currently under investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

According to a report by Premium Times, the investigation aims to determine how she obtained accreditation for the IPU event, who facilitated her trip, and whether her participation was orchestrated to embarrass the Nigerian government.

Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele questioned the legality of the Kogi lawmaker’s attendance at the IPU.

Bamidele emphasised that Nigeria’s membership in the international body is through the National Assembly and not individuals.

He said, “Inter-Parliamentary organizations, including the IPU, operate based on protocols. Membership is by national parliamentary organisations, not individuals. Those who attend are designated delegates, speaking on behalf of their Parliament.

“If, for any reason, a colleague who was not even designated as a delegate found her way there and spoke for herself rather than for Nigeria, that is another issue altogether.”

Similarly, Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, stated that he did not approve Akpoti-Uduaghan’s name as a delegate to the IPU.

He said, “I did not approve or authorize the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria or the Senate President.”

Responding to questions about her attendance at the IPU, a source close to Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that she narrowly escaped arrest in New York due to the intervention of other parliamentarians and remains uncertain about what awaits her in Nigeria.

One of the sources said, “She told some of us that plans are in motion to detain her the moment she steps into Abuja.

“She narrated how some officers of Nigeria’s embassy in New York, attempted to remove her from the United Nations premises immediately after her speech.”

The source added, “It was the intervention of lawmakers from other countries and security personnel that saved her.

“We can’t fathom what would have happened if they had successfully taken her out of the premises.”

Similarly, a lawmaker, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan was under surveillance by security agencies.

The lawmaker stated, “As it is now, she is afraid of returning to the country.

“She is currently on a watchlist, and the moment she lands, she will be arrested

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