That’s a wrap

To learn more about the Nobel Committee’s decision to award the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, read our story, here.

Learn about past winners of the prize, here.

Or read about this year’s winners of the Nobel prize for chemistry, physics, medicine, and literature.

Here’s what happened today

This live page will soon be closed. Here were today’s top events:

• The Nobel Committee awarded Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado the Nobel Peace Prize, praising her role in unifying the country’s opposition and her “steadfast” support for a transition to democracy.
• Machado, who has been forced to live in hiding since being barred from running in last year’s election, said she was “in shock” following the announcement.
• The UN Human Rights Office said the prize reflects the “clear aspirations of the people of Venezuela for free and fair elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of law”.
• A White House spokesperson criticised the committee for not picking President Donald Trump, who has been outspoken about his desire for the prize, claiming it chose “politics over peace”.

Nobel prize to Machado sends ‘powerful message’ for democracy: EU chief

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has celebrated Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize win, saying it not only honoured her courage “but every voice that refuses to be silenced”.

“In Venezuela and across the world. It sends a powerful message. The spirit of freedom cannot be jailed. The thirst for democracy always prevails. Dear Maria, the fight continues,” von der Leyen, the European Commission president, wrote on social media X.

Berlin praises Machado’s win

The German government has welcomed the Nobel committee’s decision to award this year’s prize to Machado.

“The Nobel committee is honouring her courageous and longstanding commitment to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Venezuela,” a government spokesperson said.

White House says Nobel Committee ‘proved they place politics over peace’

US President Donald Trump has not been shy about his desire for a Nobel Peace prize, touting as of yesterday that he has solved eight global conflicts, including the war in Gaza, throughout his first and second term.

Several of the conflicts Trump has claimed to have solved related to more temporary agreements, not deals for lasting peace.

While Trump’s involvement in some, including the 12-day war between Israel and Iran earlier this year, appear more clear-cut, others are less so. Trump has claimed responsibility for ending an escalation between India and Pakistan, although New Delhi has downplayed his involvement.

Others related more to tensions and not full-fledged conflicts, including tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, in which Trump won no clear breakthroughs. He has also claimed credit for a wide-ranging deal between Serbia and Kosovo to calm tensions during his first term, although many of the provisions were never enacted.

Still, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung has condemned the Nobel Committee for not selecting Trump for the prize.

“[Trump] has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,” Cheung wrote on X.

“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” he said.

President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.

He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.

The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace. https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE

— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 10, 2025

Who is Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado?

• Machado, 58, was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on October 7, 1967.
• She is an industrial engineer by training, and her father was a prominent businessman in Venezuela’s steel industry. Her upper-class roots have been criticised by Venezuela’s governing socialist party.
• Machado won a resounding victory in the opposition’s primary election in 2023 and her rallies attracted large crowds, but a ban from holding public office prevented her from running for president against Nicolas Maduro in an election in 2024, and she went into hiding.
• The country’s electoral authority and top court say Maduro won the election, though they have never published detailed tallies.
• Machado emerged from hiding to make a brief appearance during a protest before Maduro’s inauguration in January. She was briefly arrested and then freed.
• Machado advocates for liberal economic reforms, including the privatisation of state-owned enterprises such as PDVSA, Venezuela’s oil company. She also supports the creation of welfare programs aimed at aiding the country’s poorest.
• Machado is isolated in Venezeula as nearly all of her senior advisers have been detained or forced to leave the country. Machado has accused Maduro’s administration of operating as a “criminal mafia”.

Machado’s win reflects Venezuelans’ aspirations for political rights: UN rights office

The United Nations human rights office has congratulated Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado.

“This recognition reflects the clear aspirations of the people of Venezuela for free and fair elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of law,” said OHCHR spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan.

Machado’s award is ‘prize for democracy’: PRIO

The decision to award Venezuela’s Machado is a “prize for democracy”, says Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) director, Nina Graeger.

“At a moment when authoritarianism is on the rise across the world, this award highlights the courage of those who defend freedom with ballots, not bullets,” Graeger said in a post on X.

“Machado’s courageous commitment to free and fair elections and accountable governance in Venezuela reflects the belief that lasting peace is built on the foundations of democracy.”

She added: “This year, PRIO’s own shortlist for the Nobel Peace Prize emphasised the crucial role of election observers – the very work Machado has long contributed to – underscoring that credible elections remain the cornerstone of democracy and peace.”