International

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado named Nobel Peace Prize winner

Published

2 months ago

October 10, 2025

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Maria Corina Machado

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado named Nobel Peace Prize winner

Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy campaigner Maria Corina Machado has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The committee praised her for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights… and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”.

It said she had resisted death threats and been forced into hiding in her fight against President Nicolas Maduro – widely considered a dictator.

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,” Nobel added.

The committee said Ms Machado had stayed in Venezuela despite personal risk, calling it a “choice that has inspired millions of people”.

“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk,” it said.

There was speculation Donald Trump had an outside chance despite nominations closing less then two weeks after he started his second term.

The president claims he has stopped seven wars since then – an assertion widely disputed – and last month said “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also put the president’s name forward for the award in July.

The White House criticised the Nobel committee’s decision on Friday.

“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,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a post on X.

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

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Nina Graeger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, told Sky News if Mr Trump’s Gaza peace deal leads to “a lasting and sustainable peace… the committee would almost certainly have to take that into serious consideration in next year’s deliberations”.

‘Extraordinary example of courage’

Ms Machado, 58, was lauded by the Nobel committee as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times”.

Writing on X after her win was announced, she said: “This immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is an impetus to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.

“We are on the threshold of victory and today more than ever we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies to achieve Freedom and democracy. Venezuela will be free!”

Her candidacy for last year’s election was blocked by the Maduro regime but she backed Edmundo Gonzalez, the leader of another party.

Opposition groups organised hundreds of thousands of volunteers to observe voting, despite risks to their safety, and ensured tallies were recorded “before the regime could destroy ballots and lie about the outcome”, added the Nobel committee.

President Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, claimed a third term despite exit polls pointing to a decisive opposition win.

He said his re-election was a triumph of peace and stability and claimed the electoral system was transparent.

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Ms Machado disputed the result and said Edmundo Gonzalez had recorded an “overwhelming” victory.

The country’s highest court upheld the result – but the United Nations said it wasn’t impartial or independent.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state at the time, said America had “serious concerns”, while the UK said it was “concerned by allegations of serious irregularities in the counting”.

Nobel said Ms Machado first stood up for free and fair elections more than 20 years ago, when she called for “ballots over bullets”, and had campaigned on issues such as judicial independence and human rights.

A Nobel video on social media recorded her reaction on the other end of the line when she got the call telling her she had won.

“Oh my God… I have no words,” she said.

“I thank you so much, but I hope you understand this is a movement, this is an achievement of a whole society. I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve it,” she added.

It’s currently unclear whether she will be able to travel to Norway for the official ceremony on 10 December.

The committee painted a bleak picture of Ms Machado’s home country, saying many in Venezuela – which has the world’s largest oil reserves – live in serious poverty after it went from a “relatively democratic and prosperous country to a brutal, authoritarian state”.

“The violent machinery of the state is directed against the country’s own citizens,” it said, noting about eight million people had left the country – many of them heading north to try to enter America.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado named Nobel Peace Prize winner

Skynews

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International

Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals

Published

7 hours ago

December 6, 2025

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Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals

A 38-year-old doctor, Nathaniel John Spencer, from Quinton, Birmingham, has been formally charged with multiple sexual offenses involving 38 patients across major West Midlands hospitals, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on Friday.

According to the CPS, Spencer faces 15 counts of sexual assault, 17 counts of assault by penetration, nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and one count of attempted assault by penetration.

The charges follow what authorities described as a “detailed and complex investigation” carried out by the Public Protection Unit into reported offenses at Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent and Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. The alleged incidents took place between 2017 and 2021.

Spencer is expected to appear before the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on January 20, 2026.

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Both the CPS and Staffordshire Police declined to provide additional details regarding the number of children involved, citing the sensitive and ongoing nature of the case.

The CPS confirmed that the decision to prosecute was reached after extensive evidence review. In the meantime, Spencer has been suspended from medical practice in the UK pending further developments.

Employment records show he worked as a resident doctor (junior doctor) at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust from August 2017 to August 2020, before moving to The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, where he served from August 2020 to April 2021.

Both NHS trusts have opened dedicated helplines for patients who may have concerns about their care.

Dr. Paul Hudson, Operational Medical Director of The Dudley Group, said the allegations were “deeply distressing” for patients, staff, and the wider community, adding that the trust had cooperated fully with police investigations.

UHNM also stated that it could not comment further due to the ongoing criminal proceedings but reassured the public that patient safety remains its highest priority.

The General Medical Council (GMC) confirmed that Spencer has been suspended while it investigates his fitness to practise, noting that the disciplinary process will resume once the criminal case concludes.

Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals

International

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

Meta announced on Thursday that it will begin removing under-16 users in Australia from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, ahead of the country’s pioneering youth social media ban. Australia’s law, which also affects TikTok and YouTube, comes into effect on December 10 and requires platforms to block underage users or face fines of AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million) for failing to take “reasonable steps” to comply.

A Meta spokesperson said the company is working to remove all users believed to be under 16 by the deadline. Young users will be able to download and save their online histories, and upon turning 16, regain access with their content fully restored.

The law is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of Australian adolescents, with Instagram alone reporting roughly 350,000 users aged 13 to 15. Platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp are currently exempt, though the exemption list is under review.

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While committing to compliance, Meta urged app stores to take responsibility for age verification and parental approval at download, arguing this would reduce repeated verification across multiple apps and ensure teens remain in age-appropriate experiences.

YouTube has criticized the law, claiming it could make under-16s less safe by removing safety filters if they access the site without an account. Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells dismissed this as “weird,” noting that the law aims to protect teens from harmful algorithm-driven content that can negatively affect self-esteem.

The law has faced legal challenges. The Digital Freedom Project has launched a High Court case, arguing the ban infringes on freedom of speech. Authorities also anticipate attempts by teens to bypass the restrictions using fake IDs or AI tools.

Australia’s ban is drawing global attention as other countries consider similar measures. Malaysia plans to block children under 16 from social media next year, while New Zealand is preparing to introduce a similar law.

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

International

Putin Warns Europe: Russia Ready to Fight as Peace Talks Over Ukraine Continue

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin Warns Europe: Russia Ready to Fight as Peace Talks Over Ukraine Continue

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Europe, declaring that demands for an end to the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Kyiv are “not acceptable.” Speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, Putin insisted that while Russia does not seek conflict with Europe, it is ready to fight if challenged.

Putin accused European nations of withdrawing from the peace process and lacking a genuine diplomatic agenda, claiming that European actions are hindering U.S.-led negotiations aimed at resolving the war.
“We are not going to fight with Europe, but if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready right now,” he said.

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The remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss an amended peace plan for Ukraine, following criticism that the original 28-point draft was overly favorable to Russia. Sources indicate that the updated proposals focus on territorial disputes, security guarantees, and financial matters, including the use of frozen Russian assets, though full details have not been disclosed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the peace plan as a potential avenue to end the war but stressed that territorial issues and financial guarantees must be resolved, alongside robust security assurances to prevent further Russian aggression.

Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, with Pokrovsk witnessing clashes despite Russian claims of control. Zelenskyy is currently in Ireland, meeting with President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who announced €125 million in aid for Ukraine, including non-lethal military support and energy assistance, reaffirming solidarity as the conflict enters a critical phase.

Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation in Russia, including Witkoff and Jared Kushner, toured Moscow ahead of the talks. The Kremlin has indicated that discussions will continue “as long as it takes” to achieve progress, underscoring the high stakes of ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.

This development highlights escalating tensions between Russia and Europe while international stakeholders push for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war.