Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado receives the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to promoting democratic rights amidst political turmoil.

OSLO - The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, a leading figure in Venezuela's opposition. The accolade honors her relentless advocacy for democratic rights within her troubled nation.

Machado, 58, has distinguished herself as a vocal critic of authoritarianism under President Nicolás Maduro. Her efforts to push for free elections and human rights have persisted despite years of Venezuela's political and economic instability.

The decision arrives amid widespread speculation that former US President Donald Trump might have been a contender due to his endeavors in Middle East peace negotiations.

The committee highlighted Machado’s "unwavering courage against repression" and her steadfast dedication to achieving democratic change through nonviolent means as quintessential attributes aligning with the spirit of the Peace Prize.

This year witnessed 338 nominations competing for the prize, comprising 244 individuals alongside 94 organizations, according to official data from the committee.

The previous year saw Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots collective formed by atomic bombing survivors, honored for its unwavering promotion of nuclear disarmament and raising awareness of its devastating impacts.

Established in 1901, the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize has been conferred 105 times upon 142 laureates, including 111 individuals and 31 organizations. Notably, the International Committee of the Red Cross is a three-time recipient while UNHCR has won twice.

A brainchild of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Prizes laud outstanding contributions across various fields including peace, literature, medicine, physics, chemistry-with an economics category introduced in 1969. - Agencies