The Nobel peace prize has been awarded to President Santos of Colombia for his efforts to end the country’s 52-year civil war, despite the failure of his peace accord to win public support in a referendum. The prize committee overlooked a Syrian rescue group, the White Helmets; negotiators for the Iranian nuclear deal; and migrants’ rights groups. Observers were surprised that the Colombian peace deal with Farc rebels — a clear favourite for the prize when it was signed last month — was honoured after its defeat in a referendum last weekend. A supporter of the peace deal weeps after the referendum to endorse it was voted down Ariana Cubillos/AP PhotoThe committee spokeswoman denied that the award showed…

Source: The Times October 07, 2016 10:52 UTC