The peace deal was voted down in a referendum this week in which a narrow majority of 50.2% to 49.8%, a difference of fewer than 54,000 votes, rejected the plan. Santos and the leader of the FARC rebel group, Rodrigo Londoño, known as Timochenko, were both considered leading contenders for the prize after signing the peace deal last month to end 52 years of war. The aim of this Noble Prize, according to the Norwegian Nobel committee, is to encourage all parties to continue working towards peace. President Santos spoke to the press, after winning the Nobel Prize and referenced being “infinitely grateful for this honourable distinction” and he dedicated the prize to “the millions of victims of the conflict which we have suffered for more than 50 years.” The award of the prize to Santos comes as a surprise to many Colombians who believed his chances had been scuttled by the rejection of the peace deal. Nonetheless, the two sides, after having recognized the outcome of the referendum, which rejected the deal they had finalised in August, have indicated that the negotiating teams were open to studying other proposals. The gLAWcal Team Friday, 07 October 2016 (Source: The Guardian)