• The Nobel Committee investigates a potential leak linked to espionage concerning Maria Corina Machado's Nobel win.
• Machado's winning odds surged unexpectedly, prompting suspicions of prior knowledge.
• Committee officials emphasize the rarity of leaks, despite this incident appearing suspicious.

The Nobel Institute announced that it is investigating a potential leak regarding Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose Nobel Peace Prize win was "highly likely" the result of espionage. The odds of her winning surged from 3.75% to near 73% on the betting platform Polymarket just hours prior to the official announcement, raising questions about possible inside information, according to Indiatimes, TRT Global, and CBS News.

Kristian Berg Harpviken, the director of the Nobel Institute, stated, "Highly likely it's espionage," during a press conference, elaborating on the investigation's purpose to understand whether trading on Polymarket was influenced by a leak. Harpviken indicated that espionage often aims to extract valuable information from the Nobel Institute, which has been a target for many years, according to Indiatimes, TRT Global, and CBS News.

The Nobel Committee confirmed Machado's win, marking a significant moment as she became the first Venezuelan and fourth South American to receive the prize, celebrating her advocacy for democratic rights in a struggling nation. This announcement, however, was met with scrutiny regarding her previous statements in support of Israel, raising concerns about the motivations behind the award, particularly from US political figures, according to TRT Global.

Although the sudden spike in betting odds suggests prior knowledge of Machado's win, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the committee's chairman, expressed disbelief that any leaks had ever occurred. He stated that while the committee would enhance security measures if necessary, he could not imagine that a leak had happened, a remark corroborated by various sources, Indiatimes, TRT Global, and CBS News.