Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume dies at 83


John Hume, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work ending "The Troubles" in his native Northern Ireland, died on Monday after a short illness, The New York Times reports. He was 83. Hume, a moderate Roman Catholic politician, worked doggedly for peace, inspired by the late U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hume played a major role in peace talks that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair called Hume a "political titan" who "refused to believe the future had to be the same as the past," the BBC reports. Hume's family said it seemed "particularly apt for these strange and fearful days to remember the phrase that gave hope to John and so many of us through dark times: We shall overcome."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.
-
10 things you need to know today: December 5, 2023
Daily Briefing UN warns of 'hellish' situation as southern Gaza fighting intensifies, the GOP debate field narrows to four, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
John Lennon: shocking murder re-examined in TV documentary
Why Everyone's Talking About New first-hand accounts offer fresh insight into killer Mark David Chapman in 'definitive' telling of assassination
By The Week UK Published
-
'Brexit critics should let sleeping dogs lie'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Singer Cassie accuses music mogul Diddy of decade of rape and abuse
Speed Read Rapper denies claims in lawsuit describing him as a 'serial domestic abuser'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Bad Bunny joins in criticism of AI music
Speed Read Concern growing in music industry over generative learning, unauthorised impersonations and copyright issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Friends' star Matthew Perry dies at 54
Speed Read The actor reportedly drowned in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
World's oldest dog ever, Bobi, dies at 31
Speed Read Bobi was an astonishing 217 years old in dog years
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
World's spiciest new pepper is hotter than police pepper spray
Speed Read The 'Pepper X' is around three times hotter than the previous hottest pepper
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
United Airlines prioritizing window seats in attempt to expedite boarding process
Speed Read The process will affect passengers with economy tickets
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Alec Baldwin may be charged again in 'Rust' shooting
Speed Read Prosecutors plan to bring an involuntary manslaughter charge before a grand jury
By Brendan Morrow, The Week US Published