ISS EMERGES AMONG FAVOURITES FOR THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE?

OSLO, OCTOBER 2 /SRNA/ - This year's Nobel Peace Prize could most likely go to the International Space Station /ISS/ for its contribution to global cooperation and good relations, AP reported, citing forecasts by experts and enthusiasts.

Ahead of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement, speculation is mounting over who could receive the prestigious award, with this year's possible contenders including, in addition to the ISS, US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, emergency response teams in Sudan, organizations advocating for the rights of children in conflict zones, and two international courts.

Hakon Gjerlow, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said the ISS, or rather the organization behind it, was a rare symbol of global cooperation in the pursuit of space exploration at a time when multilateralism is weakening and many countries are turning towards narrower national interests.

Over the years, there have been surprising and controversial choices, as well as increasingly frequent accusations that the Nobel Peace Prize has become politicized and lacking in objectivity.

A total of 287 candidates have been nominated for this year's prize, with organizations accounting for just over a quarter of them.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce the winner of the award, often described as one of the world's most prestigious honors, in Oslo on October 9.