Nobel Harmony Prize declared Friday, potential competitors who

 Nobel Harmony Prize declared Friday, potential competitors who?

The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on Friday, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among the nominees. In a challenging year for global peace, this award is viewed as a beacon of hope.

This year's nomination process has highlighted various pressing issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, famine in Sudan, and the climate crisis. As a result, experts are rushing to make last-minute predictions about the winner.

There are 197 individuals and 89 organizations nominated from a total of 286 candidates this year. Norway's Nobel committee has kept nominees secret for 50 years, but those eligible to nominate can publicly reveal their choices.

The Norwegian Peace Council suggests that UNRWA may receive the prize, recognizing its vital aid to millions of Palestinians amidst a turbulent political landscape. This follows last year's attacks by Hamas on Israel, which ignited severe clashes and heightened tensions throughout the region.

If UNRWA were to win, it would be a significant acknowledgment of its work, despite criticism regarding its association with Hamas, which Israel claims has ties to the agency.

Another potential recipient is the ICJ, which seeks to resolve international conflicts peacefully. Based in The Hague, the court has issued orders against Russian aggression in Ukraine and called for an end to military operations in Gaza, although these directives have often gone unheeded.

Nobel historian Eslie Sivin believes the prize should go to Guterres, suggesting he could share it with any UN organization, highlighting the urgent need to address the UN's diminishing relevance in global affairs.

Other contenders include the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, and Afghan women's rights activist Mahbooba Siraj. However, Dan Smith from SIPRI warns that the ongoing instability worldwide may mean no one is likely to win the prize this year.

Despite the challenges, Nobel committee secretary Olav Enjolstad remains optimistic about finding a deserving recipient for this year's award.