Established to reward the promotion of peace, the award has long been contaminated by politics and bias
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has accused the Nobel Foundation of breaking Swedish law when it bestowed its highest honor upon the pugilistic Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Before he died in 1896, the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel made sure that his last will and testament was straightforward and unambiguous: The Nobel Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who in the preceding year has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
Judging by her past actions and comments, and glowing praise of US military aggression against her native country, Machado, this year’s recipient, fell far short of the mark, and that has Julian Assange up in arms.
In his criminal complaint filed this week in Sweden, Assange accused 30 individuals associated with the Nobel Foundation of committing serious crimes, including the crime of gross misappropriation of funds, facilitation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the financing of the crime of aggression. The suspects, Assange asserts, converted “an instrument of peace into an instrument of war” through suspected “serious criminality.” For her part in all of this, Machado should be considered ineligible to receive her Peace Prize award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1.18 million).
It seems that Assange has a point. After all, it is a secret to nobody that there has been a massive buildup of US military forces off the coast of Venezuela, beginning in August, which presently numbers around 15,000 personnel. This is the largest military buildup in the Caribbean Sea since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and Machado seems absolutely fine with this. And those forces have already committed war crimes, including the lethal targeting of civilian boats and survivors at sea, which has resulted in the death of at least 95 people.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights labeled these US coastal strikes against civilian boats “extrajudicial executions,” the WikiLeaks co-founder noted. And the “principal architect of this aggression” was none other than US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who nominated Machado for the Peace Prize.
“Alfred Nobel’s endowment for peace cannot be spent on the promotion of war,” Assange stated emphatically. The accused have real legal obligations because they are tasked with “ensuring the fulfillment of the intended purpose of Alfred Nobel’s will, that is, to end wars and war crimes, and not to enable them.”
Meanwhile, Machado and the US government have exploited the reputation of the Peace Prize to provide them with a casus moralis – a moral case for war against the South American nation and the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the former bus driver and trade union leader turned-national hero. Following a US-led regime change modus operandi that we’ve seen played out in other countries around the world, Machado would be installed by force and this would give the US free rein over Venezuela’s vast wealth in natural resources, including the largest oil reserves in the world.
In an interview that aired on CBS News’ ‘Face the Nation’, Machado celebrated Trump’s agenda of ratcheting up economic sanctions and seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, blatant acts of violence and aggression that appear to violate Nobel’s clear declaration that the Peace Prize winner must promote “fraternity between nations.”
“Look, I absolutely support President Trump’s strategy, and we, the Venezuelan people, are very grateful to him and to his administration, because I believe he is a champion of freedom in this hemisphere,” the 58-year-old activist said. “And that’s why – and I say this from Oslo right now – I have dedicated this award to him, because I think that he finally has put Venezuela in where it should be, in terms of a priority for the United States’ national security.”
With such glowing words of praise for the US superpower and its dubious objectives, it is more understandable why Assange warns that there remains the possibility that funds awarded to Machado will be “diverted from their charitable purpose to facilitate aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.”
Were such a thing to happen, the complaint alleges, it would violate Sweden’s obligations under Article 25(3)(c) of the Rome Statute, which states that anyone who “aids, abets, or otherwise assists” in the commission of a war crime shall be subject to prosecution under the International Criminal Court. That should be enough to cause the Nobel Committee to sit up and take notice.
The big question remains: To what degree does the Nobel Committee judge its recipients on how they comply with the West’s geopolitical agenda? Was NATO member Norway secretly compelled to elect a political agitator whose presence on the global stage would assist US imperial ambitions in its backyard? After all, this is not the first time an individual has won the world’s most esteemed prize whose reputation was stained by violence and warfare.
Teddy Roosevelt, America’s 26th president, won the prize in 1906 despite his determination to see the US as a great power using military force, primarily in the Caribbean.
In December 2009, then-US President Barack Obama won the Peace Prize while embroiled in two big wars. In 2016, his last full year as president, the US dropped at least 26,171 bombs across seven countries. This equates to an average of three bombs every hour, 24 hours a day.
Finally, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 (shared with North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho), despite being harshly criticized for being the architect behind the secret bombing of Cambodia from March 1969 to May 1970. Two members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee resigned in protest, while the New York Times referred to it as the “Nobel War Prize.”
Germany is on track to post its largest budget deficit since reunification, the country’s central bank has warned, as Berlin ramps up military spending and financial aid to Ukraine.
In its December forecast, published on Friday, the Bundesbank said the government shortfall will rise steadily and reach 4.8% of economic output by 2028, the highest level since 1995, when deficits peaked in the years following German reunification. Public debt is also expected to increase over the same period.
The Bundesbank has linked the rising deficit mainly to higher defense spending, continued financial support to Ukraine, large infrastructure projects, tax cuts, and increased social payments.
According to the Bundesbank, Berlin’s current plans to invest hundreds of billions of euros into the military and infrastructure mark a departure from Germany’s “course of fiscal restraint” and, without corrective measures, would leave borrowing “well above the limits of the debt brake.” The central bank has called for urgent action to keep public finances in check.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pushed to expand Germany’s military, build “the strongest conventional army in Europe,” and continue support for Ukraine. German aid to Kiev could reach $13.2 billion in 2026, according to Reuters. Merz has justified higher defense spending by citing what he describes as a Russian threat.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected such claims, stressing that it has no intention of attacking NATO or the EU and accusing Western officials of using the supposed “Russian threat” as fear-mongering to justify inflated military budgets. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Germany and the wider EU of sliding into a “Fourth Reich” marked by Russophobia and aggressive militarization.
Berlin has been faced with growing political discontent, with polls showing strong public dissatisfaction with Merz and his coalition government. An INSA survey earlier this month found that 70% of respondents are unhappy with the ruling coalition while Merz’s personal approval rating declined to just 23%. The pollsters noted these were “the worst ratings ever recorded for the chancellor and his government.”
US officials heavily redacted the images and stressed that appearance in the archive does not imply wrongdoing
Thousands of records released by the US Justice Department provide a detailed and often unsettling look at materials gathered during federal investigations into late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The trove includes photographs, call logs, interview transcripts, grand jury material, travel records, and internal investigative documents. Many files are heavily redacted, and some had already been made public through court proceedings, freedom-of-information requests, or earlier congressional disclosures.
A significant portion of the release consists of images taken from Epstein’s homes and properties. One set of photos appears to document an FBI search of Epstein’s Manhattan residence. Other folders contain photographs from a beachside property, presumed to be Epstein’s Little Saint James island.
The files include numerous sexually explicit or suggestive images, such as photographs of massage tables, sex toys, topless or nude women, and framed pictures displayed inside Epstein’s residences.
In most cases, thick black bars obscure faces and identifying details to comply with legal requirements protecting potential victims and private individuals.
One file alone contains dozens of censored images of naked women, with no context provided regarding when or where the photos were taken. A footnote noted that 33 images of underage girls were not scanned because investigators believed they contained child sexual abuse material.
Multiple high-profile figures appear in the images, which were released without dates or explanatory background. Many photos feature former US President Bill Clinton, who was close to Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s but has said he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.
Several photographs show Clinton in a swimming pool or hot tub, alongside Epstein’s convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell and another individual whose identity is redacted.
Other images feature celebrities and prominent figures including Michael Jackson, Richard Branson, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker, and others, often at dinners, parties, or during travel.
One photograph appears to show Prince Andrew lying across five people whose faces are fully redacted, while Maxwell stands behind them. Andrew, who has faced years of scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein and was stripped of his royal status this year, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The authorities stressed that the images were released without context and that there is no suggestion of criminal behavior linked to Epstein’s abuse in relation to those pictured. The Justice Department said records tied to active investigations or containing child sexual abuse material remain withheld, as permitted by law.
Cooperation with the continent is steadily developing across multiple areas, the foreign minister has said
Russia is committed to unlocking the full potential of cooperation with African countries, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Speaking at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo on Saturday, he said ties between Moscow and African nations are steadily expanding.
“Russian-African partnership is developing steadily across all areas, with substantive and trusting political dialogue continuing at the highest levels,” Lavrov said at the opening plenary session, noting that trade with Africa rose 13% last year to nearly $28 billion. He added that economic cooperation and humanitarian ties are strengthening. “This is far from the limit. We are committed to fully unlocking the huge potential of our practical cooperation.”
Lavrov said Moscow has invited African partners to explore opportunities in the country’s markets, highlighting strong prospects for boosting trade with sub-Saharan countries by building direct links with Russian counterparts.
He added that Moscow sees national-currency settlement mechanisms with African countries as key to “ensuring stable trade and economic transactions and protecting investments,” noting a steady rise in the share of ruble settlements in mutual trade.
Beyond economic ties, Russia is helping African countries strengthen security, particularly in counterterrorism efforts, Lavrov said. He added that Russia has invited African countries without embassies in Moscow to open diplomatic missions, noting earlier this week that Botswana and Togo plan to do so.
The conference, attended by representatives from more than 50 African states, is being held in Cairo December 19-20 ahead of the third Russia-Africa summit in 2026. Created at a landmark summit in Sochi in 2019, the forum reflects Moscow’s renewed push to deepen ties with Africa as many countries seek alternatives to the West. This year’s conference – the first ministerial-level gathering of its kind held in Africa – focuses on expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation.
On the sidelines of the conference, Lavrov held bilateral talks with diplomats from several attending countries, including host nation Egypt, Tanzania, Namibia, and Gambia, all of which expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Russia. Further meetings are expected with delegations from Algeria, Tunisia, and Rwanda, among others.
The Northern Regional Police Command has picked up two nurses and a security guard to assist investigations into the alleged theft of a newborn baby at the One Heart Hospital in Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale.
The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Command said it received a complaint on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at about 10:30 a.m.
Police investigations indicate that a woman, posing as a nurse, entered the hospital’s labour ward and took away a newborn baby boy under the pretext of administering an injection.
Police say intelligence-led operations are currently underway to trace the missing baby and arrest any other persons connected to the case.
The Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to uncovering the truth and reuniting the baby with the family.
The Russian foreign minister has met with diplomats from Egypt, Tanzania, Namibia, Burundi, Botswana, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gambia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo on Friday.
In talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Lavrov said he was “very satisfied” with the outcome of the negotiations and confirmed Moscow’s interest in maintaining regular dialogue. The sides discussed the situation in Gaza, the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, and developments in Sudan.
The Russian minister also announced plans to expand direct air links with Egypt, which “will allow for an increase in tourist flow.”
In a meeting with Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the two sides focused on boosting trade and economic cooperation.
Both sides confirmed readiness to deepen coordination at the UN and other international platforms. Lavrov also welcomed the outcome of Tanzania’s general elections held at the end of October, while Kombo said Tanzania hoped to further strengthen relations with Russia.
In talks with the foreign ministers of Namibia, Burundi, Botswana, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gambia, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to expanding traditionally friendly relations, deepening political dialogue and strengthening cooperation in trade, humanitarian affairs, education, and healthcare. The sides also confirmed readiness to enhance coordination at the UN and other international platforms.
Namibia’s foreign minister described relations with Russia as “historic,” while Burundi’s foreign minister said bilateral ties were strengthening “daily on the basis of mutual respect.”
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a Russian embassy is expected to open in Banjul, Gambia, in the near future.
Additional meetings are expected with the foreign ministers of South Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Togo, Rwanda, Mauritania, Morocco, Malawi, and the Seychelles.
Lavrov arrived in Cairo on the evening of December 18. The second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum is taking place on December 19-20. The previous conference was held in November 2024 at the Sirius Federal Territory in Sochi, Russia.
The Meridian Medical Centre holds medical screening exercise for children and adolescents, as part of its long-standing commitment to community health.
The centre has previously focused on adult screenings, but this year marked the ninth edition of its outreach programme targeting younger populations.
The Medical Centre offered a comprehensive range of health checks, including general physical examinations, skin assessments and evaluations for obesity and growth.
Children were also tested for GGPD deficiency and underwent vision and hearing screenings, dental examinations, and nutritional counseling sessions for their parents, among other assessments.
The programme aimed to reach at least 200 children, with support from medical officers in various hospitals, including a representative from Tema General Hospital.
According to the quality assurance manager, Madam Selasie, the health conditions observed during the screenings,Many children showed signs of dental and cranial issues, while others appeared to be underdeveloped for their age.
She emphasized that without quality assurance manager at Meridian Medical Centre,such screenings, parents often remain unaware of their children’s health challenges.
She urged parents to prioritize regular checkups and not let busy work schedules become an excuse. She cautioned against self-diagnosing at home and encouraged families to take advantage of free screening opportunities, noting that children diagnosed during the exercise would be referred for further care.
A senior medical officer, Bridgette Ocansey thanked the media for coverage and also called on potential sponsors to support.
President Donald Trump previously accused Caracas of “stealing” Washington’s energy assets
The US has seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, escalating pressure on Caracas just days after President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete” blockade of unilaterally sanctioned oil shipments.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the raid on Saturday, saying the US Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, apprehended a tanker that had recently docked in Venezuela.
Noem also published a video of the operation in a post on X, claiming that the predawn action targeted the “illicit movement of sanctioned oil” allegedly used to fund “narcoterrorism” in the region.
The move comes amid a US military buildup near Venezuela and follows Trump’s order earlier this week to block all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. However, unlike a tanker seized earlier this month, the vessel intercepted this weekend was not under US sanctions and was carrying Venezuelan crude bound for Asia, according to CNN.
In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund… pic.twitter.com/nSZ4mi6axc
The seizure took place in international waters and marks the second interdiction in recent weeks. Since the first, several vessels have reportedly remained in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure, sharply reducing the country’s crude exports.
PREPARE TO BE BOARDED. This morning @USCG in coordination with the @DeptofWar executed a lightning strike operation to seize the Motor Tanker Centuries, which is suspected of carrying oil subject to U.S. sanctions. The iron fist of America’s joint military and federal law… pic.twitter.com/lcUVauqg2M
Earlier this week, Trump accused Venezuela of “stealing” US oil assets and investments, warning that Washington “wants it back,” otherwise Caracas would feel the wrath of the “largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
The growing US pressure campaign since September has included naval deployments, vessel seizures, and dozens of US strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats near Venezuela, which US officials say have killed more than 100 suspected cartel members.
Caracas has denied any involvement in drug smuggling and condemned the seizures and blockade as illegal acts of piracy, warning that it will defend its sovereignty. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of pursuing regime change to gain control of the country’s vast oil reserves.
Russia and China have also weighed in, urging restraint. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that escalating tensions could lead to “unforeseen developments.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing opposes “unilateralism and bullying” and supports Venezuela’s sovereign right to trade freely.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayire Hospital, Mr. Ayire Adongo, has officially inaugurated the newly appointed Board of Directors for the facility.
The event marks a critical milestone in the hospital’s strategic growth and its contribution to the ongoing transformation of Ghana’s private health sector.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Adongo emphasized that the swearing-in was not merely a formal event, but a reaffirmation of the facility’s commitment to strong corporate governance and improved healthcare delivery.
He highlighted the pivotal role of private health institutions in complementing the Ghana Health Service. Mr. Adongo described Ayire Hospital as a partner on the “frontline of care,” working to bridge gaps from community levels to regional healthcare delivery, thereby ensuring that the national agenda for quality universal health coverage is met.
Addressing the new Board, Mr. Adongo reminded members that their unique responsibility extends beyond administrative oversight. He charged them to guide the hospital not only in saving lives but also in training the next generation of health professionals.
He revealed the Hospital’s long-term strategic intention to establish a medical training facility.
“There is a compelling need for me to use my experience in the health sector to serve my people, not just by treating them, but by building capacity for the future,” Mr. Adongo stated.
While acknowledging sector-wide challenges—such as funding gaps, workforce migration (brain drain), and shifting disease patterns—he urged all board members to commit to public service, innovation, and, above all, the well-being of Ghanaian patients.
“Let today mark a turning point. Let’s get to work, because the health and well-being of our people depend on it,” he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of the new Board, the Chairman, Mr. Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga, expressed profound gratitude for the confidence reposed in the team. He assured management and staff of their readiness to serve with integrity and purpose.
Mr. Ayinbisa emphasized the Board’s commitment to working collaboratively with the facility’s management to enhance service delivery and uphold high professional standards.
He pledged that the Board would provide the necessary policy frameworks, infrastructure oversight, and resource stewardship to help Ayire Hospital achieve a healthier and more equitable future for its clients.
Ghana is still in the process of ending illegal mining activities on its rivers and within forest reserves where such farming occurs. An initiative called BLUE WATER GUARDS has been set up, with the duty of relaying tip-offs from various communities about illegal mining, known as galamsey, to security agencies for appropriate action. However, according to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the government has trained approximately 1,700 Blue Water Guards across nearly seven regions, and believes this effort is making the right progress in fighting galamsey. He shared this information with the media at Ezilinbo in the Ellembelle District after a successful graduation ceremony for about 630 youths who have undergone training as Blue Water Guards. They are now heading to their respective regions to work closely with the Ghana Navy, the NAIMOS, and the police service in a collective effort to restore the waters polluted by illegal miners back to their natural blue colour.
He emphasised that they may be tempted by illegal miners but must remain steadfast, as they are the country’s sole hope in safeguarding the waters.
Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah assured them they would not be walking alone, as the government will continue to support them. He added that 1000 Motorbikes have been procured in collaboration with the Minerals Commission to bolster the efforts of the Blue Water Guards.
