2010 Nobel prizes to be awarded in Stockholm

The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded today at a ceremony in Oslo, presided over by King Harald V of Norway, to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The dissident won’t be at the ceremony because he is in jail in China. On the same date in Stockholm King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will present the Nobel prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Economic Sciences.

Some 1500 people are expected for the ceremonies. The Nobel Prize has been awarded to people and organizations every year since 1901 (with a few exceptions such as during World War II) for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace.

The prizes include a US $1.4 million check, a gold medal and a diploma.

Dec 10 is the anniversary of the death of wealthy Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel. The award ceremonies and banquets round out an intensive week of conferences, lectures and concerts for the laureates, RIA Novosti reports.