They’re fighting over custody of the Chrysler Building.

Happening in the World: The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grass-roots movement of atomic bomb survivors. Since the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, the group has represented thousands of survivors, known as hibakusha, and worked towards a world “free of nuclear weapons.” The award comes at a time when most living hibakusha are nearing their 80s and 90s, and as the world’s worries surrounding nuclear war increase due to programs in Russia, Iran, and North Korea. (NYT)

Happening in the US: 12 people were trapped inside a gold mine in Colorado after their exit, an elevator, suffered from equipment failure earlier that day with 11 visitors on it. The stopping of the elevator left the additional group of 12 stranded 1,000 feet underground for hours, even after the rescue of those on the broken elevator. They were eventually brought back up by the same elevator that evening after thorough testing for safety. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: The owners of the Chrysler Building are at risk of being evicted due to allegations claiming one of the owners’ real estate empires is guilty of financial impropriety. In 2019, Signa Holding and RFR Holding teamed up to buy the building for $151 million, but didn’t buy the land below the building. This arrangement gave the partners the ability to control the skyscraper, but required them to pay rent to The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the owners of the land it stands on. The college would use the funding from the rent to subsidize student tuition, but recently moved to terminate the ground lease and take control over the building as the tenants are not paying rent, an ultimate monthly sum of about $32.5 million. Currently, the issues remain in lawsuits. (NYT)

Happening in Our Community: The Columbia Engineering Office of Graduation Admissions is hosting a conference as part of their Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Admissions Series. The conference is designed to educate women about pursuing a graduate degree or career in science and engineering. The event includes speakers, panels, lab visits, and a campus tour. The event will take place from 9 am to 5 pm and is open for registration. 

The Chrysler Building via Flickr