Hump Day Recommendations, Feb. 7, 2024

Watch: Society of the Snow.” Would you survive a plane crash in snowy mountains? That’s the plot of this Netflix thriller based on a true story. In 1972, an inexperienced pilot took a wrong route and crashed a flight carrying 45 passengers with 19 members of the Old Christians Club rugby team deep into the Andes. The gut-wrenching tale may make you cover your eyes at times, but it’s an Oscar-nominated must-see (just don’t eat while watching). – Suhani

Watch:How the First World War Created the Middle East Conflicts.” This short documentary from YouTube’s preeminent World War I history producers over at The Great War takes us back to the waning days of the Ottoman Empire to find out just how the Middle East ended up in such a state. When the great powers sought to finish off the “Sick Man of Europe” once and for all, they found the Turks still had plenty of fight left in them. So the British, French, and Russians switched tactics, exploiting the grievances of ethnic minorities to rise against their Turkish overlords. But when the dust settled, the Europeans betrayed their Middle Eastern allies. – Matt

Read: The graphic novel “My Begging Chart,”by Keiler Roberts. It captures all the tiny micro-moments in everyday life that kind of just slip through the cracks in a surreal, darkly funny way. – Riley

Escape: into the night. Freedom’s just another word for Flaco on the loose. A Eurasian Eagle Owl mysteriously jailbroken from its cage at the Central Park Zoo now swoops among Manhattan’s highrises, dodging cops, alighting for magical moments on apartment windowsills, and feasting to his heart’s content on the city’s ample rat population. In the city that never sleeps, Flaco, as he’s known, owns the night sky. But is he lonely? Is he in danger? Is there a little Flaco in all of us? This New York Times profile of Gotham’s latest antihero is a high-flying journey of its own. – Alex

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.

The body of Pope Francis in the coffin exposed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 24, 2025. The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.
Pasquale Gargano/KONTROLAB/ipa-agency.net/IPA/Sipa USA

While the Catholic world prepares for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday – the service begins at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET – certain high-profile attendees may also have other things on their mind. Several world leaders will be on hand to pay their respects to the pontiff, but they could also find themselves involved in bilateral talks.

A Ukrainian rescue worker sits atop the rubble of a destroyed residential building during rescue operations, following a Russian missile strike on a residential apartment building block in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025.
Photo by Justin Yau/ Sipa USA
Members of the M23 rebel group stand guard at the opening ceremony of Caisse Generale d'epargne du Congo (CADECO) which will serve as the bank for the city of Goma where all banks have closed since the city was taken by the M23 rebels, in Goma, North Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 7, 2025.
REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and an alliance of militias led by the notorious M23 rebels announced a ceasefire on Thursday after talks in Qatar and, after three years of violence, said they would work toward a permanent truce.

Students shout slogans and burn an effigy to protest the Pahalgam terror attack in Guwahati, Assam, India, on April 24, 2025. On April 22, a devastating terrorist attack occurs in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 tourists.
Photo by David Talukdar/NurPhoto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed Pakistan for Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, and he’s takenaggressive action against its government.

- YouTube

“When things are going fine, nobody really tests the skills and talents of their financial advisor, but this is a moment where really good advice can be extraordinarily powerful,” says Margaret Franklin, CFA Institute's CEO and President. In conversation with GZERO’s Tony Maciulis, Franklin describes the current financial climate as “maximum uncertainty,” rating it a 10 out of 10 on the risk scale.

President Donald Trump at a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he would deliver a “fair deal” with China and that he’d be “very nice” to the country after meeting with major retailers. But Beijing denies that there are any ongoing talks and has told the US it must cancel its unilateral tariffs before China will broker any negotiations.