Hump day recommendations, Sept. 4, 2024

Watch: Man on Wire.” Now 75, Phillipe Petit continues events to mark the 50th anniversary of his famous windy-day tightrope walk between New York’s two World Trade Center towers. The 2008 film “Man on Wire” detailed both the terrifying logistics and high emotions of that day in 1974. It was not just a brilliant documentary. In my opinion, it was the best film in any category released that year. – Willis

Watch: “Revolution of Our Times.” Hong Kong marked a dark milestone this week as a court wrapped up the trial of nearly four dozen leaders of the 2019-2020 protest movement against the encroaching authoritarianism from the mainland. Hong Kong’s democracy is dead, and this film provides a shattering, up-close perspective on how it perished. – Matt

Watch: “Chimp Crazy.This docuseries is wild in every sense of the word. It focuses on a woman completely obsessed with chimpanzees — and her fight against PETA and law enforcement over one particular primate. It is bizarre, shocking, and entertaining. And you’ll probably learn a lot about the politics and laws surrounding exotic animals in the US while watching it. — John

Read: “War Is Draining Ukraine’s Male-Dominated Work Force. Enter the Women.” This article shows all the ways women are stepping up to keep Ukraine’s economy afloat during the war. An important and interesting read. — Riley

More from GZERO Media

​Philemon Yang, president of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, speaks at the opening of the UN General Assembly's 79th session at the UN headquarters on Sept. 10, 2024.
Philemon Yang, president of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, speaks at the opening of the UN General Assembly's 79th session at the UN headquarters on Sept. 10, 2024.
Wang Fan/China News Service/VCG via Reuters

GZERO will be on the ground at this year's UN General Assembly, providing coverage on high-level meetings and big speeches from leaders set to begin on Sept. 24. We’ll also be giving you an inside look at the Summit of the Future, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres says is a once-in-a-generation chance to create more effective and inclusive institutions.

People gather outside a hospital as more than 1,000 people, including Hezbollah fighters and medics, were wounded when the pagers they use to communicate exploded across Lebanon, according to a security source, in Beirut, Lebanon September 17, 2024.
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

People of a certain age will recall the metaphoric expression “blowing up my pager,” but this was something altogether more literal: On Tuesday at around 3:30 p.m. local time, pagers belonging to more than 2,800 people in Lebanon and Syria actually blew up, killing at least nine and maiming hundreds.

A Ukrainian serviceman commemorates his brothers-in-arms at a makeshift memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers on the Day of Remembrance of Ukraine's Defenders, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 29, 2024
(Photo by Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto)
Indian paramilitary soldiers stand alert while Jammu and Kashmir National Conference candidate Mubarak Gul arrives to file his nomination papers for assembly elections in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 2, 2024.
(Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)

The Indian-occupied region of Kashmir kicks off its first phase of elections on Wednesday for its own truncated government and local legislative assembly, as New Delhi reintroduces some local authority after taking direct control in 2019.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.

(Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Tuesday named the team that will work with her as she heads into her second term as the EU’s most powerful official.

Fed poised for 50 basis point rate cut

Kyodo

The Federal Reserve appears set to drop its benchmark interest rate by 50 base points today. That lending rate – which influences borrowing costs broadly – can put the economy in a chokehold when rates are high, or stimulate it when lowered.

Microsoft is teaming up with the Institute for Nonprofit News’ Rural News Network to equip local, regional, and statewide newsrooms with additional resources to help them cover the 2024 elections. Supported by Microsoft’s Democracy Forward Program, RNN’s Text RURAL is an SMS-based service that uses AI to send tailored, fact-based news straight to those living in areas where broadband may not yet be readily available. This initiative includes geo-targeted ads, multilingual translations, and multimedia guides to ensure rural voters are well-informed. The network, comprised of over 80 newsrooms, aims to strengthen democracy by providing crucial election information to often overlooked rural areas. Learn more about the technology.

Walmart is helping veterans and military families live better. At Walmart, veterans can access resources and benefits to help them apply their skills and build fulfilling careers. Since 2013, Walmart has hired over 430,000 veterans and in the last year alone the company has promoted over 5,000 veterans into positions of higher pay and greater responsibility. Learn more about Walmart’s commitment to the military community.

- YouTube

Why is Mexico's judiciary overhaul controversial? After losing another parliamentary seat, is Justin Trudeau's time as Canada's leader coming to an end? 2.5 years in, and 1 million now dead or injured. Is Russia's invasion of Ukraine any closer to resolution? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.