We've all been there: You've just poured yourself a fresh mimosa and are waiting to tuck into some eggs Benedict when the table gets a little quiet. You and your squad have already covered all of the usual topics: the secrets to getting a bigger tax refund, the text one of you got after a second date, Rihanna's upcoming makeup line. You've already been over who should pay on dates while you had your first cup of coffee and covered Thursday night's Democratic debate in Brooklyn over the second. What's next? If you're looking to expand your brunch-chat horizons instead of rehashing the same tired topics over sweet potato hash, Refinery29's World News team has you covered. We're always trying to make it easier to stay informed about the most important and interesting news out there. So each week, we'll aim to round up the must-know stories from around the globe that are sure to generate some meaty discussion over brunch — or wherever you find yourself this weekend.
Read on to ensure you're the smartest, most interesting woman at that café, cocktail bar, or house party. Let us know in the comments which stories you're reading this week. And be sure to follow R29 News & Politics on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the news in real time.
Bernie keeps racking up support.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, D, became the first current senator to endorse Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential bid. Merkley announced the endorsement on Wednesday in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.
"Bernie Sanders is the individual who has put forward a very bold and powerful vision on the biggest issues facing America and the biggest issues in the world," Merkley told Tapper on The Lead. The Oregon senator also suggested that if Sanders had announced his presidential ambitions sooner, he might have more support from his fellow senators. Merkley added that Sanders' visions for the United States are "very bold and powerful."
Could Iceland's next prime minister be a woman — and a pirate?
Iceland's prime minister, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, was forced to resign earlier this month after the massive leak of documents known as the "Panama Papers" revealed his offshore tax holdings (other world leaders have been indicated, as well). Now, the country is speculating about who could replace Gunnlaugsson — and some believe it could be a female pirate.
Birgitta Jonsdottir, leader of the Pirate Party in Iceland, is one name that's being tossed around in discussions about Iceland’s future, Australia's ABC News reports. Jonsdottir spent a year exploring the north coast of New South Wales — hence her self-identification as a "pirate."
Jonsdottir told ABC News that her time on the seas and in Australia made her want to make a difference in Iceland. But she acknowledged the Pirate Party might be a hard sell; "I am a very controversial person, so maybe that is not the right person to be the prime minister," Jonsdottir told the Australian news outlet.
Millennial women spoke out about the election issues that matter to them.
In the Vote Your Values poll, a collaboration between Refinery29 and ABC News, the largest percentage of young women listed student loan debt and economic inequality as the most important issue to them, at 21% each. Abortion access, equal pay for women, and gun rights were each cited by 11% of respondents as the most important issue.
And a full 78% of millennial women agreed that who wins this election will "make a difference in [their] own [lives]." Check out the full Vote Your Values poll here, and let us know which issues matter to you this year.
Equal Pay Day: "Our economy is built on the backs of women"
In an interview with Refinery29 earlier this year, Melinda Gates said that chores and housework impact women's ability to work outside of their homes, especially in developing countries.
"We have this hidden assumption, we assume that women are going to do all this work at home, all these chores, and so our economy is built on the backs of women, assuming they’re going to do this work," Gates said. "And we need to start to rebalancing that."
Gates suggested bringing washing machines and running water to developing countries in order to help women lighten their workloads.
She also stressed the importance of creating balanced relationships at home through sharing household chores.
An all-male Harvard club reportedly claimed the school uses it as a "scapegoat" for the sexual assault crisis.
Charles Storey, the graduate board president of the Porcellian Club at Harvard, is backtracking after making controversial statements this week about rape culture on campus.
Storey, who is also the president of Harpoon Brewery, wrote a letter to The Harvard Crimson that criticized the school's efforts to incorporate female members in the organization. In his statement, Storey wrote that the finals club was "being used as a scapegoat for the sexual assault problem at Harvard, despite its policies to help avoid the potential for sexual assault."
Katherine Clark, a U.S. representative from Massachusetts, tweeted a criticism of Storey's statements on Wednesday. "Or, instead of blaming women, you could focus on teaching members of your club to NOT sexually assault people," Clark wrote in her tweet.
Storey apologized on Wednesday for his remarks in a statement published on Harpoon Brewery's website. "In a letter to the Harvard Crimson regarding private clubs of Harvard, I attempted to make a point regarding efforts to address sexual assault on campus. Unfortunately, I chose my words poorly, and it came out all wrong," Storey wrote.
Sesame Street's Afghan spin-off introduced a female character.
Meet Zari, the newest Muppet on Baghch-e-Simsim. She's a 6-year-old Afghan girl who will promote girls' rights, BuzzFeed reports. Zari first appeared on the show last Thursday.
Zari, who aspires to become a doctor, will wear "both casual and traditional clothing, and will be veiled where appropriate," according to BuzzFeed. Her character will encourage girls to go to school.
"Part of the power of the broadcast and Zari's potential as a role model is to reach children and parents where they may not have access to other educational content," Sherrie Westin, executive vice president of global impact and philanthropy at Sesame Workshop, told Reuters.
A clever octopus escaped from an aquarium.
Inky the octopus is living his best life.
Despite the fact that he's roughly the size of a soccer ball, Inky managed to escape from the National Aquarium of New Zealand through a drain hole just 6 inches in diameter. Inky reached the drain after sliding through a gap in his tank, The New York Times reports. He escaped months ago, but the story has only gone public this week.
Employees at the aquarium realized Inky had escaped when they saw octopus tracks on the floor. They believe he landed in Hawke's Bay after sliding through the drain pipe.
"He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean, and off he went," Rob Yarral, the aquarium’s manager, told TheTimes. "Didn't even leave us a message."
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