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 companies where you can make some serious money, the text one of you got after a second date, Target's new designer collaboration. You've already been over the latest pumpkin spice fail while you had your first cup of coffee and covered Tuesday's primariesin New York 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.
Harriet Tubman will be on the new $20 bill.
On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson — a slaveowner — on the $20 bill. The move comes after many Americans suggested replacing Alexander Hamilton with a woman on the $10 bill.
"Hamilton" fans, rejoice — the beloved U.S. figure is staying on the $10 bill. But the back will feature leaders of the women's suffrage movement. The $5 bill is also getting an update — it will feature civil rights leaders from American history. The new designs will be released by 2020 and could be in circulation before 2030, The New York Times reports.
Criminal charges were filed in the Flint water crisis.
On Wednesday, The Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan's attorney general had filed criminal charges against three Flint officials involved in the city's water crisis. Mike Prysby, Stephen Bush, and Mike Glasgow were charged with "misconduct in office and conspiracy related to tampering with evidence," according to the Detroit Free Press.
Prosecutors have claimed that the tests to see whether homes have lead contamination gave false readings, making lead levels appear lower than they actually were. Many residents of the poor and predominately Black city have been exposed to lead-poisoned water during the crisis.
Last December, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declared a state of emergency in the city. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder later declared a county state of emergency, and the National Guard has helped distribute water to Flint residents.
An earthquake devastated Ecuador, killing more than 500 people.
On Saturday night Ecuador experienced a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, which left at least 525 people dead, according to Reuters. The country declared a state of emergency after the earthquake, and reconstruction will cost billions of dollars. Buildings and highways were flattened during the quake.
As of Wednesday, Reuters reported that more than 100 people are still missing after the disaster. "We're removing debris, and we will very likely find more bodies," Ecuador's Defense Minister Ricardo Patiño told CNN. "It's going to take us years to recover from this."
There was a big win for transgender rights in public schools.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, VA, ruled in favor of transgender bathroom access on Tuesday. A student at Gloucester High School, Gavin Grimm (pictured), was born female but wishes to use the boys' restroom at the school. But Grimm won't immediately be allowed to use the restroom of his choosing. The New York Times explains that the new ruling will direct a lower court to reconsider Grimm's original request, in which he asked for a preliminary injunction to use the boys' restroom.
The ruling also applies to North Carolina, which recently approved a law that prohibits people from using bathrooms in public buildings that don't correspond with their birth genders, the Times notes. LGBTQ rights advocates have argued that the North Carolina Law is in violation of Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination.
Is the path to the nomination getting clearer?
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won the Democratic and Republican primaries in New York state on Tuesday.
There are still plenty of primaries and caucuses to come. But as The Associated Press explained this week, Clinton could "lose every remaining primary in the coming weeks and still clinch the nomination," thanks to delegate math. "The race for the Democratic nomination is in the homestretch, and victory is in sight," Clinton told a group of supporters on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, to secure the Republican nomination, Trump would need to win 1,237 delegates. The New York Times reported Thursday that he’s carved out a "narrow but real path" to reaching that goal.
Utah's governor declared pornography a public health crisis.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed a resolution Tuesday declaring porn a public health hazard. According to S.C.R. 9, a non-binding resolution, pornography can lead to "public health impacts and societal harms." The resolution also states that pornography "increases the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse images, and child pornography."
"We realize this is a bold assertion and there are some out there who will disagree with us," Herbert said at a press conference, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. "We're here to say it is, in fact, the full-fledged truth."
Could you help endangered animals by using these condoms?
This weekend, volunteers from a conservation group will hand out 25,000 free Endangered Species Condoms at Earth Day events in 46 states across the country.
While the connection between safe sex and endangered animals may not be an obvious one, it's more than just a marketing ploy. The condoms are meant to "highlight the connection between reproductive rights and the wildlife extinction crisis," according to a press release from the nonprofit behind the initiative, the Center for Biological Diversity. Human overpopulation can lead to "habitat loss and competition for natural resources" for endangered animals, according to the center.
The statement notes that America's rate of unintended pregnancies is high for an industrialized nation — according to the group's data, almost half of pregnancies in the United States aren't planned.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday.
To mark the Queen's birthday on Thursday, Buckingham Palace released a series of portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, along with her great-grandchildren and youngest grandchildren. Annie Leibovitz shot the photos last month, and she also captured a photo of the Queen with her dogs at Windsor Castle.
This week wasn't the only time she will celebrate her birthday this year, either. In 1748, King George II decided to celebrate his birthday in the spring, which he thought would provide better weather for his birthday parade than a festivity in his actual birth month, November. Queen Elizabeth II decided to participate in the tradition of "official" royal birthday festivities, and her birthday is celebrated publicly in June.
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