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: that office romance all of your friends think is a bad idea, the text one of you got after a second date, what Lena Dunham thinks about life after Girls. You've already been over tips for an upcoming job interview while you had your first cup of coffee and covered the latest craziness in the presidential race 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 watching this week. And be sure to follow R29 News & Politics on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the news in real time.
Ready, set, go! Adorable video shows New Zealand's real-life Chicken Run.
Remember 2000's Chicken Run, the stop-motion animated story about a flock of feathered friends trying to escape life on a farm? A video showing hens running out of a New Zealand farm has gone viral this week, with more than one million YouTube views. Unlike the Chicken Run characters, though, the hens weren't dying to escape their living situation — the video was created by farmers to show that the animals at their farm are actually free-range.
A spokesperson for the family farm, Otaika Valley Free Range Eggs, told The New Zealand Herald that the video likely went viral because people aren’t used to seeing hens with so much living space. On its Facebook page, Otaika Valley noted that many people have asked how the farmers get the hens to come back each night instead of running away, and the farmers believe it's because the hens are happy with their space to roam free.
A serious sexual assault trial against a media celebrity is underway in Canada.
Jian Ghomeshi was once one of Canada's most popular radio stars, but that all changed after at least 20 women came forward with serious allegations of sexual assault and harassment ranging from inappropriate texting and groping to violent punching, choking, biting, and forced penetration using his fingers. Ghomeshi is now in court for his first of two scheduled trials. And this week's legal battle got off to a dramatic start. Learn more about the trial everyone in Canada is talking about here.
Would you give your sweetheart a wooden spoon for Valentine's Day?
We're guessing your V-Day weekend plans might involve a nice dinner, and maybe some roses or candy from your partner. But wouldn't it be more fun to spend Sunday riding a real "Love Bus?" Sadly, that might not be possible — unless you're reading from Estonia! — but we've found plenty of other internationally inspired ideas for celebrating that you could try at home. And, at the very least, our roundup of Valentine's Day traditions from around the world might make you appreciate the holiday here a bit more — in some places, like Saudi Arabia, the day of love is banned altogether.
The Writing's On The Wall For Trump
Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed building a wall between the United States and Mexico to stop the flow of people crossing the border, and he's suggested that Mexico will pay for the wall, too. This week, former Mexican President Felipe Calderon told CNBC that Mexico is "not going to pay any single cent for such a stupid wall," adding that the wall would be "completely useless." Calderon is merely the latest in a long line of critics of Trump's farfetched plan.
#FreeWaris
Waris Ahluwalia, known for his House of Waris jewelry line and roles in films like The Grand Budapest Hotel, was supposed to fly from Mexico City to New York City on Monday to attend New York Fashion Week. But he says he was prevented from boarding his Aeroméxico flight because of his turban.
Ahluwalia eventually landed in New York on Wednesday, after the airline agreed to do more staff training. "I realized I couldn't get on that plane, because what if that happened to someone else?" Ahluwalia told Refinery29. "Any version of that was absolutely unacceptable for me."
The actor also used the incident as an opportunity to encourage others to stand up to intolerance. "Look what happened when one person stood up and said, 'I'm not going to stand for this,'" Ahluwalia told Refinery29. "I'm going to stand up not just for myself, not just for Sikhs, but for humanity."
France's Awesome New Food Law
Supermarket food waste is a huge problem worldwide, and France just became the first country to actually outlaw it. The French senate passed a law requiring grocery stores to donate unsold products to food banks or charities, rather than throwing them away. Stores that don't follow the law could face penalties up to 3,750 euros (about $4,231), according to The Guardian. Arash Derambarsh, the French councillor behind the campaign, hopes other countries in Europe will adopt similar laws, The Guardian reports.
Move Over, Cats — We're Petting Owls In Cafes Now
You've probably heard of cat cafes, but what about owl cafes? One Refinery29 contributor visited Akiba Fukurou, an owl cafe in Tokyo, and it was as amazing as it sounds. The cafe is home to an impressive amount of birds — about 25, by her estimate. "I believe holding an owl on your hand and concentrating on him has a kind of 'healing,' meditative effect," the cafe's owner told Refinery29.
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