There's a lot happening in the world right now. AND, there's a lot of good news to celebrate, too. South Korea just made menstrual products free in public facilities nationwide, 20 million single women now own homes in a new milestone of financial independence, and WNBA players just secured a new agreement with the first-ever revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports.
Let's dive into the good news to celebrate this past week:
Juliana Stratton Wins Illinois Democratic Senate Primary: Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won the Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat, putting her on a clear path to becoming the sixth Black woman senator in U.S. history — and the second to represent Illinois. She ran on a bold platform that includes abolishing ICE, a $25/hour minimum wage, and expanding Medicare access to all Americans.
Nepal Welcomes Its First Transgender Lawmaker: LGBTQ+ rights advocate Heena Shrestha has been confirmed as Nepal's first transgender member of parliament, elected through proportional representation with the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party following a historic election. Shrestha has pledged to translate Nepal's progressive constitutional protections for LGBTQ+ people into actual laws and policies that serve the community.
FIFA Mandates Women Coaches in Women's Competitions: FIFA's governing council passed new legislation requiring that all women's national and club teams competing in FIFA tournaments have at least one woman — either as head coach or assistant coach — on the bench, effective immediately. The ruling also requires a minimum of two women in each team's backroom staff, a direct response to the fact that only 12 of 32 head coaches at the 2023 Women's World Cup were women.
South Korea Providing Free Menstrual Products in Public Facilities: Starting this July, South Korea will install free menstrual product vending machines in approximately 10 public facilities — including libraries, community centers, and health centers, with plans to expand nationwide in 2027. The initiative follows President Lee Jae Myung's public criticism of menstrual product prices being 40% higher in South Korea than abroad, and a survey showing 69% of women find the cost burdensome. The government is finally listening to the people.
Costco Offers Fertility Treatments Up to 80% Discount: Costco has announced a partnership with Sesame and IVI RMA to give members access to fertility care coordination and fertility medications — including injectable hormone treatments — at up to 80% off. The partnership includes comprehensive intake evaluations, diagnostic support, and referrals to specialty care, including IVF and IUI.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw - First Woman to Win Oscar for Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history at the 2026 Academy Awards by becoming the first woman — and first Black person — to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography, recognized for her stunning work on Ryan Coogler's Sinners. In an industry that has nominated only three women for this award in its entire history, Arkapaw's win isn't just a personal triumph, it's a collective victory for women.
New Record — 20 Million Single Women Now Own Homes: A new analysis reveals that the number of single female homeowners in the United States has surpassed 20 million for the first time ever, even as overall affordability challenges persist. Economists note this milestone reflects a surge in women forming independent households — a sign of growing financial autonomy.
Meryl Streep Makes 7-Figure Donation to Women's History Museum: Meryl Streep has made a 7-figure donation to the National Women's History Museum, a digital-first institution that has been preserving and amplifying women's stories since 1996. The funds will support dynamic storytelling projects and digital programming, and the museum has established the Meryl Streep Educator Award in her honor, to be given annually to a women's history teacher.
Olivia Rodrigo Releases Music Video Filmed by Children in Gaza: Olivia Rodrigo dropped the music video for "Book of Love," a heart-melting visual that was filmed entirely by children living in Gaza, Sudan, and other conflict zones, centering their perspectives and their humanity in a way that mainstream media rarely does. The video is a deliberate act of witness — using the reach of pop stardom to make sure the world cannot look away from what children in war are experiencing.
Christy Walton Takes Out Full-Page Ad Demanding ICE Release Detainees: Walmart heiress Christy Walton took out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times calling on ICE to release the estimated 70% of detainees currently held without any criminal record. The ad opened by reprinting the Fourth Amendment and demanded the government "free the 70%" and ensure due process for those remaining in custody.
WNBA Players Unanimously Ratify Historic New 7-Year CBA: WNBA players voted unanimously to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement — a seven-year deal that introduces the first-ever revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports, raises the salary cap to $7 million for 2026 with projections to exceed $10 million by the deal's end, and expands the regular season starting in 2027. More than 90% of players participated in the ratification vote, with WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike declaring: "Too often, women have been told to be grateful for the opportunity. This union sees it differently."
