Just how far down can the US reputation fall?
Croatian-born cartoonist Petar Pismestrovic is clearly angry with Barack Obama — and not believing the words he says.
New species of insects or plants are discovered practically all the time — but it's not often that scientists discover large mammals, like dolphins.
Scientists recently discovered a new species of humpback dolphins, living off the coast of Australia. The discovery is so new, according to The Washington Post, that the species hasn't even been named yet.
(Editor's note: The Global Scan can be delivered straight to your inbox every day. Just register and sign up today.)
Self-help advice for the creative class
Artists, musicians, and creative people throughout history have sworn by their routines — anything to seduce the muse. Balzac had 50 cups of coffee a day. Hemingway started his day early to benefit from the calm and cold. Ben Franklin lounged around naked each day. PRI's The World has a list of the six common habits of highly creative folks, based on a book and a reporter's experiment.
Sneak(er) attack
The Taipei Times reports that Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou will receive increased security after a series of incidents involving shoes. Yes, shoes. Twice in the past week, protesters unhappy with Taiwan's economy and policies have hurled shoes at the president. He's not been hurt in any incident.
Vote Bulldozer for president
'Presidential hopeful Gul Agha Sherzai… opted for a bulldozer to match his nickname.'
The Atlantic reports on Afghanistan's preparations for its presidential election next year. The country has an illiteracy rate of over 60 percent. So election officials are giving each candidate a logo to help illiterate voters identify their preferred next leader on the ballot. Would you represent yourself as a pencil?
Bob Marley himself couldn't say it better: No woman, no drive
Over the weekend, women in Saudi Arabia staged a protest against the country's informal ban on women driving. Some drove and posted videos of their trips on social networks. But PRI's The World reports that the social video that got the most play was from a Saudi comic who rewrote a Marley tune for the occasion. It's amazing.
What we're seeing on social
Weather around the world
The St. Jude storm that battered the UK and much of northern Europe killed 13 people on Monday and left 300,000 homes in the UK alone without power, according to the Weather Channel. Most of the deaths came from falling trees, triggered by the storm's greather than 100 mph winds — hurricane-force, though the storm wasn't a hurricane because it was out of the tropics. Of course, at least one person made the best of the storm. Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle rode what's believed to be a record-breaking wave — perhaps 100 feet tall — off the coast of Portugal on Sunday, according to the UK's Mirror.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!