Society 2012

You try mapping the world. That's the gist of Apple's response to frustrated users befuddled by the error-prone new Apple Maps app that has replaced Google Maps on the iPhone.

Park rangers in Africa are basically at war. Dozens have been killed by poachers who have become more brazen and sophisticated in their attacks, prompting the rangers to appeal for aid from the government.

Civets indulge on only the most exquisite coffee cherries, and excrete the partly eaten beans. The beans are then cultivated and the coffee sold all the way up to $600 per pound.

The new Ocean Health Index is meant to give countries a quantitative measure of how well they harness and maintain the benefits of their coastal territories.

Four years ago, Zimbabwe switched to the U.S. dollar to avoid complete economic collapse. The switch succeeded, but it has created a host of bizarre issues, such as brittle bills and the use of chocolate as change.

Mexicans eat more eggs, per capita, than anyone else in the world. But a recent outbreak of avian flu has caused a drastic dip in production, and the people are hurting for their favorite breakfast food.

Soaring grain prices are a welcome surprise to farmers, many of whom feared that their yields and prices might plunge this year as a result of the wet summer.

Putin's macho appearances with wild animals have been a staple of Russian TV for years, cementing his image as a man of action but drawing mockery from critics who have likened them to Soviet-style propaganda.

Facebook is campaigning to boost organ donations by prompting people to post their organ donor status, and to direct friends and family to official registries. They hope that the social media technique will go viral.

Tradition demands that statues depicting Ganesh are praised through prayer and offerings and then released into the sea. This will take away the year's misfortunes and set the stage for a prosperous future.

The Obama administration suspects that the fiery attack in Libya that killed the American ambassador and three other diplomats may have been planned rather than a spontaneous mob getting out of control.