Uber driver is accused in rape, kidnapping of customer

A Boston man working as an Uber driver is facing charges that he raped and kidnapped a young woman earlier this month.

ty burr

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/17/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/76f16b6960174db3a3bcfd873892da4f-76f16b6960174db3a3bcfd873892da4f-0.jpg Sony may set risky precedent by canceling movie

With its decision to not release ?The Interview,? Sony may have emboldened other people bent on threats and intimidation.

North Korea had role in Sony hacking, US says

US officials say North Korea was ?centrally involved? in the attack on Sony Pictures, but they?re unsure how to respond.

?These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked,? President Obama said. ?It?s time for a new approach.?

Doug Mills/EPA

US to open ?new chapter? with Cuba

The deal to restore diplomatic relations came after 18 months of back-channel talks hosted by Canada and encouraged by Pope Francis.

US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said at a news conference at her offices at the courthouse that the case was an ?unprecedented national tragedy.?

Sweeping federal indictment targets pharmacy in deaths

The outbreak case that killed at least 64 people is an ?unprecedented national tragedy,? US Attorney Carmen Ortiz said.

Victims of meningitis outbreak welcome criminal charges

?They deliberately sold a product that was tainted,? said a family member of a victim who died.

Rendering of Tremont Crossing. (Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.)

Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.

MassDOT ponders a move from downtown to Roxbury

The blockbuster deal would shake up the real estate markets in both neighborhoods.

Nathaniel Kibby.

N.H. kidnap suspect?s alleged crimes detailed in indictment

Nathaniel Kibby faces more than 200 charges, including sexual assault, for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old girl and imprisoning her for nine months.

Dec 17, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins 3, Wild 2 | overtime

Bruins snap three-game skid, beat Wild in OT

Louis Eriksson scored the winner to give the Bruins a much-needed lift on the road.

Boston, MA - 12/17/14 - (1st quarter) Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) dishes off a short no look pass between Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) and Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5), to Boston Celtics center Tyler Zeller (44), not pictured, for a first quarter basket. The Boston Celtics take on the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Gary Washburn, Topic: 18Celtics-Magic, LOID: 8.0.820190689.

Celtics 109, Magic 92

Celtics have no problem with Magic

Six Celtics players scored in double figures, led by Brandon Bass with 18 points, in the win at TD Garden.

Mayor Martin Walsh spoke at an event about Boston?s Olympic bid Oct. 6.

Boston?s Olympic bid would set stage for city?s 400th anniversary

Development needed for the 2024 Games would complement planning for Boston?s 400th anniversary in 2030, officials say.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/17/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/caret150-7703.jpg UMass president Robert Caret to resign

Caret has been appointed to lead the University of Maryland system, officials in Maryland announced.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/10/31/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Patriots_003A.jpg Patriots put top draft pick Dominique Easley on injured reserve

The 29th overall pick in the 2014 draft will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: A Dunkin' Donuts employee displays a fresh tray of

Dunkin? says croissant doughnuts will stay on menu

The coffee-and-donuts chain said it will continue selling its best-selling croissant doughnut into 2015 in response to demand.

From left: Jay Duplass, Judith Light, Amy Landecker, and Jeffrey Tambor in the Amazon Studios original series ?Transparent.?

Matthew Gilbert?s picks for TV?s best shows in 2014

The Globe TV critic submits his Top 10 for 2014 ? including ?Transparent? ? plus a baker?s dozen of runners-up.

Opinion

Marcela García

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/17/BostonGlobe.com/Foreign/Images/2014-12-17T183604Z_1540764956_TM3EACH11FJ01_RTRMADP_3_CUBA-USA-FLORIDA.jpg Cuban exiles cling to decades-old paradigms

The old guard refuses to forgive Fidel Castro, but better relations with the US may lead to broader freedoms.

The Big Picture

A protester takes shelter from smoke billowing around during protests on Aug. 13 against the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown in Freguson, Mo., by white police officer Darren Wilson.

David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Associated Press

Best photos of 2014: Part II

Photographs from May-August on a range topics from around the world.