Al Qaeda thrives amid power vacuum in Middle East

Fanatical Islamists have flourished in Iraq and Syria under the banner of the terrorist group.

Firefighters helped residents onto an MBTA bus after a sprinkler pipe burst at a Pine Street Inn site.

Burst pipe leads to evacuation at Pine Street Inn site

All 50 tenants at the Jamaica Plain building were displaced tonight after a sprinkler pipe broke, fire officials said.

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman spoke to North Korean basketball players during a practice session in Pyongyang in December.

Dennis Rodman names team for N. Korea exhibition game

Rodman will lead the team that includes former NBA All-Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson, and Vin Baker.

“I’m someone who has had to be able to bridge build and form coalitions and to find common ground,” City Councilor at-large Ayanna Pressley said.

Pressley prepares bid to run for Council president

The council presidency is now a showdown between Ayanna Pressley and Bill Linehan.

“I wished I would have known the difference between good manners and still maintaining what I felt personally belonged to me. . .” said Julia Roberts, on advice she would give her younger self.

Carlo Allegri/Reuters

movies

When Roberts got the jump on Streep

Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts is packing serious movie-star wattage for her performance in “August: Osage County.”

After leading the Colts to a comeback victory over the Chiefs in an AFC wild-card playoff game, Andrew Luck made his own place in team history.

Christopher L. Gasper

You know ‘it’ when you see it

A game for the ages — and not for the faint of heart — will go down as the day the Legend of Andrew Luck spun off from the Peyton Manning Legacy.

The Blue Jays strangely crumbled after being anointed the one to beat in 2013.

sunday baseball notes

Jays have a lot of making up to do after last season

The Toronto Blue Jays strangely crumbled after being anointed the one to beat in 2013.

New England travel

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/04/BostonGlobe.com/Travel/Images/210140.jpg What to do with kids in winter

Get the mittens ready: Where to play, ski, learn, recharge, fly, explore, and climb with kids this winter.

Opinion

RENÉE LOTH

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/01/04/BostonGlobe.com/Ideas/Images/reneeLoth_150px-622.jpg And now the good news

While the year is still fresh and new, let’s take a moment to cleanse the palate with good tidings.