Police investigating reports of ride-share assaults

Boston police did not identify the ride-share services that were involved in the three reported indecent assaults, which occurred early Sunday.

The Boston Police Gaelic Column marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston in 2014.

Michael Dwyer/AP

St. Patrick?s parade council allows gay group

The move to approve OUTVETS to march could be a significant development in the annual dispute over the inclusiveness of the event.

A soldier gestures on a road leading to the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan. Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage at the school.

Pakistan minister: 84 dead in Taliban attack

At least 84 students have been killed in a Taliban attack on a military-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The proposed site for the new Boston homeless shelter is at 112 Southhampton Street.

City picks homeless shelter site, vows fast action

Boston plans to soon begin building a shelter in the Newmarket area for the hundreds of homeless displaced from Long Island.

Full-time faculty at area colleges take steps to unionize

The effort involves instructors and lecturers at several colleges who are not on track to receive tenure.

Pushcarts inside Faneuil Hall marketplace.a

Faneuil Hall vendors air concerns at hearing

The pushcart vendors are concerned about their future as the landlord embarks on an overhaul of the historic space.

Emily Ward, 4, of Falmouth, told Globe Santa her Christmas wishes at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Sunday. Last year, more than $1.2 million was raised and 45,623 children in 25,924 families received gifts from Globe Santa.

Globe Santa

Ailing mother of four young boys needs some help

A young couple from a city west of Boston wrote to Globe Santa a few months ago on behalf of their four sons, who range from 5 years to 18 months.

Boston?s Olympic bid must clear hurdle today

Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington will make presentations as the US Olympic Committee decides whether to bid for the 2024 Games.

Gary Ritacco, owner of the menswear store Uniform in the South End of Boston, said he ordered twice as many socks for the holidays.

New stocking stuffer: socks

Men?s socks, popular in vibrant colors and images, are expected to be a retail hit this holiday shopping season.

Ian McKellen and Luke Evans in ?The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.?

Movie review

Thankfully, the road does not go ever ever on

?The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies? is a clanging, overcrowded bore that marches off a CGI cliff.

KEVIN CULLEN

Giving the gift of dignity

Every year, Jake Kennedy and his wife, Sparky, transform a bland hall into a winter wonderland for homeless children at Christmas in the City.

Dr. Vivek Murthy?s nomination was held up for more than a year.

Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as surgeon general

Murthy is a 37-year-old physician at Boston?s Brigham and Women?s Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School.

With Chandler Jones back Sunday, the Patriots? defense continued its recent stretch of dominant play. (Globe Staff Photo/Jim Davis)

CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER

Defense is what?s different for Patriots this time

No team has scored more than two offensive touchdowns on the Patriots since the Broncos Nov. 2.

Even though Jon Lester now plays in Chicago, he said, ?Obviously my heart will always be in Boston.? (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

NICK CAFARDO | ON BASEBALL

Jon Lester?s officially a Cub, and it?s time to move on

The lefthander explained his free agency decision, whether Red Sox fans like it or not, at his introduction in Chicago.

?I?ve dropped my wedding ring in your Red Kettle knowing that the money from its sale will buy toys for needy children,? the donor wrote.

Mystery widow?s rings bought from Salvation Army for $21,000

The buyer, a former bell ringer for the charity, said she hoped to give the rings back to the original owner.

Steven Syre | Boston Capital

No hedging possibility of Staples merger now

News that activist hedge fund investor Jeff Smith had purchased 5 percent of Staples Inc. sparked speculation of a possible merger with Office Depot.

Opinion

farah stockman

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/16/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/stockman.jpg Keeping the dream of a Palestinian state alive?

The disillusionment with peace talks risks creating disillusionment with the idea of peace itself.

The Big Picture

Residents of the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk queuing to receive food supplies in Damascus, Syria, in a photo taken Jan. 31, 2014.

UNRWA

Best photos of 2014, part 1

Photographs from around the world on a range of topics taken during 2014.