* Experts examining the Sony case call North Korea's guilt into question, pointing to signs that hackers were English-speaking insiders. * National Geographic's "People" photo of the year: a woman on her smartphone. * Bilingual people may make more rational decisions when communicating in their second
* Sony Pictures pivots, with attorney saying The Interview will be released in some format. * Hollywood should let the world know "we prize our goofy movies, along with the important ones, and the freedoms that they represent." * For smaller nations, cyber warfare proves to be a better investment than
But because our readers have requested us to do this, and because we enjoy doing this—telling you what books we loved in 2014—here is our long, long list: 62 books we believe represent some of the finest works of fiction published in English (mainly in America) this past
* Justice Dept. to sue Rikers Island, where harsh treatment of teen prisoners by guards has raised concerns. * Sanctioning Venezuela won't help human rights—it only showcases America's hypocritical approach toward Latin America. * BBC finds evidence of Apple labor breaches, including the possibility it buys tin from
As President Obama enters his final days in office, a proper assessment of his tenure requires a variety of measurable, non-political categories: golf, offspring, homebrewing, and more.
* Officials connect North Korea to the Sony hack, but are reluctant to pursue further in the face of other negotiations. * With screenings cancelled and no plans for video, killing The Interview could cost Sony $100 million. * Sony should sell The Interview to Netflix and become a hero in the face
* Pakistani city of Peshawar buries its dead after a Taliban attack at a school killed at least 140 children and staff. * Putin should look to Britain's Black Wednesday from the '90s to keep his ruble from falling too far. * Slipped inside the recent federal spending bill was
Before the days of GPS, sailors navigated using the feel of the waves. On a mission to learn the ocean's secret rhythms, a researcher discovers a coded message in a ship logbook.
* Taliban attacks an army-run school in northwestern Pakistan, killing more than 120 children. * Despite state charges and Muslim skepticism, Sydney attacker professed himself an advocate of peace and a spiritual healer. * The New Yorker's archival photos of MLK's Selma march. * Inside the Ferguson movement, young
At an Elvis festival in rural Canada, scores of tribute artists (not "impersonators") pay homage to the King. When searching for the meaning of it all, try not to overthink it.
