The Short List: Australians promise to stand with Muslims; the Cosbys speak; Sony's plea

Australia turns tragedy into lesson on how to fight anti-Muslim bigotry

Australia experienced a national tragedy. Then it showed the world its collective conscience. Users on Twitter showed their support for Australian Muslims after a self-proclaimed Muslim cleric took 17 people hostage Monday for 16 hours in a Sydney cafe. Three people died, including the gunman. Australians used the hashtag #illridewithyou to condemn Islamophobia and to show solidarity with Muslims fearing a potential backlash while riding public transportation. In the past day, there have been more than 280,000 tweets with the hashtag #illridewithyou, according to social media analytics website Topsy. Sydney TV editor Tessa Kum appears to have started the campaign after seeing a Facebook post about a woman who removed her hijab on the train. She then tweeted, "If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don't feel safe alone: I'll ride with you. @ me for schedule," followed by "Maybe start a hashtag? What's in #illridewithyou?" In less heartwarming news, Uber got slammed after it hiked prices for customers trying to escape from the hostage standoff area.

Camille Cosby says her husband's situation is like the 'Rolling Stone' U.Va. rape story

That's one way to put it. Camille Cosby hasn't said anything as the weeks and months have gone by with one accuser after another stepping forward to tell a story of a decades-old incident involving her husband. Most of the time, the women say they were drugged and raped. Today, Camille defended her husband and said she doesn't think the media is vetting his accusers. "We all followed the story of the article in the Rolling Stone concerning allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. The story was heartbreaking, but ultimately appears to be proved to be untrue. Many in the media were quick to link that story to stories about my husband — until that story unwound." It was reported this weekend that Bill Cosby, who has not been charged, had also "broken his silence" on the allegations. But today he said he didn't know he was being interviewed for a story. Meanwhile, his legacy continues to suffer.

The kids are vaping, and we're concerned

Oxford named "vape" its 2014 Word of the Year, and the kids have taken note. Two new studies find far more high schoolers are using electronic cigarettes than previously reported — in fact, the use of e-cigs has doubled each year since 2009. All the while, fewer kids today are using conventional tobacco. Here's vaping 101: E-cigarettes heat a liquid into a vapor that's inhaled. The liquid contains nicotine as well as chemicals and flavorings such as chocolate, bubblegum and mango. They don't contain tobacco. "There's no question that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking," says longtime tobacco researcher Stanton Glantz, a professor at the University of California-San Diego not involved in the new research. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed regulating e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, but it hasn't issued a final rule.

Sony tells the media to stop reporting on humiliating hacked e-mails

Sony Pictures Entertainment has been hit by hackers, and now the movie studio is hitting back — at the news media. Sony lawyers sent a three-page (three-page!) warning to publishers saying the leaked e-mails, documents and other files amount to "stolen information" and demanded that news organizations in possession of hacked info destroy all copies. The hack attack has resulted in the reveal of secret salaries, snide memos and Social Security numbers. Seth Rogen and James Franco, who play the simpleton journalists at the heart of The Interview, told USA TODAY what it feels like to promote a movie that's in the middle of a hacking scandal. In today's New York Times, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin penned an op-ed saying the media has played right into the attackers' hands. While he knows there's "juicy stuff" in the e-mails, Sorkin's argument is that we're making it all worse by paying attention to it.

Manhunt is on for suspect in Pennsylvania shooting spree

In our own domestic tragedy, a manhunt is underway for a former U.S. Marine reservist who killed six people and seriously wounded another in shootings at three locations in suburban Philadelphia. Police are looking for Bradley William Stone, 35, of Pennsburg. One of the dead was Stone's ex-wife, with whom he had battled over custody of their two children. All the victims had a "familial relationship" with Stone. Check back here for updates on this developing story.

Extra Bites

Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.

Have you seen it? Munchkin the Teddy Bear Shih Tzu goes for a sleigh ride. Not sure if we should say "you're welcome" or "we're sorry."

President Obama confesses he's not good at Christmas shopping for Mrs. O.

McDonald's menu cuts: Here's what's happening.

Barbara Walters named Amal Clooney the most fascinating person of 2014. This is why.

Here's what's coming to Netflix in 2015, and here's what's going away.

Tragic, inspiring, fun, controversial. And, yes, Kim Kardashian. These are the most clicked-on stories of 2014.

No, these aren't drinks you order at the bar: Ice volcanoes and an orange tornado.

Don't have time to read the full Short List? Listen to some of today's top stories.

Today in Christmas: Prince Baby George, whose Christmas card we really want

Hanukkah starts tomorrow. Here are 10 menorah lightings and festivities to commemorate the beginning of Hanukkah throughout the USA:

Add YOXMAS on the YO app for a daily Christmas treat, as excitement builds leading up to Dec. 25. For a daily bit of afternoon fluff, add DISTRACTME on the YO app. We promise you'll have fun.

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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.

Contributing: Roger Yu, Ann Oldenburg, Elizabeth Weise, Liz Szabo, John Bacon, Michael Winter, Andrea Mandell, USA TODAY