Latest news

Jury deadlocked, mistrial declared in Cahill case

Timothy Cahill

Attorney General Martha Coakley said she has not decided yet whether to retry the former state treasurer for allegedly using public funds to boost his run for governor.

Fed ties actions to jobless rate of 6.5%

The Federal Reserve said today it will continue holding interest rates low until the unemployment rate drops below 6.5%.

Accused child sex abuser ordered held without bail

Prosecutors released chilling details into the allegations that John Burbine sexually assaulted 13 young children.

Exclusive Thursday Preview | Book Reviews

5 books about ‘The Hobbit’

J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy-adventure tale of a hesitant hobbit, 13 dwarves, and a gray-robed wizard, was published 75 years ago this September.

Movie Review

‘Hobbit’ has striking visuals, slow pace

“An Unexpected Journey,” the first in a film trilogy for J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” feels like an overproduced amble.

Scot lehigh

How about Bill Weld for US Senate?

The former Mass. governor is a bigger thinker, a larger personality, and a more engaging figure than Scott Brown, and he’s more bipartisan.

Scientists offer ‘ultrasound’ of early universe

A team using NASA’s Hubble Telescope has produced a comprehensive snapshot of the “cosmic dawn” of the universe, capturing a set of seven primitive galaxies.

Galleries

Cultural divides, blurred and explosive

Good contemporary art has the charming habit of mashing perceived opposites together.

Boston Globe ePaper

Read the ePaper edition

The complete print edition, in its exact layout. Browse the print edition page by page, including stories and ads.

Globe Insiders

Insider Offer

See a pre-screening of Promised Land

Win tickets for you and a guest to see the new Matt Damon movie before it opens to the public.

Globe exclusives

Children danced at the 2011 Christmas in the City event in Boston.

Brian McGrory

Christmas in the City is the best gift of the year

Poor ticket sales in the team’s first season at Gillette Stadium have contributed to a $715,000 cost overrun.

High costs, low turnout for UMass football

Fougasse (olive bread).

Food

Christmas desserts in the Provencal tradition

Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of director Peter Jackson’s new Tolkien trilogy.

Movie Review

‘The Hobbit’ marked by striking visuals, slow pace

Bill Belichick thanks fans for their support after the Patriots routed Houston Monday night.

Patriots set sights on AFC’s top playoff seed

Real-bearded Dan Greenleaf (left) must be nice all year. Jim Manning says real whiskers aren’t needed.

Real or fake beards? Santas split on the issue

Audience members inspected a model of MGM’s proposed casino resort.

Casino developers make pitch in Springfield

“This will increase the possibility I buy a new book in a bookstore rather than on Amazon,” said Candy Zito-Wolf, an IT manager from Watertown.

Amazon will begin charging sales tax in Mass.

Holly Jennings' recipe for corn muffin.

Whatever happened to the great American muffin?

How to donate to Globe Santa

Ambreen Butt’s “I Am My Lost Diamond” installation at Carroll and Sons.

Galleries

Cultural divides, blurred and explosive

Meet the Fall All-Scholastics

Sports

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Tom Brady met with reporters on Wednesday.

Tom Brady got started early on 49ers

Facing a unit that he said has “no real weakness,” Brady began studying more than two weeks ago, knowing he’d need extra preparation in a short week.

Metro

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State Treasurer Steve Grossman.

State treasurer wants lottery tickets sold online

Steve Grossman plans to ask the Legislature to eliminate restrictions on selling lottery tickets online or buying them with credit cards.

Columnists

Protesters gathered for a rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Tuesday.

jeff jacoby

Freedom from unions

Former Governor William Weld endorsed Scott Brown in his Senate battle with Elizabeth Warren.

Scot lehigh

How about Bill Weld for US Senate?

Children danced at the 2011 Christmas in the City event in Boston.

Brian McGrory

Christmas in the City is the best gift of the year

Farah Stockman

Food aid fattens up lobbyists

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub tries to hide but he can’t escape the sack by Rob Ninkovich (50) in the first quarter.

Christopher L. Gasper

Dominant Patriots defense earned the spotlight

Boston Capital

Mass. biotechs glitter in new golden age

Joanna Weiss

For parents, where to draw the line on risk?

WesWelker cradles the ball as he hits the deck inside the 5-yard line after giving Houston defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) the slip. The play set up the Patriots’ first touchdown.

Dan Shaughnessy | Patriots 42, Texans 14

Patriots look like they’re heading to Super Bowl

Denise Jackson, a Salvation Army bell ringer, outside the Stop & Shop at Vinnin Square in Swampscott.

Opinion | Kevin Cullen

Stop and hear the bells

Juliette Kayyem

Qatar arms deals expose limits of US

Tech Lab Plus

Cheap Nikon Coolpix takes classy shots

Matt Schaub and the Texans enter Monday’s game with an 11-1 record.

Dan Shaughnessy

Texans have no chance

Nation & World

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An image released by the Korean Central News Agencyshows a rocket launch.

US, others condemn North Korea rocket launch

The action was widely seen as a test that takes the country one step closer to being capable of launch nuclear bombs.

Politics

House Speaker John Boehner talked about the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

‘Serious differences’ remain in fiscal cliff talks, Boehner says

House Speaker John Boehner today offered a sour assessment of the negotiations aimed at avoiding $500 billion in cuts and tax hikes.

Business

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Foxborough resident Mary O'Dea had to shovel snow off her driveway during a fall storm.

Even higher heating bills in new forecast for winter

Despite recent mild temperatures, colder days — and higher heating bills — are still on their way, according to analysis.

Arts

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Book Review

“Familiar,” J. Robert Lennon’s latest novel, reflects modern humans’ fragmentary condition.

‘Familiar’ by J. Robert Lennon

Lennon’s newest book stands as a crowning achievement.

Food & dining

Cheap Eats

The Earl of Sandwich stand on the Boston Common.

When hunger strikes on the Common, two spots to choose from

Two chains, Earl of Sandwich and Potbelly Sandwich Shop are both open on the Common.

Magazine

The cover for the December 9 2012 issue

Dec 9, 2012

The drug lab scandal: Who’s cleaning it up?

The cover for the December 2 2012 issue

Dec 2, 2012

5 inspired rooms

The cover for the November 25 2012 issue

Nov 25, 2012

Cambridge’s Bluefin Labs decodes social media chatter

The cover for the November 18 2012 issue

Nov 18, 2012

7 holiday styles that shine

Opinion

Ideas