Romney words on Olympics readiness draw British riposte

By Glen Johnson

Britain’s prime minister and the country’s press hit Mitt Romney after the Republican candidate questioned London’s preparation for the Games.

Researchers report hopeful HIV treatment

By Helen Shen

Two HIV-positive patients in Boston who underwent bone marrow transplants for cancer were later found to have undetectable blood levels of the virus.

This city’s year-old $18 million police radio system failed repeatedly during President Obama’s visit to Oakland Monday and during protests surrounding it.

By Neil MacFarquhar

Activists reported heavy shelling by the army in key cities Thursday as the regime mustered soldiers, tanks, and support vehicles outside Aleppo.

Chinese authorities raised Beijing’s storm death toll to 77 Thursday after the public questioned the days-old tally of 37.

Al Qaeda insurgents clashed with Iraqi security forces Thursday, the second attack this week in what Al Qaeda in Iraq’s leader has depicted as a new offensive aimed at recapturing lost ground.

opinion | Joan Wickersham

Family court — where lives unbind

By Joan Wickersham

Child custody. Alimony. Divorce. No one expects to end up here.

opinion | thomas gagen

A dissident’s peaceful way forward for Cuba

By Thomas Gagen

Oswaldo Paya ought to be most remembered for furthering the hopes for a democratic transition in which the differences among Cubans are resolved without violence.

the podium

Excerpts from the Globe’s “Voices of New England’’ blog.

High court weighs in on controversial crime bill

By Milton J. Valencia

The chief justice of the state’s highest court said Thursday that the controversial crime bill recently approved by the Legislature does not provide the judiciary with adequate discretion in sentencing habitual offenders — a key consideration for Governor Deval Patrick as he decides whether to sign the measure. Patrick has until Sunday to decide whether to sign the bill, veto it, or send it back to the Legislature with recommended changes.

Brown opposes, Warren supports renewing assault weapons ban

By Noah Bierman

The deadly shooting in ­Colorado has thrust the debate about gun control into the Senate race.

Bloomberg backs Brown in Mass. Senate race

By Michael Levenson

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg threw his support behind Senator Scott Brown on Thursday, praising his opposition to the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act.

Boston Capital

Online retailers pressed to collect sales taxes

By Steven Syre

A sale is a sale, wherever it takes place. Taxes aren’t popular, but they should be fair.

By D.C. Denison

The president of the European Central Bank asserted that he will “do whatever it takes” to preserve Europe’s shared currency, but Mass. companies are concerned about effects here.

Boston, developers betting tiny Seaport apartments will be a big thing

By Casey Ross

With units as small as 450 square feet, the apartments fit the call for more affordable housing for young professionals who want to live near work and attractions.

Jack Conway; realtor gave back to community

By J.M. Lawrence

Mr. Conway turned a one-man office in Hingham into a sales empire with 40 offices and more than 600 agents.

Ann Curtis, swimmer won 2 gold medals in ’48 Olympics

By Emily Langer

A swimming phenomenon, Ann Curtis won 34 national Amateur Athletic Union championships, more than any woman before.

Dr. Robert Ledley, 86, inventor of modern CT scanning

By Katie Hafner

Robert S. Ledley, a dentist turned biomedical researcher and computing trailblazer, died Tuesday in Kensington, Md.

Underachieving Red Sox at a crossroads

By Peter Abraham

With 63 games left and facing the Yankees this weekend, the last-place could stand as one of the most expensive flops in history.

Goodbye Michael Phelps, hello Missy Franklin

By John Powers

Phelps, 27, aims to become the greatest Olympian ever in his final Games, and could yield the baton of US Swimming to the up-and-coming Franklin, 17.

Red Sox notebook

Aaron Cook to start series against Yankees

By Peter Abraham

Cook has a 2.16 earned run average in his last five starts, but the Yankees present a challenge.

Inaugural Summer Arts Weekend loaded with jazz heavyweights

By James H. Burnett III

It was one of the most hotly anticipated music festivals the area’s seen in years.

Sierra Hull brings bluegrass back to Boston

By Stephanie Steinberg

The recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music is touring the country with her band Sierra Hull & Highway 111.

Stage Review

Pirouettes and punch in ‘Billy Elliot the Musical’

By Don Aucoin

The young protagonist makes the life-changing discovery that he has a gift for dance.