Obama defeats Romney for 2d term

By Michael Kranish, Matt Viser and Brian MacQuarrie

Swing states propelled President Obama to reelection after a formidable challenge by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

News Analysis

Economy kept Obama afloat, blocked Romney win

By Christopher Rowland and Scott Helman

In the end, the rising economy secured President Obama a second term.

Captain testifies general threatened to kill her

By Michael Biesecker

A female Army captain testified that her commanding general initiated a sexual affair during a combat tour in Iraq and threatened to kill her and her family if she told anyone.

Diplomatic efforts have little impact in Syria

By Neil MacFarquhar

Disjointed diplomatic maneuvering on the Syria crisis by top foreign officials seemed to underscore the lack of any coherent international effort to end the fighting.

By Ashraf Sweilam

A senior Egyptian police officer was shot and wounded in the second recent attack of its kind on security forces in the country’s turbulent northern Sinai region.

Gaza crew drains pond to capture escaped crocodile

By Diaa Hadid

A 5-foot-9-inch crocodile that escaped its zoo enclosure two years ago was captured and returned to its cage.

joan vennochi

By Joan Vennochi

Americans need to believe in a basic reliability in the person they send to the White House, and that was Mitt Romney’s downfall.

Joanna Weiss

By Joanna Weiss

On a night of far less tension than expected, Fox News offered the high emotions.

Jeff Jacoby

By Jeff Jacoby

President Obama may have eked out a victory, but he won it ugly, and his first term will go down as one of the great lost boons in American political history.

Brian McGrory

Wouldn’t it be great...

By Brian McGrory

Wouldn’t it be great if the nation learned a few hard-won lessons from the campaign that just ended, decency and commonality and the art of compromise?

Kennedy wins in the 4th, returning the family to power

By Mark Arsenault

Joseph P. Kennedy III won a decisive victory in the race to fill the open congressional seat left vacant by the retire­ment of Barney Frank.

Rep. Tierney hangs on to win Sixth District

By Eric Moskowitz

Rep. John Tierney held on to win a ninth term, beating Republican Richard Tisei by the narrowest margin since his first victory.

By Michael B. Farrell

The group has raised $1 million for a Cambridge facility meant to ensure that the region remains a hotbed of research on the so-called big data tech revolution.

Many say they’ll spend more for holiday gifts

By Erin Ailworth and Laura Finaldi

Boston-area consumers plan to spend significantly more on gifts than other US shoppers this holiday season.

By Jenn Abelson

The bankrupt gourmet pizza chain accused of exploiting workers owes employees about $850,000 in back wages and damages, according to court records.

Elliot Carter, 103; top US composer, prolific to the end

By Jeremy Eichler

The most respected American composer of the late 20th century, Mr. Carter wrote 158 works and was twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music.

Jim Durham, 65, NBA game announcer for ESPN

Mr. Durham, the lead play-by-play commentator for NBA games on ESPN Radio, has died.

Female ex-hockey star now walking cop’s beat

By Stan Grossfeld

After a successful hockey career, Stephanie O’Sullivan’s love of the action continues, as a member of the Boston police department.

Patriots historically tough to beat after bye

By Shalise Manza Young

As they head into the season’s 2nd half, the Patriots carry a 9-3 post-bye record under Bill Belichick, and an impressive 86-23 mark in November and December.

Kevin Garnett says Celtics need more work

By Frank Dell'Apa

The Celtics have shown somewhat shocking signs of vulnerability in getting off to a 1-2 start, but Garnett has been seeing progress.

It’s tailgate time. ’Cue the veggies

By Karoline Boehm Goodnick

A Sunday afternoon game party or tailgating picnic should have a few nonmeat options, for the sake of the guests and for the sake of some waistlines.

Recipe for squash and white bean quesadillas

Serves 6.

Recipe for all-bean vegetarian chili

Recipe for all-bean vegetarian chili