By Mike Stobbe

Abortions in the United States fell 5 percent during the recession and its aftermath in the biggest one-year decrease in at least a decade.

By Richard Lardner

Internal e-mails among US military officers indicate that no sailors watched Osama bin Laden’s burial at sea and that traditional Islamic procedures were followed.

The worst US drought in decades has deepened again after more than a month of reports of improving conditions, scientists said.

Israel, Hamas accept cease-fire

By David D. Kirkpatrick and Jodi Rudoren

Under intense Egyptian and American pressure, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas halted eight days of bloody conflict on Wednesday.

Rwanda leads rebels, UN report says

By Alexandra Olson and Peter Spielmann

The Rwandan military is commanding and supporting the rebel force that overtook a major city in eastern Congo this week.

By Kareem Fahim

His death was the latest in a series of mysterious killings that have raised fears about the country’s precarious postwar security.

juliette kayyem

Israel’s Iron Dome

By Juliette Kayyem

The rocket defense system altered the dynamic between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and bought time for crucial negotiations.

Joan Vennochi

By Joan Vennochi

Romney never told voters how the policies he embraced as a presidential candidate would be a path to jobs, opportunity, and independence.

Nicholas Burns

By Nicholas Burns

We live at a time of real promise, characterized by positive trends that could make the next few decades an era of remarkable human progress.

Former highway safety chief quits state job

By Sean P. Murphy

Sheila Burgess resigned as a state employee, three days after the Globe revealed that she had numerous infractions on her driving record.

Once-homeless seniors give their thanks

By David Filipov

Older homeless people face a particular challenge: They tend to be beyond their employment years, and therefore less likely to find a way to support themselves.

Financial sector wants ties to Elizabeth Warren

By Noah Bierman

The financial services industry, Senator Scott Brown’s biggest donor group, has begun a careful and unlikely mission to thaw relations with the senator-elect.

By Robert Weisman and Kay Lazar

The Public Health Council adopted regulations loosening a gift ban that is part of a state law restricting marketing by drug and medical device makers.

Tech Lab

A holiday banquet for gamers

By Hiawatha Bray

Three video games offer the chance to annihilate digital terrorists, aliens, and even a fair number of British redcoats.

Walmart still battling fine in ’08 trampling

By Megan Woolhouse

The chain has spent millions to appeal a $7,000 penalty by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Black Friday death of a Walmart worker.

Kaethe Peters, 98, longtime social worker, educator

By Kathleen McKenna

A fixture at museums and restaurants in and around Cambridge, Mrs. Peters spent years as an educator and a social worker.

TV chef Art Ginsburg, 81, was known as Mr. Food

By J.M. Hirsh

Mr. Ginsburg, the delightfully dorky television chef, died at his home in Weston, Fla., Wednesday following a struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Elena Akhmilovskaya Donaldson, 55, top chess player

By Bruce Weber

Ms. Donaldson, who was once ranked among the world’s top female players, died Sunday in Kirkland, Wash.

Patriots tend to feast in rematches with Jets

By Shalise Manza Young

Over the previous three years, the Patriots have struggled in the first meeting of the season with the Jets and fared far better in the second.

Dan Shaughnessy

By Dan Shaughnessy

Football owns Thanksgiving — especially in Mass., where just about every high school plays its final regular-season game this morning.

Patriots Notebook

Patriots look for separation against the Jets

By Michael Whitmer

With a three-game lead on everybody else in the AFC East, the Patriots have an opportunity to deliver what might be a knockout blow to the Jets.

G Cover

Transforming into the Grinch

By Christopher Muther

Christopher Muther gets a green makeover in honor of the musical stage version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, which opens at the Wang Theatre on Friday.

The allure of the statistics field grows

By Beth Teitell

In the wake of Nate Silver’s spot-on predictions, the statistics field enjoys a post-election bump.

Bargain Bin

Boutiques hold Black Friday bonanzas

By Ami Albernaz

Ami Albernaz runs down sales and specials at local stores and shops.

Homeless to home for Thanksgiving

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald

The Massachusetts homeless population has grown by 10.2 percent since 2007 — the fifth-highest growth rate in the nation — to about 16,500, all waiting for the American Dream.  

Melrose

Melrose girls’ volleyball makes history with title

By Kathy Shiels Tully

Last Saturday, Melrose High won the Division 2 state title over Longmeadow to become the first girls’ team in school history to win a state crown.

Methuen box company to expand

By John Laidler

Methuen box manufacturer Century Box plans to nearly double its workforce through an expansion it is undertaking with the help of local and state tax breaks.

Cohasset football player, young fan inspire each other

By Coryn Doncaster

Daniel Smith, who has a neuromuscular disorder called Nemaline Myopathy, has been befriended by Jake Herth, captain of the Cohasset High football team.

South

By Coryn Doncaster

Five Thanksgiving Day football games to watch in communities south of Boston.

South

By Craig Larson

Coryn Doncaster’s Top 10 football teams and Week 11 Slate from high school programs south of Boston.

King Philip seniors persevered through tough times

By Phil Perry

On Thanksgiving morning, two seniors at King Philip Regional will play as a part of their football family for the final time.

Millis residents rally behind bandstand, playground

By Lisa Kocian

While each project is distinct, they all seem to draw on a large dose of civic engagement and will add up to big changes for a small town.

By Phil Perry

Five high school football games to watch on Thanksgiving Day in communities west of Boston.