Today's Paper 11/26/2012 - The Boston Globe

The Nation

High court to consider taking gay marriage cases

Karen Golinski (left), a federal employee, has sued to add her wife, Amy Cunninghis, to her health insurance plan.

By Lisa Leff

The Supreme Court may decide this week whether to take up challenges next year to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Maryland studies repeal of death penalty

No executions have occurred under Martin O’Malley.

Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland is considering another attempt at repealing the death penalty when lawmakers reconvene in January.

2 children among 4 dead in Calif. highway crash

Five other people were hurt when a Toyota Prius crossed the center line on a highway and struck a Toyota Sienna minivan.

The World

112 die as fire ravages Bangladesh garment factory

Firefighters extinguished a fire Sunday in the Tazreen Fashions plant in Savar, outside Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.

By Vikas Bajaj

It took firefighters all night to put out the blaze at the factory, Tazreen Fashions, after it started Saturday about 7 p.m.

Spanish separatist parties make gains

Voters in economically powerful Catalonia raised the likelihood that the region will hold an independence referendum.

Congo and M23 rebels negotiate in Uganda

Ugandan Defense Minister Crispus Kiyonga said he is mediating discussions to help end a violent rebellion.

Editorial & Opinion

John E. Sununu

Washington’s holiday fruitcake

Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, President Obama, and Harry Reid meet in the White House Cabinet Room in 2011.

By John E. Sununu

Like any tradition — visiting certain relatives, attending the same Christmas parties, or listening to the president carry on — it can start to wear you down after awhile.

James Carroll

The Earth experiment

By James Carroll

“Geoengineering” can help counter climate change, but does it go too far?

Alan Berger

Iranian exiles and international blunders

By Alan Berger

Spend enough time kibitzing about international affairs and you are liable to develop an obsession with blunders.

Metro

Mass. tax revenues decline; budget trims loom

The revenue drop is adding to the pressures on Governor Deval Patrick, who is also struggling with a drug lab crisis and a fatal meningitis outbreak traced to Massachusetts.

By Stephanie Ebbert

Recent tax collections have been unexpectedly disappointing, failing to measure up to last year’s levels.

A better year for Boston school bus arrivals

The city shuttles more than 33,000 students every day.

By James Vaznis

Boston school buses — chronically late last year, prompting a barrage of criticism — are increasingly arriving on time this fall.

Medicare payment changes draw fire

By Chelsea Conaboy

Neurologists in Boston and nationwide are objecting to a plan that would pay them less for certain diagnostic tests, a change meant to cut Medicare costs.