Hopes rise for a deal on tax rates

By Christopher Rowland

More Republicans are imagining what an agreement that includes tax hikes on the wealthy might look like, rather than digging in against any rate increase.

By Mark Sherman

Supporters worry that the bans on same-sex unions in most states will have a bearing when the Supreme Court rules on the issue.

Same-sex couples in Wash. start taking wedding vows

By Rachel La Corte

The largest public event, with about 140 couples taking part, was at Seattle City Hall, where five separate chapels were used.

Egypt leader’s concessions fail to appease rivals

By David D. Kirkpatrick

Protesters registered fresh anger against Mohammed Morsi’s plan to hold a referendum on an Islamist-backed draft constitution.

A US drone strike has killed a senior Al Qaeda leader in Pakistan’s tribal region near the Afghan border, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Dr. Dilip Joseph and two Afghan doctors were abducted Wednesday as they traveled to a clinic.

John E. Sununu

Best energy policy? None

By John E. Sununu

When the government gets too involved in energy, nothing good happens. But when the market decides, industrious Americans solve our problems.

Juliette Kayyem

By Juliette Kayyem

Almost two years into the Arab Spring, the only certainty is that it was prematurely titled.

James Carroll

By James Carroll

A government’s duty to maintain the physical security of its people is matched by the obligation to safeguard its moral standing among nations.

Justice in the Shadows | Part 2 — Secret prisoners

Out of sight, detainees struggle to be heard

By Milton J. Valencia and Maria Sacchetti

With constitutional rights lacking, even for those with no record of crime, immigrants languish, pawns in a law enforcement system that is defined by secrecy.

Mass. lags on pay for women in the US

By Sarah Schweitzer

Despite the state’s historic leadership on pay equity,­ the gap between men’s and women’s salaries here is now among the biggest in the country.

By James Vaznis

Some parents, worried that changes to the way Boston assigns students to schools could split apart siblings, are pushing for a policy that would keep families together.

By Erin Ailworth

The Waltham battery maker plans to sell nearly all its assets to the North American unit of a Chinese auto parts maker for $256.6 million, pending federal approval.

Braille typewriters get a digital-era update

By Hiawatha Bray

The Smart Brailler has a computer screen and a text-to-speech feature to help the blind master a tool they may need to find a job.

THE ENTREPRENEURS GRILL

A light for disaster zones — or for poolside

Anna Stork and a co-founder created LuminAID, a company that developed and sells an inflatable, solar-powered portable lighting device.

Bob Hughes, 98; retired postmaster turned to writing letters

By Katherine Landergan

Mr. Hughes crafted letters he often mailed out in the hundreds to pass on memories of his beloved Martha’s Vineyard.

Arthur Chaskalson, 81; led Constitutional Court in South Africa

By Douglas Martin

Justice Chaskalson helped write South Africa’s constitution protecting minority rights, and created the court that safeguarded it.

Saul Steinberg, 73, corporate raider in 1980s

By Julie Creswell

Mr. Steinberg was the Brooklyn-born son of a rubber manufacturer and started his first company at 22.

Texans have climbed to the top of NFL

By John Powers

A decade after entering the league, Houston has waded through many losing seasons and finally has a chance to become part of the NFL elite.

Dan Shaughnessy

Texans have no chance vs. Patriots

By Dan Shaughnessy

The Texans are an overrated, unproven house of cards, waiting for their dope slap of reality at Gillette Stadium.

Improved Patriots defense eyes Texans’ threats

By Shalise Manza Young

The Patriots are hoping to continue the success they’ve had in the past few weeks on defense in Monday night’s game against Houston.

G Cover

Learning how to care for LGBT seniors

By Lara Salahi

A growing population of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered seniors face challenges different from their straight peers.

Dance Review

A pleasing innocence to Mateo’s ‘Nutcracker’

By Jeffrey Gantz

The José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s 25th annual production of “The Nutcracker” has many admirable details.

Boston film critics pick ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ as year’s best

By Ty Burr

The Boston Society of Film Critics named “Zero Dark Thirty” as the best film of 2012 and named its filmmaker, Kathryn Bigelow, as best director.