Weapons ban doomed in Congress, NRA says

By Eileen Sullivan

The gun lobby is detecting enough support to block a law that would ban assault weapons, despite White House promises to make such a measure a reality.

By Aaron C. Davis and John Wagner

Governor Martin O’Malley will seek to institute some of the nation’s strictest gun-licensing requirements.

Police stormed into a movie theater and shot an armed domestic violence suspect pretending to be a patron.

By David D. Kirkpatrick

An Egyptian court overturned the conviction of former President Hosni Mubarak for directing the killing of hundreds of protesters.

20,000 protest ban on US adoption of Russian children

About 20,000 people marched through Moscow, a far bigger number than expected in a sign that outrage over the ban has enlivened anti-Kremlin opposition.

Police have arrested six suspects in another gang rape, four weeks after an attack on a student outraged Indians and led to calls for tougher rape laws.

Jennifer Graham

A generation gap at City Hall

By Jennifer Graham

Young mayors are doing great things, but the mayor-for-life set isn’t giving up so easily.

JULIETTE KAYYEM

Chuck Hagel will too set policy

By Juliette Kayyem

The secretary of defense, Hagel’s defenders assert, does not set foreign policy. But have we learned nothing? Of course he does.

JAMES CARROLL

Vietnam haunts nominations

By James Carroll

When John Kerry and Chuck Hagel climb Capitol Hill seeking Senate confirmation, John McCain’s ring is the one they must kiss.

Mohegan Sun set to submit Mass. casino bid

By Mark Arsenault

The Conn. casino’s owners have found a new financial backer and will apply to the state’s gambling commission to build a gambling resort in Palmer.

Dan Shaughnessy

Patriots-Texans was a laugher from start to finish

By Dan Shaughnessy

The Patriots can’t be judged fairly based on their performance vs. the awful Texans, but we’ll learn a lot more about them next week vs. the Ravens.

Boston’s lower-income areas bear brunt of flu

By Matt Rocheleau

The illness appears to be exacting an especially heavy toll on three neighborhoods — Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan.

Woods Hole deep sea sub gets makeover

By Martin LaMonica

An overhaul of the storied sub Alvin will let scientists descend four miles below sea level to explore the earth’s final frontier.

THE ENTREPRENEURS GRILL

Can smartphones replace video game consoles?

Chris Allen is founder of Brass Monkey, which allows gamers to use their smart phones or tablets to play online video games by using common browsers.

Innovation Economy

Making a baby? There’s an app for that, too

By Scott Kirsner

Cambridge start-up Ovuline sells a mobile app and access to a website to help women monitor fertility and get advice.

Kevin Duffy, 70; longtime BC vice president of student affairs

By Katherine Landergan

Helping students was Dr. Duffy’s top priority as a professor and an administrator for more than two decades at Boston College.

Margaret Brewer, Marines’ first female general

By Matt Schudel

Ms. Brewer, 82, a retired brigadier general, was the first woman to hold the rank of general in the Marine Corps.

Del Alberts, former Globe advertising executive

By Gloria Negri

Mr. Alberts, 78, a man of a certain panache, joined The Boston Globe’s advertising team in 1970 and retired 25 years later as the Globe’s sales promotion manager.

Dan Shaughnessy

Patriots-Texans was a laugher from start to finish

By Dan Shaughnessy

The Patriots can’t be judged fairly based on their performance vs. the awful Texans, but we’ll learn a lot more about them next week vs. the Ravens.

Patriots 41, Texans 28

Patriots beat Texans, face Ravens in AFC title game

By Shalise Manza Young

The Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship game for the 7th time of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era after dispatching the Texans.

Christopher L. Gasper

Real playoffs start next week for Patriots

By Christopher L. Gasper

The win over the Texans was basically an open-book test for the Patriots, who will need to be far better to beat the Ravens.

Golden Globe Awards

‘Argo,’ ‘Les Miz’ big winners at the Golden Globes

By Matthew Gilbert

Ben Affleck’s “Argo” took best drama and best director and “Les Misérables” won three awards, while the TV winners were largely an echo of last year’s Emmys.

Health

Teens may need more time to heal from concussions

By Karen Weintraub

Researchers are certain that too many young people aren’t resting adequately and getting the recovery time they need.

By Karen Weintraub

Every concussion is different, so there’s no standard timeline for resuming pre-concussion activities.