Kerry vows to combat climate change

By Bryan Bender and David Uberti

In his confirmation hearing for secretary of state, John F. Kerry pledged to pursue a different brand of foreign policy while leading a global fight to combat climate change.

Assault weapons ban filed in Congress

By Jennifer Steinhauer

Senator Dianne Feinstein announced legislation that would ban the sale and manufacture of 157 types of semiautomatic weapons.

By Kelli Kennedy

The taxpayer-funded Medicare program paid more than $120 million for medical services for inmates and illegal immigrants.

North Korea threatens nuclear test

By Chico Harlan

North Korea on Thursday threatened to carry out a nuclear test as part of an ‘‘all-out action’’ against the United States.

By Alan Cowell and Rick Gladstone

Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and the US issued ominous warnings on Thursday about threats to Westerners in Libya.

Clashes in Egypt on eve of uprising anniversary

By MAGGIE MICHAEL

Egyptian police clashed with protesters as they tried to tear down a wall built to prevent them from reaching the parliament building.

SCOT LEHIGH

The gun lobby’s long reach

By Scot Lehigh

If we’re to pass sensible gun laws in this country, proponents will have to match the gun lobby’s discipline and determination.

Joshua Green

GOP should embrace deficit reduction

By Joshua Green

In order to chart a path back from oblivion, Republicans need to offer something to voters beyond contempt for Obama. They should choose deficit reduction as that goal.

JOAN WICKERSHAM

The joy of re-reading

By Joan Wickersham

One of life’s great joys is re-reading. The stories don’t get old; the books change because we change.

Timothy Murray under fire over campaign funding

By Andrea Estes and Sean P. Murphy

Regulators have found evidence that the lieutenant governor may have violated state law by accepting donations from the disgraced former Chelsea housing director.

Kevin Cullen

Here’s an out worth taking

By Kevin Cullen

The death of an IRA operative gives the US and British governments a face-saving way to walk away from an attempt to hijack an oral history project from the Boston College archives.

Swartz case prompts debate over cyber law

By Peter Schworm and Shelley Murphy

Aaron Swartz’s suicide touched off accusations that prosecutors abused their power by seeking a long sentence and stiff fine against him for hacking into the MIT network.

Shaw’s struggles against lower-priced competition

By Jenn Abelson

Shaw’s, which was just bought by a group of private investors, has seen its sales erode $1.5 billion since 2006.

By Michael B. Farrell

Waltham defense contractor Raytheon Co. projected that its adjusted earnings per share could fall as much as 9 percent in 2013 to $5.65.

Easing veterans’ job plight

By Sarah Shemkus

Walmart boosted a national trend with a new initiative aimed at hiring veterans, but the program’s critics say the company is not offering attractive job options.

Jacob Maxin; piano teacher played a few, magical concerts

By Bryan Marquard

Mr. Maxin, 83, taught at New England Conservatory, where he was renowned for his teaching abilities, for 35 years.

Antonio Frasconi; woodcut artist addressed war, racism

By Douglas Martin

Mr. Frasconi, 93, was called America’s foremost practitioner of the ancient art of the woodcut by Time magazine in 1953.

Linda Pugach, 75; blinded, she wed man behind attack

By Ula Ilnytzky

Mrs. Pugach was blinded in 1959 when her lover hired hit men to throw lye in her face, and became a sensation after marrying him.

Knicks 89, celtics 86

Knicks hand Celtics 5th straight loss

By Julian Benbow

J.R. Smith hit a 3-pointer with 1:11 left to give the Knicks their first win in Boston in seven years.

Boston police officer part of boxing’s revival

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell

Dorchester’s Billy Traft, who works in the department’s gang unit and will box at TD Garden on Saturday, is helping to prove boxing is far from dead.

Pedro Martinez thrilled to be back

By Peter Abraham

The Red Sox icon said he feels he can help the team “be great again” in his new role as a special assistant to Ben Cherington.

Photography review

Three shows at Griffin Museum of Photography

By Mark Feeney

Despite their differences in subject, three shows highlighting life in Burkina Faso, the changing face of Brockton, and coping with multiple sclerosis all share a common spirit.

Art Review

Loïs Mailou Jones at the MFA

By Cate McQuaid

A self-titled retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts demonstrates that Jones had ample talents in realism, post-impressionism, textile design, and more.

Stage Review

Two worlds beckon in ‘Family Happiness’

By Don Aucoin

Featuring a quite marvelous performance by Ksenia Kutepova as Masha, “Family Happiness’’ arrives Saturday in Boston for a two-day stint at the Cutler Majestic Theatre.