Nation

Grilled by GOP senators, Blinken defends Biden administration’s Afghanistan exit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the Biden administration’s handling of its withdrawal from Afghanistan during Senate testimony Tuesday, even as top intelligence officials separately reported that al-Qaida could rebuild in the country in a year or two — a shorter timeline than they had estimated before the Taliban seized control. Continue reading →

Nation

Ex-US intelligence officers admit to hacking crimes in work for Emiratis

The men helped the Emirates, a close American ally, gain unauthorized access to “acquire data from computers, electronic devices, and servers around the world, including on computers and servers in the United States,” prosecutors said. Continue reading →

Nation

Trump advisers privately warned of ‘critical mistakes’ as pandemic loomed

Senior advisers in the Trump administration in February 2020 privately discussed the government’s “critical mistakes” in preparing for the coronavirus, countering optimistic claims then-President Donald Trump made in public, according to e-mails obtained by the House select subcommittee on the pandemic. Continue reading →

World

Minister pledges Taliban government won’t allow militant attacks

Afghanistan’s new foreign minister said Tuesday that the Taliban governing the country remain committed to not allowing militants to use their territory to launch attacks. But he refused to say when or if the country’s new rulers would create a more inclusive government. Continue reading →

World

Haiti prosecutor says evidence links prime minister to president’s killing

Haiti’s chief prosecutor said Tuesday that there was evidence linking the acting prime minister to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and forbade him to leave the country until he answers questions about it. Continue reading →

World

Fox-style news network rides wave of discontent in France

CNews, the news network created by the billionaire Vincent Bolloré, topped the ratings in May by giving a new bullhorn for right-wing views on crime, immigration, climate, and the coronavirus. Continue reading →

OPINION

The unvaccinated and the orphans they leave behind

They are COVID-19’s unseen casualties — at least 120,000 children nationwide whose parents or caregivers have died. Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

Massachusetts is stuck in the Prohibition era on liquor licenses

The Legislature won’t let go of its reins over liquor licensing. But pandemic recovery demands that it do so. Continue reading →

OPINION

The sins we commit with words

Yom Kippur teaches the importance of seeking forgiveness from those we have hurt. Continue reading →

Metro

Change will be on the ballot in November

Yes, Boston is clearly a city on the cusp of change. But how much change do voters really want? Continue reading →

Metro

Suffolk DA, state officials continue probe into BU professor’s death on stairway at JFK/UMass MBTA station

Records suggest the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, which oversees roads and a park next to the MBTA’s JFK/UMass station, had some responsibility for the dilapidated, closed-off structure. Continue reading →

Metro

Hundreds attend public wake in Lawrence for Marine sergeant killed in Kabul blast

“My older sister Johanny was so beautiful,” said her brother, Erick Rosario, during remarks at the wake, which drew more than 1,000 people under bright sunshine at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “She was such an amazing person. She was our family’s backbone.” Continue reading →

ben volin | on football

Mac Jones set a solid benchmark in his Patriots debut

The rookie's completion percentage of 74.4 was seventh-best in the NFL, but more telling were his yards per attempt and passer rating. Continue reading →

Red Sox notebook

Chris Sale lined up to return to mound Friday

The lefthander, who last pitched Sept. 6, is 3-0 with a 2.52 earned run average in five starts this season. Continue reading →

patriots

Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears hopes those grating fumbles can be a teaching moment

There are lessons to be taken from the two lost fumbles by running backs, which continued to rankle Fears two days later. Continue reading →

Business

With stimulus factored in, US poverty rate declined in 2020

The stimulus checks, which provided $1,200 payments to millions of Americans last year, saved 11.7 million people from poverty, according to the census. Continue reading →

Business

After years of planning, BPDA sets new rules for building in flood-prone parts of Boston

Large projects in many coastal neighborhoods would be required to elevate ground floors and implement other protections. Continue reading →

Business

Top general was so fearful Trump might spark war that he made secret calls to his Chinese counterpart, new book says

In a pair of secret phone calls, General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assured his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army, that the United States would not strike, according to a new book by Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward and national political reporter Robert Costa. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Michel Laclotte, who ‘created the modern Louvre,’ dies at 91

As director of the Louvre, Michel Laclotte oversaw much of its historic renovations, and earlier, as its chief curator of paintings, championed the Musée D’Orsay (the museum-in-a-train-station) and I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid at the Louvre — two of the most controversial but ultimately beloved architectural projects of late 20th-century Paris. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Comedian and ‘SNL’ alum Norm Macdonald dies after battle with cancer

A veteran of the stand-up circuit, Mr. Macdonald has died after a battle with cancer. Continue reading →

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Names

Aerosmith’s Joe Perry puts Duxbury mansion on the market for $4.5 million

Aerosmith wrote several songs at the sprawling Duxbury estate, including “Livin’ on the Edge” and “Fever," and recorded the album “Honkin’ on Bobo” there as well. Famed musicians like Lenny Kravitz have also made appearances at Brook Haven Farm. Continue reading →

Names

Boston Vaccine Day is an inoculation celebration

The upcoming celebration of vaccines, to be held in Malcolm X Park in Roxbury, will focus not on tragedy but on joy. Continue reading →

Names

Julien Baker explored the literary arts on ‘Little Oblivions,’ now she’s ready to educate

Baker’s third studio album has garnered much praise for its full band sound (new accompaniments she performed herself) and confidently intentional lyricism. Continue reading →