A Memorial Day weekend gathering helped children in military families cope with death and talk about  loss.

After Loss of a Parent to War, a Shared Grieving

Sony has expanded into so many businesses in Japan and abroad that it has blurred its original identity as an engineering innovator.

Cutting Sony, a Corporate Octopus, Back to a Rational Size

The concert might have seemed intriguing in theory but was downright puzzling in practice.

Rascal Flatts and Gary Allan: The Yin and Yang of Stoicism

The shrinking list of movies scheduled for review is an indication that the long marriage between print and film is hitting a rough spot.

Studios Turn Thumbs Down on Film Critics

Between the relentless public attention and the scathing reviews, Mr. Spacey, the artistic director at the Old Vic Theater in London, has been his usual focused self.

Beyond a Sea of Criticism, All's Well for Kevin Spacey at Old Vic

The military's investigation into the role of U.S. marines in the November killings may lead to charges including murder.

Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians

The questions facing Representative William J. Jefferson resonate in a career shaped by an ascent from deep poverty.

Target of F.B.I. Raid Had a Hard Path to Capitol Hill

A Web site called QuickMuse is hosting battles between two writers who are given 15 minutes each to compose a poem.

On Your Marks, Get Set, Poeticize: Dueling Poets on the Web

David Ives's "Other Woman" stands out as the most accomplished of the four plays presented in this first of three evenings of one-acts.

Marathon 2006: That Was No Wraith, That Was My Wife

A film about the Irish rebellion against British rule and the country's subsequent civil war won the top prize at the 59th Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.

Ken Loach's 'Wind That Shakes the Barley' Wins Top Prize at Cannes

The new weapon would let the U.S. strike distant targets within an hour, but some fear it could increase the risks of a nuclear confrontation.

Pentagon Seeks Nonnuclear Tip for Sub Missiles

Bears, a moose, a coyote and other animals have visited the New York area, and a fair degree of chaos has ensued.

Unto the City the Wildlife Did Journey

Fighting in Somalia has spurred an exodus, but the journey to Yemen carries risks that rival those on shore.

Somalis Brave a Sea of Perils for Jobs Abroad

US defeats Latvia, 1-0, in exhibition game (M)

Questions Remain After U.S. Victory in Last Exhibition

Killings of civilians by US marines in Haditha last November 19 are described by four Iraqis who identify themselves as survivors and talk with Iraqi writer sent by The New York Times; Hiba Abdullah describes surviving after troops killed seven others in home, including 77-year-old man in wheelchair; accounts cannot be independently corroborated but are consistent with official investigations; Haditha is dangerous Anbar town under Sunni insurgent control, place where twenty marines from different unit were killed three months earlier; witnesses say killings of 24 people began after roadside bomb killed Lance Cpl Miguel Terrazas; most were apparently carried out by handful of marines led by staff sergeant; those attacked included infants and the elderly (M)

Somalis desperate to escape brutal clan warfare and dire poverty undertake dangerous journeys by sea to Yemen, illegal getaway to low-paying jobs in Middle East; journey across Gulf of Aden takes two nights if engines do not fail and Yemeni coast guard does not intercept vessel, but violent smugglers can also hurl migrants overboard into shark-infested waters; photos; map (M)

 A German Pope Visits Auschwitz  Pope Benedict XVI, once a German soldier, visited Auschwitz, walking through the infamous gate promising ''Work Shall Set You Free.''    PAGE A7    Iran's Drive to Nuclear Fuel Slows, Diplomats Say  After boasting last month that it had joined the ''nuclear club'' by successfully enriching uranium on an industrial scale, Iran appears to have slowed its drive to produce nuclear fuel, European diplomats say.    PAGE A9    Indonesia Quake Toll Rising  Officials said the earthquake that struck Indonesia on Saturday killed at least 4,500 people, a number that was expected to rise as aftershocks continued and the rubble of collapsed buildings was searched.    PAGE A10    Bloomberg's Political Future  For a man who says he is not running for president, Mayor Bloomberg has been sounding a lot like a candidate. Last week, he dived into national issues, but then denied any interest in higher office.    PAGE B1    Bonds Passes the Babe  With his 715th career homer, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants passed Babe Ruth on the career list. He now trails only Hank Aaron, who hit 755.    SPORTSMONDAY, PAGE D1    Close Finish in Indianapolis  Sam Hornish Jr., above, beat the rookie Marco Andretti by 0.0635 of a second to win the second-closest Indy 500 in history. Andretti's father, Michael, was third. It was the first time that the winner took the lead on the final lap.    SPORTSMONDAY, PAGE D1    The Best of Cannes  On his 13th try, Ken Loach won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival with ''The Wind That Shakes the Barley,'' about the Irish rebellion against the British.    THE ARTS, PAGE E1

INSIDE

Kevin Spacey has been heavily criticized for his choices since he has taken over as artistic director of Old Vic Theater in London; theater's production of play Resurrection Blues drew horrendous reviews and closed week early, just in time for announcement that theater would go dark until September; Spacey asserts his right to learn from his mistakes and has announced ambitious program for next year that includes O'Neill's Moon for the Misbegotten and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew; photos (M)

Long Island National Cemetery funeral of Marine Lt Michael L Licalzi, killed in action in Anbar Province, Iraq, is visited by fifty members of Patriot Guard Riders; group has hundreds of motorcycle riders who attend funerals of Americans killed in Iraq in effort to show grieving families and communities that nation cares about, and remembers, their losses; photos (M)

Revving Their Engines, Remembering a War's Toll

Nearly 150 of estimated 1,600 American children who have lost parents in Iraq war gather in Arlington over Memorial Day weekend for annual 'grief camp' run by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; children share feeling with each other and with counselors; photos; nonprofit group founded in 1994 helps military family and friends cope with death and talk about their loss (M)

New York Republicans and Democrats move into last days of preparation for state political conventions, kicking off races for governor, attorney general and United States Senate; sharp clash of ideologies is expected at Republican convention as moderate and conservative party members vie for power, while Democratics are expected to be uncharacteristically unified in their determination to execute landslide victory over Republicans in fall elections; photos and thumbnail sketches of candidates (M)

As State Parties Gather, Stage Is Set for Deal-Making and a Little Drama

Sam Hornish Jr wins Indianapolis 500, giving car owner Roger Penske 14th Indy 500 win; Marco Andretti finishes second and his father Michael finishes third; photos (M)

Hornish Beats Andrettis in Second-Closest Indy 500

New York area has been startled in recent weeks by appearance of coyote, dolphin, moose and several bears in city and suburban environs; photos; map; Bill Weber of Wildlife Conservation Society says reasons for unexpected visitations vary and include both environmental triumphs and travesties; once-threatened species have recovered with conservation measures, waterways are cleaner, greenways are developing, exurban development is flushing animals from usual haunts and mild winters make it easier to survive (M)

Pentagon is pressing Congress to approve new weapon that would enable US to carry out nonnuclear missile strikes against distant targets within one hour; plan sets off complex debate about whether system would increase risk of accidential nuclear confrontation; calls for deploying new nonnuclear warhead atop submarine-launched Trident II missile that could attack terrorist camps, enemy missile sites and caches of chemical or nuclear weapons; would cost estimated half billion dollars over five years; Pentagon requests $127 million to start work; lawmakers like Sen Jack Reed are concerned because Trident II missile has long been equipped with nuclear payload; Gen James E Cartwright outlines proposal (M)

Brian Tierney and his team of business leaders hope to revive Philadelphia's main newspapers; editors at Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News vow to work with new owners to make changes and adapt to times; critics fear Tierney will use newspapers as platform for his personal and political agendas; photos (M)

When a Newsmaker Buys the Newspaper

Gukesh Dommaraju is an Indian chess grandmaster and the reigning World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, Gukesh is the youngest undisputed world champion, the youngest player to have surpassed a FIDE rating of 2750, doing so at the age of 17, and the third-youngest to have surpassed 2700 Elo at the age of 16. He earned the title of grandmaster at the age of 12 and is the third-youngest grandmaster in chess history.

Dommaraju Gukesh, Youngest contender to compete for the title of World Chess Champion

Gukesh_Dommaraju

Jacques Bouchard, was a Canadian advertising executive and author. He was one of the founders of Quebec's first French creative advertising agency, BCP, and a pioneer in French-language advertising.

May 29, 2006

Headlines from May 29, 2006

After Loss of a Parent to War, a Shared Grieving

Cutting Sony, a Corporate Octopus, Back to a Rational Size

Rascal Flatts and Gary Allan: The Yin and Yang of Stoicism

Studios Turn Thumbs Down on Film Critics

Beyond a Sea of Criticism, All's Well for Kevin Spacey at Old Vic

Billboard 200

Stadium Arcadium

What's Left Of Me

10;000 Days

Jagged Edge

Baby Makin' Music

Notable Births

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for May 29, 2006