General Electric is pumping out stylish items aimed at consumers who have traditionally gravitated to brands like Viking and SubZero.

G.E.'s Bland Appliances Grow Sexier and Pricier

How and why a deadly attack in Haditha, Iraq, occurred and who ultimately bears responsibility are matters of profound dispute.

Contradictions Cloud Inquiry Into 24 Iraqi Deaths

U.S. troops employed a set of harsh, unauthorized interrogation techniques against detainees long after approval for their use was rescinded.

Pentagon Study Describes Abuse by Units in Iraq

After years of service as a military museum in New York, the U.S.S. Intrepid will move to a dry dock for repairs.

It's 900 Feet Long, Floats, and Needs Some Work

Dan Rather said on Friday that he and CBS were close to an agreement that would end his tenure early.

Moving Ahead, Rather Throws Sad Look Back

Finding the company's way in the new era will largely fall to the successors to Bill Gates, who will leave his day-to-day role in two years.

Microsoft Lieutenants Look Ahead, Hoping to Avoid Other Companies' Mistakes

Programmers have developed word processing, spreadsheet, calendar and other software that you operate in a Web browser.

Now, Free Ways to Do Desktop Work on the Web

Boeing's James McNerney Jr. let his executives execute the strategy that has put their proud company back on top.

A Good Chief Just Stays Out of the Way

Tiger Woods missed the cut at the United States Open. Steve Stricker, a qualifier, leads by a stroke.

New Surroundings for Woods: On the Outside, Looking In

In the race for president, a leftist former Mexico City mayor has dragged Mexico's enduring class conflict into the light.

Mexico's Populist Tilts at a Privileged Elite

This time around, fans seem to be rooting for stern-faced competitor David Duval.

Duval Is Old Self: Feisty and Good

In response to well-publicized problems with some entries, the online encyclopedia is exercising more editorial control.

Growing Wikipedia Refines Its 'Anyone Can Edit' Policy

While Greenwich, Conn., has long had synagogues, a day school is a more emphatic statement of Jewish arrival.

A Kinder, Gentler, More Kosher Greenwich

Software companies have developed free Web-based applications to replace traditional word processing, spreadsheet, calendar and other programs that often come with high costs; software has distinct advantage of allowing users to collaborate on documents from remote locations; Google Inc is leader in acquiring and developing new wave of online software; Microsoft faces tough decision of introducing similar offerings that may compete directly with its own products; photos (M)

General Electric upgrades its bland home appliances with sleek designs and sexy accents that were noticeably absent from reliable but boring line; investment in appliance division has increased 60 percent in past few years as it aims to sell to more upscale markets; competitors are making similar changes to their high-end lines; General Electric sales are brisk due to lower prices for comparable products; photos (M)

Pentagon investigation by Brig Gen Richard P Formica finds that US Special Operations troops employed set of harsh, unauthorized interrogation techniques against detainees in Iraq during four-month period in early 2004, long after approval for their use was rescinded; investigation is last of 12 major inquiries to be made public that focus on allegations of detainee abuse by US pesonnel in Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq, and first to focus on Special Operations troops, who operate with more latitude than other military units; it details harsh treatment that continued at isolated bases even after abuses first surfaced at Abu Ghraib prison; Formica recommends that none of service members be disciplined; says what they did was wrong but not deliberate abuse (M)

New York Mets manager Willie Randolph enjoys Mets season, which has been capped by impressive wins and near-record capacities at Shea Stadium (NYC); photo (M)2

Randolph Gets Chance and Mets Reap Benefits

US marines killed 24 Iraqi civilians, including 10 women and children, in Haditha on Nov 19, 2005, but how and why it happened and who bears responsibility are matters of dispute; interviews with marines who were present that day or their lawyers, Iraqi residents who witnessed attack and military investigators provide conflicting accounts of killings; investigators and townspeople say marines overreacted to fatal roadside bombing and shot civilians in cold blood; marines contend that they believed they were under attack and entitled to use lethal force; chart traces chain of command of marine unit involved in Haditha incident; map; photo (M)

Microsoft prepares for new era in computing as it struggles to enter new businesses beyond operating systems and office applications it has dominated; chairman Bill Gates will leave day-to-day role in two years, leaving his successors to forge new path for software company; says Microsoft will find new markets for growth, avoiding mistakes of technology companies like IBM and Digital Equipment; chief executive Steven A Ballmer will take over for Gates after his departure; photos (M)

Victor K Han, architect from Staten Island, is charged with promoting suicide attempt in death of his wife, Hejin Han, on June 14; police say family was on outing to Bear Mountain State Park when Han stopped minivan and got out to take pictures while his wife and two daughters remained in minivan; say wife put van in gear and drove off cliff, killing herself and injuring their daughters; maintain Han knew his wife was suicidal and afforded her chance to kill herself; say he had romantic relationship with female co-worker; photos (M)

Husband Aided Wife's Suicide in Cliff Plunge, Police Say

George Vecsey Sports of The Times column discusses US men's soccer team, which prepares to face Italy in first round of World Cup (M)

One Nation, Underwhelming

THERE aren't many chief executives with reputations as glowing as that of W. James McNerney Jr. of Boeing. In the late 1990's, as a top executive at General Electric, he was one of three contenders to succeed G.E.'s legendary boss, Jack Welch. Although the winner of that bake-off, Jeffrey R. Immelt, has proved to be a worthy choice, Mr. McNerney, 56, still has lots of fans at General Electric.     From there, he became the first outsider to take the top spot at 3M, a once-great company that had lost its way. Mr. McNerney brought the General Electric toolkit with him and forced the company to become more financially disciplined, but he also managed to preserve what was best about 3M's culture of research and innovation. Within two years, 3M's turnaround was in full swing.  

Dan Rather says that since stepping down as anchor of CBS Evening News last year, in aftermath of reporting scandal, he has been ill used as correspondent on 60 Minutes; Rather's contract with CBS is not scheduled to expire until late Nov, but he and network are close to agreement that would end his tenure early; Rather is considering new venture in which he would develop and be host of weekly interview program on high-definition television channel HDNet; photo (M)

Bronx Week, annual festival of civic pride for borough, will offer concerts, health fairs and black-tie balls and end with parade; history of event and factoids on borough; photos of Pres John F Kennedy and Pope John Paul II visiting Bronx (M)

For One Week, a Bronx Cheer Means Cheering for the Borough

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, leftist former Mexico City mayor, is locked in dead heat with Felipe Calderon, conservative candidate from Pres Vicente Fox's National Action Party, less than three weeks before presidential election; Lopez Obrador remains focus of election, polarizing figure who has dragged Mexico's class conflict into light; his fiery appeals have turned election into referendum on whether country wants to stick with free trade and pro-business policies of Fox administration or join growing number of Latin American countries that have elected populist left-wingers who want to assert greater state control over economy and funnel more wealth to poor; photos (M)

Cláudio Besserman Vianna, commonly known as Bussunda, was a Brazilian humorist and TV comedian, member of the Casseta & Planeta troupe. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, where he lived and worked, having started his career in the 1980s as a writer for satirical magazine Casseta Popular. One of the most popular Brazilian comedians of his generation, the overweight Bussunda was famous for his impersonations of football striker Ronaldo and of Brazil's president Lula. He also did the voice of Shrek in the Brazilian Portuguese version of Shrek and Shrek 2. He was of Jewish descent.

June 17, 2006

Headlines from June 17, 2006

G.E.'s Bland Appliances Grow Sexier and Pricier

Contradictions Cloud Inquiry Into 24 Iraqi Deaths

Pentagon Study Describes Abuse by Units in Iraq

It's 900 Feet Long, Floats, and Needs Some Work

Moving Ahead, Rather Throws Sad Look Back

Billboard 200

Taking The Long Way

High School Musical

Stadium Arcadium

Me And My Gang

American Idol Season 5: Encores

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for June 17, 2006