June 29, 2005

Article on efforts of reality-show producer Todd Sharp and nearly 1,000 other writers, editors and producers to try to force reality show production companies and television networks to negotiate union contract with Writers Guild of America, West; guild officials reportedly will file lawsuit against some networks and production companies, charging breach of California's overtime laws; producers say conditions for those who work on reality shows have worsened as budgets and shooting schedules are squeezed by networks; photo (M)

A O Scott reviews movie War of the worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise; photos (M)

Specialist Nicki Worrell said that she was not bitter or burdened with regrets about her service in Iraq and that the leg and arm wounds she suffered in August 2003 when a roadside bomb blasted the Humvee she was driving had mostly healed. But what made her talk back to her television on Tuesday night was President Bush's promise, repeated again and again in his speech to the nation, that the troops would come home when the job is done and freedom is fostered for the Iraqi people. She no longer believes that coming home is possible.

THE concept of a cold pasta salad is promising. It should be easy to prepare and soothingly cool, ideal for the summer table. In theory, a pasta salad is a great picnic dish, more rib-sticking than mixed greens, a fine companion to grilled foods, and thoroughly wilt-resistant.

Opposition Leader in Egypt Denounces Trial Ayman Nour, a prominent candidate in the presidential election this fall, with co-defendants at court in Cairo yesterday. He said he was being framed on forgery charges, asserting: ''This is not a trial. This is a prison!'' PAGE A5 Bucks Take Bogut as No. 1 Milwaukee made Andrew Bogut of Utah the first college player in five years to be the N.B.A.'s No. 1 draft pick. Four North Carolina players were chosen among the top 14. SPORTSWEDNESDAY, PAGE D1 Attack of the Aliens ''War of the Worlds,'' Steven Spielberg's rendering of the 1898 novel by H.G. Wells, takes the director back to his early days as a maker of lean, sadistic, effective thrillers. A review by A.O. Scott. THE ARTS, PAGE E1 Senate Passes Energy Bill The Senate overwhelmingly passed broad energy legislation, a bill that includes $14 billion in tax incentives for oil and gas production as well as development of wind, solar and other emerging energy sources. Its authors hope to break a four-year Congressional stalemate. PAGE A19 U.S. Copter Crashes In Afghan Combat Zone An American military helicopter carrying Special Operations troops crashed in a rugged area of eastern Afghanistan where fighting is going on. It was carrying 15 to 20 people, including a team of Navy Seal commandos. The number of casualties and the cause of the crash were unknown, military officials said. An Afghan official said Taliban fighters had shot down the aircraft. PAGE A8 Shelby Foote, Historian, Dies The historian with a novelist's touch, whose incisive, seasoned commentary -- delivered in a mellifluous drawl -- evoked the Civil War for millions in a PBS documentary in 1990, was 88. PAGE B8 Canada Backs Gay Marriage The House of Commons extended marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples throughout Canada, confirming and widening two years of provincial decisions. When the Senate approves the measure, Canada will join the Netherlands and Belgium in enacting such rights. PAGE A4 One Kebab, With Everything Fourth of July grilling doesn't have to be tradition-bound. Kebabs take the place of burgers, pale ales stand in for the usual brew, and chutneys replace ketchup. DINING, PAGE F1

President Bush ran into new problems with his trade agenda on Tuesday, as attempts to entice support from the sugar industry for a Central American agreement veered toward collapse. With public anxiety already high about imports and foreign competition undermining American jobs, Republican Congressional leaders are struggling to line up enough votes to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which would cut trade barriers with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

An international consortium announced Tuesday that France would be the site of the world's first large-scale, sustainable nuclear fusion reactor, an estimated $10 billion project that many scientists see as crucial to solving the world's future energy needs. ''It is a great success for France, for Europe and for all the partners in ITER,'' President Jacques Chirac said in a statement released after the six-member consortium of the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union chose the country as the site for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

The Knicks embarked on their latest radical makeover last night, trading away Kurt Thomas, their most reliable big man, and placing their faith squarely in youth. Within an hour of furious maneuvering, the Knicks substantially altered their on-court persona. They traded Thomas to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for guard Quentin Richardson. They drafted a new center, Channing Frye of Arizona, and fortified the roster with two other rookies.

The victory celebrations on Tuesday at Wimbledon looked more like those reserved for the final than the quarterfinals, but then again, they were a good measure of the day's play. When Nadia Petrova's last forehand sailed long, Maria Sharapova thrust her arms into the air in a mixture of delight and relief: her eyes locking quickly on her father, Yuri; her hitting partner, Michael Joyce; and her agent, Max Eisenbud.

STAFF Sgt. Anthony Lagman loved cars. It seemed he could do anything with them -- soup up engines, fix exhaust systems, put in fancy audio gear, tinker with brakes. Before he went to Afghanistan with the Army, he left his parents his current prize, a blue 2002 Acura RSX. Sergeant Lagman, a native of the Philippines, played hockey, was a big Rangers fan and worked out with his older brother, Chris, at the old Jack LaLanne gym in Yonkers, where his family lives. He was a straight shooter, quiet and reliable, who chipped in money apropos of nothing to help educate his sister's children. He listened to hip-hop and house music.

The 2005 N.B.A. draft will be remembered for firsts and lasts, four North Carolina Tar Heels and three tenacious point guards who called themselves the leaders of their new teams. While two high school players were selected in the top 10 of the final draft before the 19-year-old age limit takes effect, the N.B.A. returned to the college court for stability last night. Milwaukee ended a minimum of suspense by taking Andrew Bogut, the outspoken 7-foot center from Australia by way of the University of Utah, who became the first player from his country to be taken No. 1 over all and the first college player to be chosen No. 1 in five years.

If ever a chief executive seemed destined for prison, it was Richard M. Scrushy. Mr. Scrushy has always maintained his innocence. But at his trial, no one disputed that there was a staggering $2.7 billion accounting fraud at HealthSouth, the company he helped found in 1984. Federal prosecutors lined up many former executives, including five former chief financial officers, to testify that Mr. Scrushy orchestrated the wrongdoing. In court, they played a secret tape-recording that seemed to incriminate him.