March 16, 2006

Profile of Dr Roberto M Rey Jr, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and star of reality television show Dr 90210; some surgeons say he has made their specialty seem more user-friendly to mass audience; critics say his show gives viewers impression that plastic surgery is casual beauty treatment rather than serious surgical procedure; photos (M)

In macabre detail, witness tells of murders by detectives; Burton Kaplan testifies at racketeering trial of former New York City detectives, Louis J Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who are accused of taking part in at least eight mob murders; says detectives took part in contract killings of Israel Greenwald, Long Island diamond dealer, Edward Lino, Gambino family captain, and kidnapping of James Hydell; some crimes were committed for their patron, Luchese crime family boss Anthony Casso; Kaplan says he was liaison between gangsters and lawmen; photo (M)

Interview with Christine Ebersole, actress appearing in Broadway play Grey Gardens, at home in Maplewood, NJ; photos (M)

Security Strategy Update Stands by Attack on Iraq An updated version of the Bush administration's national security strategy, the first in more than three years, gives no ground on the decision to order a pre-emptive attack on Iraq in 2003, and identifies Iran as the country likely to present the greatest challenge to the United States. A 48-page late draft of the update was released before a formal presentation today. PAGE A6 Scrutinizing a Costco Picasso ''Drawing Arles,'' sold as a crayon drawing by Picasso on costco.com last year for $39,999.99, complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by Picasso's daughter, may not be the real thing. The daughter, Maya Widmaier-Picasso, said the certificate was forged. Costco is investigating. THE ARTS, PAGE E1 Bush Names F.D.A. Choice President Bush nominated Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach to serve as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, but a dispute over selling the ''morning after'' pill all but ensures that the nomination will go nowhere. Dr. von Eschenbach was appointed the acting commissioner in September. PAGE A18 New York Sues H&R Block Eliot Spitzer, the New York attorney general, accused H&R Block of selling inappropriate savings plans to hundreds of thousands of income tax filers, in the latest attack on the company's push to offer other financial services. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1 NEW ONLINE The Battle for Newark The 2002 mayoral election in the famously troubled city set off a debate about race and machine politics and led to an Oscar-nominated film. This year's campaign is the subject of a multimedia blog that starts today at newark06.blogs.nytimes.com. Tense Talk After Israeli Raid; Palestinian Economy Teeters Israelis and Palestinians traded recriminations over an Israeli raid on a prison in Jericho. The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, below, with white hair, visiting the ruined prison, called the raid ''an insult for the Palestinian people.'' The World Bank warned that threatened cuts in aid to the Hamas-led government would destroy the Palestinian economy. PAGE A16

New York Knicks defeat Atlanta Hawks, 121-117, in double overtime; photos (M)