October 25, 2001

Adm Sir Michael Boyce, Britain's top military officer, says ground troops may have to operate in Afghanistan for weeks at a time if they are to ferret out Osama bin Laden and destroy his terrorist network; raids envisaged by Boyce could be far longer and more risky than raid carried out last week by US Special Operations forces, who were in Afghan territory for only few hours and encountered light resistance; Boyce is heavily involved in planning campaign against Taliban and bin Laden; British role is more vital now that campaign is beginning to involve ground troops; new phase of conflict plays to Britain's military strengths its commandos are among most highly regarded in world; photo (M)

Five construction workers are killed and 10 others are injured when scaffolding collapses at Manhattan office building and buries them under pile of shattered wood and mangled metal; collapse traps 15 construction workers on 14-story-tall scaffolding in courtyard behind building at 215 Park Ave South, at 18th St; workers were painting brickwork and cleaning windows; fire officials say cause of collapse is unknown; building inspector had cited landlord on Aug 1, after finding that section of brick facade was cracked and leaning away from building; it is unclear if that was factor in accident; building is managed by Stephen L Green, brother of Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, Mark Green; photos (M)

Political Memo column contends that Michael R Bloomberg, hemmed in by unusually brief campaign season and his own lack of experience in politics, is encountering repeated difficulties as he moves into final phase of his mayoral campaign, struggling to engage an increasingly confident and politically aloof Mark Green; photo (M)

Richard Penny, 33, who long searched for father whose name he bears, learns he emerged from decade of homelessness to steady job at World Trade Center, only to die in Sept 11 attack; finds out about death from reporter who tracked him down in computer records search; photos (M)

David Pogue column evaluates Apple Computer's iPod, saying it may be finest portable music player ever built; photo (M)