Philippines

U.S. troops to attack Muslim rebel group

The United States is sending about 3,000 troops to engage in a major combat offensive in the southern Philippines aimed at wiping out the militant Muslim group Abu Sayyaf, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

The move marks the second time in less than a year that the Bush administration has committed a significant number of U.S. forces to try to root out the extremist group, which has continued to unsettle the Philippines and target Americans in the islands.

Pentagon officials are describing the mission not as a training exercise but a combat operation with no set termination date. Although Philippine forces will have the lead, they will be accompanied in the field by American troops.

Kentucky

Explosion, fire at factory injures 26 employees

An explosion and fire ripped through an insulation plant Thursday, sending black smoke spiraling across the southern Kentucky countryside and injuring 26 workers, 11 critically.

The cause of the explosion at CTA Acoustics was not immediately known. State inspectors were sent to the site.

The injured employees were taken to at least five hospitals. Dr. George Liu, a surgeon at Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin, said at least eight of were burned on more than 80 percent of their bodies.

“We prepare as physicians for disasters — I have never seen this,” Liu said. “The best thing people can do is pray for these people.”

South Korea

Human error likely boosted death toll in subway fire

South Korean subway operators allowed a second train to pull into a blazing underground station, then hesitated to evacuate passengers as it was consumed by flames — errors that may have doubled the death toll from this week’s arson attack, investigators said Thursday.

More than 70 of the estimated 126 victims from Tuesday’s blaze apparently died on that second train. Many victims were incinerated beyond recognition and authorities said Thursday they had identified only 46 victims total.

The blaze was set on one train in Joongang Station, reportedly by a 56-year-old passenger intent on committing suicide, police said. The man, identified as Kim Dae-han, who survived, has a history of mental illness.

BOSTON

Archdiocese, lawyers agree to moratorium in lawsuits

The Boston Archdiocese and lawyers suing the church in more than 400 sexual abuse cases filed a request in court Thursday seeking a 90-day hold on all litigation while they pursue a settlement.

If Superior Court Judge Constance Sweeney approves the request, both sides will suspend any action on the lawsuits and try to work out an agreement through mediation.

“We will try to spend our time exchanging information, evaluating the cases, mediating them, negotiating them, trying to work out a settlement,” said attorney Jeffrey Newman, whose firm represents 270 people who say they were molested by priests.