America strikes notebook

Anthrax found in fumigated Senate offices

WASHINGTON -- Trace amounts of anthrax were found in a Senate office building that had been fumigated with chlorine dioxide gas two weeks ago in an attempt to kill lingering spores. Officials said Friday that they would try again to eliminate the contamination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was unlikely that all the spores will be killed.

The Hart Senate Office Building has been closed since Oct. 17, two days after an anthrax-filled letter was received in the offices of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

"We're not going to go back in until it's been certified as absolutely safe," Daschle said.

The Environmental Protection Agency planned to begin the new fumigation operation later Friday. The EPA said it would use chlorine dioxide gas in part of the building's ventilation system. In Daschle's office, they planned to use the liquid form of chlorine dioxide. Traces of anthrax were found in both places.

U.S. Embassy in Kabul to reopen

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. flag will be raised over the reopened embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, signaling a renewed American diplomatic presence for the first time in 12 years, the State Department said.

Ambassador James Dobbins, a veteran diplomat, will officiate at the ceremony, joined by a small number of State Department employees and a Marine Security guard detachment.

Air travel up, but still below 2000

WASHINGTON -- More people are flying, but air travel still has not recovered from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Air Transport Association reported Friday that 38.7-million passengers flew aboard major U.S. airlines in November, down 19.9 percent from the 48.3-million passengers who flew during the same month in 2000.

A month earlier, U.S. airlines carried 38.2-million passengers, a 23.1 percent decline from 49.7-million passengers flying in October 2000, according to the ATA, the trade group for the major airlines.

Texas school warning dropped

AUSTIN, Texas -- A vague terrorist threat against an unnamed Texas school has been deemed not credible by the FBI, the state Department of Public Safety said Friday.

"At this time, there is no information to suggest that a threat to a Texas school exists," said Tela Mange, a department spokeswoman.

The threat warning was withdrawn Friday morning and Texas law enforcement officials stressed that Texas schools are safe, Mange said.

Trade center facade to come down

NEW YORK -- A 50-foot-tall piece of the facade of the the World Trade Center -- the last prominent piece of the twin towers still standing -- is about to be taken down and will be saved for possible use in a memorial, city officials said Friday.

The lattice of steel, from the north tower, will be the second large piece from the twin towers the city has saved since two hijacked jetliners destroyed the trade center Sept. 11.

All EU nations to send troops

BRUSSELS -- European Union leaders agreed Friday that all 15 of their nations were willing to send troops to Afghanistan as part of an international force to keep peace after the defeat of the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies.

The agreement to contribute up to 4,000 European troops to the security force, which is awaiting a U.N. mandate, came at the start of a two-day summit.

The speed of the decision underlined increased unity among the Europeans after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.

British and French troops are expected to make up the bulk of the contribution, with other nations offering smaller, specialized units.

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