Events at a Glance

WAR FRONT

An anti-Taliban force in southern Afghanistan said it captured a strategic peak near Kandahar’s airport without a fight as preparations began for an assault on the city, the last stronghold of the besieged regime.

DIPLOMACY

Afghan leaders insisted Friday that they still hope to reach agreement soon on an interim government and parliament for their country despite the refusal by officials of the dominant Northern Alliance in Kabul to approve a list of candidates for the leadership positions.

ANTHRAX

A trace of anthrax has been found on a letter that was mailed to a family in Connecticut, not far from the home in Oxford of 94-year-old Ottilie W. Lundgren, who died last week of inhalation anthrax, officials said.

ECONOMY

Chaman, a place that has long been the epitome of the Kalashnikov culture and smuggling economy of the Afghan-Pakistani border, has become even more rough and ready since the war began. Anti-foreign feelings run high, in no small part because the U.S.-led bombing has put a dent in the town’s economy.