WASHINGTON, Dec. 5  -- The Federal Aviation Administration says a dramatic decline in the production of a chemical used to deice runways could cause major U. S. air traffic delays.

The government group said a strike by Canadian potash mine workers prompted a significant delay in runway deicing fluid production this year, meaning many U. S. airports could face icy runways this winter, USA Today reported Friday.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5  -- The U.S. jobless rate shows the country is in a recession resulting from poor housing and the troubled financial markets, President George Bush said Friday

Unemployment jumped from 6.5 percent to 6.7 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported.

"I'm concerned about our workers who've lost jobs during this downturn," Bush said.

Government officials are working on the causes of the downturn "to return our economy to health," Bush said.

The frozen credit market is showing signs of thawing, but "there's still more work to do," he said.

LONDON, Dec. 5  -- Scientist say it will cost more than $20 million to repair Europe's Large Hadron Collider.

Washington  - The US military is preparing for a buildup of as many as 20,000 troops next year in Afghanistan to step up the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgency, a top US commander said Friday.

The military has started building housing, latrines and other infrastructure needed to support the increase, Major General Michael Tucker, the deputy commander of US forces in Afghanistan, told reporters at the Pentagon via teleconference.

Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama raised 745 million dollars over the course of his successful White House run, shattering previous fundraising records and more than double that of his rival John McCain, according to final campaign filings released Friday.

The record intake included 104 million dollars raised between October 16 and November 24, giving Obama a massive fundraising advantage in the US election's waning weeks and helping propel him to victory on November 4.

NEW YORK, Dec. 5  -- Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery was suspended by the NHL for six games for comments he made about his former girlfriend and another player.

Avery, 28, had been suspended indefinitely by the league following his statements Tuesday regarding Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert. On Friday, league officials defined the penalty.

The NHL cited provisions of its constitution regarding conduct detrimental to the league in justifying the suspension.

In addition to the suspension, which is without pay, Avery has agreed to undergo a professional anger-management evaluation.