Portal:Current events/2006 January 2

January 2, 2006 (Monday)

Arts and culture

Several exploits of a severe Windows security vulnerability are spreading over the Internet, permitting compromise of any Windows computer merely by viewing a maliciously crafted image on a website or in e-mail or instant messaging. No patch from Microsoft is available, however an unofficial patch exists Hexblog.com. The vulnerability affects every version of Windows, potentially affecting more computers than any prior computer security vulnerability in history. (Microsoft) (CERT) (Slashdot) (Sans) (F-Secure)

Business and economy

Russia–Ukraine gas disputes:
- Countries across Europe report reductions in gas supplies after Russia disconnected supplies to Ukraine yesterday. Russia accuses Ukraine of stealing 100 million cubic metres of gas yesterday from pipelines transiting the country; Ukraine denies this but has previously claimed the right to 15% of the gas as a transit toll. Hungary reports supplies are down by 40%, France and Italy by 30%, and Poland by 14%. Germany, Russia's principal customer, also reports reductions. Russian supplier Gazprom says that it will increase supplies and return them to normal by Tuesday night. (Sky News)

Disasters and accidents

Thirteen U.S. coal miners are trapped after an underground explosion in Upshur County, West Virginia. (ABC)
Eleven people are killed when the roof of an ice rink collapse in Bad Reichenhall, southern Germany, under the weight of recent snowfall, trapping some 50 skaters underneath. (CNN)
Severe storms affected East Java, Indonesia, leading to flooding and landslides. At least 57 people are believed to have been killed in the flooding and up to a further 200 people were assumed to be buried alive in the town of Cijeruk 350 kilometers east of Jakarta. (BBC)

Law and crime

Ugandan presidential candidate Kizza Besigye is released from prison. Besigye was arrested on November 14 on treason and rape charges. (News24)
Police are investigating the New Year's Day murder of Bryan Harvey, who with his wife and two young daughters were found dead with their throats slashed in the basement of their South Side Richmond, Virginia, home, which was then set afire. Harvey was former singer and guitarist of 1980s band House of Freaks and his wife was the half-sister of Steven Culp, who played Rex Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives. The fire was discovered by Johnny Hott, HOF bandmate and drummer for the band Cracker (ABC) wikinews (New York Daily News) (Billboard)

Politics and elections

The leader of the Maoist guerrillas in Nepal issued a statement that his group, the People's Liberation Army, will resume its war with the monarchy after a four-month truce. (New Kerala)