Y2K watch: So far, so good By CNET News.com Staff December 31, 1999, 10:15 p.m. PT

roundup latest developments

The sounds of celebration, not panic, are being heard in the countries that are ringing in the new year, officials say.

"It's looking good so far."

- Ian Campbell, Australian senator

No early Y2K havoc on East Coast update The eastern United States, Europe, Asia and parts of South America enter the new century without disruption from the dreaded millennium bug.

Most e-commerce sites open for Y2K Some e-commerce sites, notably auctioneer eBay and carmaker Audi, have shut down as a precaution for the millennium, but most remain open for business.

Computer Associates warns of new millennium viruses The company identifies a rash of new viruses that could wreak havoc on PCs, including one that permanently erases files on hard drives.

Power facilities cite few glitches Government officials say there have been only a handful of Year 2000 glitches at public power facilities around the United States.

White House: Y2K spending justified Officials defend the billions spent on Y2K fixes and predict major benefits--but say they expect plenty of second guessing.

Research firm cuts cost estimate of bug After receiving initial reports, International Data Corp. reduces its estimate for worldwide costs related to Y2K downtime by $2 billion.

ISPs prepare for surfing wave Internet service providers expect North American Net usage to surge at midnight but don't foresee widespread outages.

Finance workers settle in for long haul Workers at U.S. financial companies hunker down for a long night of waiting and monitoring as 1999 turns into 2000.

FAA passes key millennium test The U.S. air traffic control system completes a major test when Greenwich Mean Time reaches midnight with no immediate sign of computer problems.

Shipping not expected to be e-commerce Y2K issue If any Year 2000 computer problems slow down the e-commerce industry, the shipment of packages is unlikely to be a culprit.

Report from Moscow: "Everything is OK" With little trace of the Y2K bug, millennium festivities reach Europe as Moscow fetes the new year. The first day of 2000 also arrives in Prague, Berlin and Paris.

South Korea breezes into 2000 Officials report no significant problems at the country's hospitals, power and communication companies as computer clocks turn to 2000.

Singapore sees no Y2K disruption The nation-state reports no problems at its banks, phone companies and power plants as computers switch over to the new year.

Malaysia enters 2000 sans bugs It is all-systems go during the rollover to Jan. 1, 2000, according to the Y2K operations center at the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

China reports no millennium chaos There are no reported problems in China's banking, transportation, or power and communications sectors from computers changing over to the year 2000.

Japan enters 2000 with no troubles There are no immediate reports of trouble from computers mistaking 2000 for 1900 in Japan as the country celebrates the dawn of a new millennium.

Australia reports no problems as new year begins update The Australian government says no Y2K computer bug problems were reported as the country ticked over to greet the new millennium.

New Zealand embraces 2000, reports no troubles update All 12 of the country's key utility sectors report normal operations two hours after the country becomes the first industrialized nation to see the new century.

-- ... (...@...com), January 01, 2000

Answers

As infomagic said, the fact that it's gone so well so far only means that it will be much worse later. This is very bad news.

-- (rodpike@wedren.net), January 01, 2000.