WASHINGTON — Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President Bush this week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on U.S. Defense Department computers that might have originated in Russia, posing unusual concern among commanders and potential implications for national security.

Defense officials would not describe the extent of damage inflicted on military networks. But they said the attack struck hard at networks within U.S. Central Command, the headquarters that oversees U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and affected computers in combat zones. The attack also penetrated at least one highly protected classified network.

Military computers regularly are beset by outside hackers, computer viruses and worms. But defense officials said the most recent attack involves an intrusive piece of malicious software, or “malware,” apparently designed specifically to target military networks.

Colorado: SUV crash kills seven

An SUV plunged off an overpass in northern Colorado and hit a concrete embankment in a fiery crash early Thursday morning, killing all seven people inside it, including two young children, authorities said. Investigators haven’t determined the identities or ages of the victims, Colorado State trooper Gilbert Mares said. The Chevrolet Suburban was registered in Alberta, Canada, he said. The SUV veered into the median on Interstate 25 near Johnstown, 40 miles north of Denver, plunged off an overpass and went airborne for about 40 or 50 feet before hitting an embankment and bursting into flames, Mares said.

Massachusetts: Gibson dies

William Gibson, 94, a Tony Award-winning playwright best known for “The Miracle Worker,” the inspirational story of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan, died Nov. 25 at his home in Stockbridge, Mass. The family did not disclose the cause of death. Gibson, whose work appeared on Broadway for five decades, was known for the demanding roles he wrote for women. Working frequently with director Arthur Penn, he helped make a star of actress Anne Bancroft in the plays “The Miracle Worker” (1959) and “Two for the Seesaw” (1958).

California: Rogue wave takes three

Three men have drowned after being swept out to sea by a rogue wave while watching the surf from a rocky outcrop in Point Mugu. Authorities say two other men were pulled from the water Thursday afternoon and survived. The bodies of the drowned men were also recovered. Capt. Bruce Norris of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department says the victims are 17, 19 and 21. He says a 17-year-old boy and 27-year-old man survived.

Arizona: $36M to victim’s family

The family of an Arizona Wal-Mart employee shot to death by a mental patient has been awarded $36 million by a jury. A Maricopa County Superior Court jury on Wednesday awarded the damages to the widow, two children and parents of Patrick Graham. He was fatally shot in Peoria in 2005 by Ed Liu, a paranoid schizophrenic under the treatment of ValueOptions Inc. The jury found the Virginia-based company 90 percent at fault in Graham’s death and ordered it to split the payment with its Arizona subsidiary.

Cuba: Russian president visits

Russia’s president visited old Cold War ally Cuba on Thursday, spending hours with President Raul Castro on the final leg of a Latin America tour designed to increase Moscow’s profile in a region long dominated by the United States. Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Havana from Venezuela, where he met with socialist President Hugo Chavez and agreed to help the oil-rich South American country start a nuclear energy program.

Czech Republic: Missile defense

The upper chamber of the Czech Parliament on Thursday approved a deal with Washington to accept a U.S. missile defense installation. The deal still needs approval by the lower chamber, where the vote is expected to be close because the governing coalition has too few seats to guarantee passage. That vote is not expected before the end of the year.

Canada: Election possible soon

Canada’s opposition parties said Thursday they will vote against the Conservative government’s economic plan, a move that could trigger an election despite a national vote just last month. The opposition Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois said they cannot support the government’s updated fiscal plan because it offers no stimulus package to deal with the economic crisis.

Japan: End of air mission in Iraq

Japan announced Friday it would end its airlift operations in Iraq by the end of the year, citing security improvements and moves toward democracy in Iraq. The largely formal order to end the nation’s four-year participation in Iraq came at a government national security council meeting, and had been expected for months. Prime Minister Taro Aso said the mission had achieved its goal.

From Herald news services