Collapse of phone network simulated

As part of the National Strategy for Cyber Security introduced by Gordon Brown in June, the UK government will simulate a "total collapse" of the national phone network next week, reports Computing.co.uk.

The exercise will take place on 11 and 12 November and be codenamed White Noise. It will be designed to simulate a complete shutdown of the public switched telephone network.

White Noise will involve hundreds of government and industry players but will not have any impact on those not involved in the exercise.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are bringing charges against 14 people it claims were involved in yet another insider trading network, says The Register.

The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York hosted a press conference yesterday outlining the charges.

It appears charges have not been filed against Hector Ruiz, chairman of AMD chip spinout GlobalFoundries, who has been rumored to be the unnamed executive who gave out information about the spinout of the chip business and who this week stepped down as chairman of that company, claims The Register.

An electric car created by ex-McLaren Formula One designer Gordon Murray has been introduced, reports the BBC.

The manufacturing process, called iStream, has received a £9 million investment.

iStream plants can be just one-fifth of the size of a conventional car factory, as the cars are not made from stamped steel. All the parts are designed by computer and welded together rather than being stamped out of metal sheets, explained David Bott, director of innovation platforms at the Technology Strategy Board.

The European Union (EU) has ruled to change the Internet piracy "three strikes" Bill, in an effort to give more rights to those accused of piracy, says After Dawn.

EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding says EU lawmakers and governments are in agreement after two years of negotiations, that those accused of piracy and facing being cut off from the Internet should have the right to a trial.

The Bill goes to final approval in the European Parliament at the end of the month.