Google car crash 'not a surprise' - US transport secretary

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Image caption Anthony Foxx is leading efforts to bring self-driving cars to US roads

The recent crash involving a Google self-driving car and a bus was "not a surprise", the US transport secretary has said.

Anthony Foxx told the BBC that accidents were inevitable, but that the emerging technology should not be 
compared "against perfection".
Nobody was hurt in the crash, but it was the first time Google's on-board computer has been blamed for causing a collision.
Secretary Foxx was attending the South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin, Texas.
He announced that seven US cities - Austin, Columbus, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland and San Francisco - had reached the final stage of a competition to receive $40m in government funding for "smart" technologies.
Secretary Foxx agreed that smart technologies could put some people out of work.
"Driverless technology presents a lot of potential for disruption on a number of fronts," he said.
"It's unclear to me now exactly how that future unfolds."

Relative comparisons

Secretary Foxx is leading efforts to bring self-driving cars to US roads. The Obama administration has committed $4bn to that goal - which includes attempts to develop standardised regulations for autonomous cars across the entire country.
On the public perception of self-driving cars following the February Google crash, he said: "It's not a surprise that at some point there would be a crash of any technology that's on the road.
"But I would challenge one to look at the number of crashes that occurred on the same day that were the result of human behaviour."
"I think the question here isn't comparing the automated car against perfection, I think it's a relative comparison to what we have now on the roads which is you and I, and our eyeballs, and our brains."
One challenge would be to tackle the legal issue of responsibility when crashes occur - and whether the passenger should be liable, or, given that the computer was driving, the companies behind the software that failed.
"That's precisely the type of question that we're hoping over the next several months to provide feedback to both the states and the industry on."
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Aiming to sidestep Apple dispute, Obama makes case for access to device data

• US President Barack Obama participates in an onstage interview at the South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas, Mar 11, 2016. Reuters
  US President Barack Obama made a passionate case for mobile devices to be built in a way that would allow the government to gain access to personal data if needed to prevent a terrorist attack or enforce tax laws.

Speaking at the South by Southwest festival in Texas on Friday, the president said he could not comment on the legal case in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is trying to force Apple to allow access to an iPhone linked to California, shooter Rizwan Farook.

But he made clear that despite his commitment to Americans' privacy and civil liberties, a balance was needed to allow some government intrusion if necessary.

"If technologically it is possible to make an impenetrable device or system where the encryption is so strong that there is no key, there's no door at all, then how do we apprehend the child pornographer, how do we solve or disrupt a terrorist plot?" he said.

"What mechanisms do we have available to even do simple things like tax enforcement because if in fact you can't crack that at all, government can't get in, then everybody is walking around with a Swiss bank account in their pocket."

Last month, the FBI obtained a court order requiring Apple to write new software and take other measures to disable passcode protection and allow access to Farook's iPhone.

Apple, which declined to comment on Obama's remarks on Friday, has not complied. It said the government request would create a "back door" to phones that could be abused by criminals and governments, and that Congress has not given the Justice Department authority to make such a demand.

Obama's comments were his most expansive on the subject since the dispute.

He acknowledged scepticism about the government in the wake of the revelations about US surveillance programs by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden.

But he pressed his point that a compromise that respected civil liberties and protected security had to be found. That solution would likely be a system with strong encryption and a secure "key" that is accessible to the "smallest number of people possible" for issues that were agreed to be important.

"Setting aside the specific case between the FBI and Apple ... we’re going to have to make some decisions about how do we balance these respective risks," Obama said.

"My conclusion so far is you cannot take an absolutist view."

Adding to his argument, the president listed airport security and stops for drunk drivers as examples of measures that were intrusive but accepted. He also warned against "fetishising" phones.

"This notion that somehow our data is different and can be walled off from those other tradeoffs we make I believe is incorrect," he said.

Top White House officials have lobbied the industry aggressively to work with the government on the issue, which was brought to a head by the California shootings.

The FBI says Farook and his wife were inspired by Islamist militants when they shot and killed 14 people on Dec 2 at a holiday party at California San Bernardino. The couple later died in a shootout with police

ICC World T20 Taskin, Sunny reported?

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny have been reported for suspect bowling actions during the side's ICC World Twenty20 first round match against the Netherlands in Dharamsala yesterday, it has been learnt from sources.

Even though no official confirmation was available as none of the Bangladesh team officials agreed to make any comments regarding this issue, the news in the air last night was that both the bowlers had invoked suspicion of the umpires during the match, which Bangladesh won by eight runs.

Sundaram Ravi of India and Rod Tucker of Australia were the two on-field umpires officiating in this match.

Under ICC regulations for bowlers reported during international matches, Taskin and Sunny will have to have their actions tested within 14 days of being reported, but will be able to continue playing international cricket during this period.

Taskin, who had a brilliant Asia Cup campaign finishing earlier this week, continued his good work in the World Twenty20 as he conceded only 21 runs in his four-over spell. Sunny, on the other hand, bowled two overs for 10. Both the bowlers, however, remained wicketless in the match.

Freedom fighter, poet Rafiq Azad dies

Renowned poet Rafiq Azad, also a freedom fighter, passed away in a hospital in Dhaka this afternoon. He was 74.

Brigadier General (retired) Mazid, director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, said poet Rafiq, who had been under life support, breathed his last at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) around 2:00pm.

He was admitted to the hospital on January 15 following a stroke.

Rafiq Azad, one of the most popular poets of Bengali literature, was honoured with Ekushey Padak in 2013 and Bangla Academy Award in 1984 for his works.

Talking to reporters at the hospital today, cultural organisers expressed grief at the demise of such a great personality.Rafiq Azad is one of the most prolific and dynamic poets of Bangladesh. His strong, intense verses deal with political, social and personal issues. A freedom fighter, he has developed a signature style, distinguished by simple language, powerful syntax and subtlety.

His poetry reflects his experiences of the Liberation War (1971). The poet says, “As a freedom fighter, I think the spirit of Liberation War allows me to explore myself with new thought patterns, which reflects in my poems.” In general, the expression is bold in his poems with patriotism as the focal point; romance and humanity are the other noticeable aspects of his works.

Some of his renowned works are Asombhaber Payae, Semabadha Jalae, Simito Shobuja, Ekjibona, Haturier Nichae Jibon, Porikirno Panchala Amer Swadesh, Khub Bashi Durea Nay, Khamakaro Bahoman Hay Udar Omiyo Batas, Karo Ashuro Pat, Pagolar Thekay Pramikar Chiti, Apar Arannya, Moulobir Mon Bholo Nay, and Poems on Love Environment and Other Difficulties.

Azad was born on January 20, 1943, in the remote area of Guni, under Tangail district. He had his primary education under British Indian education system from Sadhuty Middle English School, and developed a keen interest in writing from his childhood.

Azad was one of the most prominent young poets in the post-liberation period. Since then, he began experimentation on language and poetic form, where surrealistic approach was noticeable. He published his first book of poems in 1973.

During the period and afterwards, Azad's poetry changed its course a bit and became more personal, lyrical and romantic. However, most of his poetry depicts poverty, sufferings, injustice, inhumanity, urban and rural life as well as political turmoil, social and economic crises.