Abu Dhabi Organizes Interactive Reading Session between Robots, Students

A NAO robot developed by Aldebaran Robotics dances to a song at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on November 24/ JASON LEE/REUTERS
A NAO robot developed by Aldebaran Robotics dances to a song at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on November 24/ JASON LEE/REUTERS
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Abu Dhabi Organizes Interactive Reading Session between Robots, Students

A NAO robot developed by Aldebaran Robotics dances to a song at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on November 24/ JASON LEE/REUTERS
A NAO robot developed by Aldebaran Robotics dances to a song at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on November 24/ JASON LEE/REUTERS

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi has organized a workshop called the “Intelligent Robotics Initiative” for a group of students from the Department of Education and Knowledge schools.

This initiative, organized by the IT and National Library departments at the department, aims at familiarizing students with methods of using innovative modern technologies in line with the government's vision of transforming the UAE’s cities into smart environments introducing first-of-its-kind services.

For its part, The Department of Culture and Tourism has already conducted several trials using robots for library activities such as reading stories and interacting with visitors, in particular students.

The workshop held at Mazyad Mall included an overview of robotics and their importance, emphasizing that the field of robotics is one that is currently witnessing rapid, pioneering progress, especially in developed countries.

Robotics technology has become a burgeoning international industry with the level of progress now a standard for measuring the industrial strength of a country. The robots provided by the department also interactively read a story to children, as part of the department’s social responsibility towards promoting the Arabic language and to increase the interest in reading among children in the country.

Through its initiatives throughout the year, the department seeks to develop literary interest in children by offering them attractive, interactive reading experiences that not only promote reading, but also help them develop a true understanding of the Arabic language at an early age.



Syria Seeks EU Help to Battle Massive Wildfires

FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
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Syria Seeks EU Help to Battle Massive Wildfires

FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
FILE : A fire burns at a forest in Latakia province, Syria in this handout released by SANA on October 9, 2020. SANA/Handout via REUTERS

Syria’s minister of emergencies and disaster management on Tuesday requested support from the European Union to battle wildfires that have swept through a vast stretch of forested land.

The fires have been burning for six days, with Syrian emergency crews struggling to bring them under control amid strong winds and severe drought.

Neighboring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye have already dispatched firefighting teams to assist in the response.

“We asked the European Union for help in extinguishing the fires,” minister Raed al-Saleh said on X, adding Cyprus was expected to send aid on Tuesday, AFP reported.

“Fear of the fires spreading due to strong winds last night prompted us to evacuate 25 families to ensure their safety without any human casualties,” he added.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) office in Syria, the fires impacted “some 5,000 persons, including displacements, across 60 communities.”

An estimated 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of forest and farmland -- more than three percent of Syria’s forest cover -- have burned, OCHA told AFP.

At least seven towns in Latakia province have been evacuated as a precaution.

Efforts to extinguish the fires have been hindered by “rugged terrain, the absence of firebreaks, strong winds, and the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance”, Saleh said.

With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has also been battered by heatwaves and low rainfall.

In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said Syria had “not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years.”