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.



Philippines Shuts Schools, Scraps Flights as Typhoon Co-May Nears

Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters. Ted ALJIBE / AFP
Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters. Ted ALJIBE / AFP
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Philippines Shuts Schools, Scraps Flights as Typhoon Co-May Nears

Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters. Ted ALJIBE / AFP
Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters. Ted ALJIBE / AFP

The Philippines shut down schools and cancelled flights Thursday as torrential rains driven by a typhoon and a separate tropical storm pounded the country's northern island of Luzon.

Typhoon Co-May, upgraded from a tropical storm overnight, follows days of monsoon rains that have killed at least 12 people and left another eight missing across the archipelago since July 18, according to the national disaster agency.

With maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour, the typhoon was expected to make landfall on the west coast in either La Union or Ilocos Sur province by Friday morning, the country's weather service said.

Around 70 domestic and international flights have been cancelled due to the storms, the civil aviation authority said.

The government has announced the suspension of classes across Luzon for Thursday, said AFP.

Tens of thousands were evacuated across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters that swamped some neighborhoods in waist-deep water and left residents of nearby provinces stranded and in need of rescue by boat.

As of Thursday, at least several thousand people in Manila remained unable to return to their homes.

"We cannot send them home yet because it is still raining and some typhoons are still expected to affect the country," Ria Mei Pangilinan, a rescue coordinator in the capital, told AFP.

"There might be more (evacuees) if the rain does not stop."

Typhoon Co-May was about 210 kilometers off the country's west coast as of 11 am (0300 GMT).

Tropical Storm Francisco, meanwhile, was situated about 735 kilometers from the country's east coast and on a trajectory towards northern Taiwan.

The two storms are not believed to be on a collision path.