Prince Harry and Robot to Edit Radio Program

Britain's Prince Harry in Sandringham, Britain, December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Britain's Prince Harry in Sandringham, Britain, December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Prince Harry and Robot to Edit Radio Program

Britain's Prince Harry in Sandringham, Britain, December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Britain's Prince Harry in Sandringham, Britain, December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Prince Harry and a robot have been announced as two guest editors on Radio 4's Today Program for two special editions between Christmas and New Year.

Kensington Palace has stated Prince Harry will be using the opportunity to "shine a spotlight on a number of issues that are close to his heart" including youth violence, conservation, and mental health.

A spokesperson added: “Prince Harry is grateful to have Today’s considerable reach to shine a spotlight on a number of issues that are close to his heart.”

The palace added: "He is working closely with Today's team to produce segments on a range of topics, including youth violence, conservation and mental health."

The robot edition of the show will use Artificial Intelligence to conduct an interview through a journalist modeled on current presenter Mishal Husain.

In addition, it will ask experts about the ramifications of AI in daily life, whether it can replicate human characteristics, and how it could be utilized to remove human error.

The Today program Christmas editions have a tradition of recruiting high profile guest editors, who are responsible for about half of the program's content; others will include 95-year-old Conservative peer Baroness Trumpington, who was a Land Girl and worked in code-breaking at Bletchley Park during World War Two.

Tamara Rojo, the artistic director and lead principal dancer of the English National Ballet and Benjamin Okri, the poet and novelist who wrote a poem about the Grenfell Tower fire, will also guest edit a show.

Sarah Sands, the editor of Today, said: “We are delighted by the range of guest editors this year. This Christmas tradition allows our listeners to benefit from the experiences and perspectives of remarkable public figures. We finish with a program dedicated to AI which gives a glimpse of the future of Today.”



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.