Iraqi PM declares end of war against ISIL terror group

Al Jazeera
December 10, 2017

Dec 10: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has declared the end to the country's war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

"Our forces are in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border and I therefore announce the end of the war against Daesh," al-Abadi told a conference in Baghdad on Saturday, using the Arabic acronym for ISIL.

The announcement followed the recapture of Rawa, one of the last remaining ISIL-held towns, in November.

Since then, Iraqi forces had been fighting to retake the small pockets in the border area that were still under ISIL control.

Earlier on Saturday, senior military commander Lt General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yarallah had announced the end of the fight against ISIL saying that "all Iraqi lands are liberated from terrorist Daesh gangs and our forces completely control the international Iraqi-Syrian borders".

Just six months ago, ISIL still controlled vast expanses of territory, including major cities, on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border.

The quick advance by ISIL in Iraq began in 2014.

The group captured important cities like Mosul, Ramadi and Fallujah.

But over the last year, ISIL has been driven out of much of Iraq and its self-declared capital Raqqa and Deir Az Zor in Syria.

In early November, Iraqi forces announced the recapture of al-Qaim, ISIL's last border stronghold in the country. 

Saturday's announcement marks the end of the three-year war to drive ISIL out of Iraq.

Brett McGurk, US special envoy for the coalition against ISIL, congratulated Iraq on Twitter.

"We congratulate the prime minister and all the Iraqi people on this significant achievement, which many though impossible," McGurk said.

The Global Coalition, which as been supporting Iraqi forces in their fighter against ISIL, added that it will continue to "stand by them [Iraqis] as they set the conditions for a secure and prosperous future [in] Iraq".

Last month, al-Abadi said that the losses from the war against ISIL had cost $100bn.

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KT
June 15,2020

Dubai, Jul 15: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of a 'New Media Academy in Dubai on Monday - a new institution that will train people on the science of digital media.

Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said that new media is a new science that has its own set of special tools and secrets, and that the future cadres of UAE must be at the forefront of it.

"The academy will prepare new experts and managers in the field of communication in government and private institutions, as well as training professional social media influencers", Sheikh Mohammed tweeted, adding that the new media is providing new job opportunities and careers today, and will always be a main supporter in the journey of development.

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News Network
April 18,2020

Dubai, Apr 18: Saudi Arabia has reported 1,132 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients to 8,274, the Ministry of Health revealed on Saturday.

The ministry has also announced five more deaths from the virus, taking to 92 the Kingdom’s death toll.

Recoveries
As for recoveries, 280 new recoveries were reported, pushing the total number of patients recovered to 1,329.

The ministry revealed that 79 per cent of today’s cases are expatriates and that 65 per cent of the cases were detected through intensified and active COVID-19 screening in densely-populated areas.

A total of 201 patients of Saturday’s cases have contracted the disease due to being in contact with existing cases, the ministry added.

The new infected cases have been placed under complete isolation and they are receiving necessary medical care, an official from the ministry said.

He affirmed that medical teams are intensifying efforts and screening tests in workers' neighbourhoods and accommodations in order to limit the spread of the disease.

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KT
April 16,2020

Dubai, Apr 16: Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), unveiled a series of outdoor ads that form part of its new campaign to encourage the community to stay home.

Featuring the slogan 'For My Sake #StayHome for Us', the campaign depicts stunning artwork developed in collaboration with Emirati artist Maitha Demithan. The ads have been displayed on billboards, lamp posts and digital screens across Dubai.

The campaign reinforces the importance of staying at home in line with the strict restrictions on movement put in place by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management as part of intensified measures to combat Covid-19.

Nehal Badri, Director of Brand Dubai, said: "The outdoor campaign, displayed in prominent locations across Dubai, was designed to illustrate the importance of staying at home during the current sensitive period. Using Maitha Demithan's stunning creative artwork, we sought to send out a clear message to the community that staying at home is vital to safeguard the wellbeing of our loved ones. 

This project is one of a series of initiatives launched in collaboration with UAE-based artists to raise awareness about the need to unite efforts to protect vulnerable people from the risk of infection."

Emirati artist Maitha Demithan said: "It has been a privilege for me to work on this project and an honour to serve my country through my artworks. The three portraits featured in the campaign create a triptych that represents the people who are the most vulnerable to being infected by the virus. During such difficult times, art can play a crucial role in raising awareness on how to stay safe, but most importantly it can keep everyone inspired. I encourage all my fellow artists and the creative community to continue practicing social distancing and stay connected by using their creativity and innovation to raise awareness during this period."

Brand Dubai partnered with several media outlets, including Media 24/7, Arabian Outdoor Media and Hypermedia to launch the outdoor ads. The ads are displayed on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina.

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