Q: Why is ISIS/ISIL now being called Daesh?
—Kathy McDonough, Peachtree Corners
A: Governments, officials and media organizations refer to the Islamic State group (also ISIL or ISIS) by various names, including Daesh.
Daesh is an Arabic abbreviation for its official name of Dawlat al-Islamiyah f’al-Iraq wa al-Sham, but the Islamic State group, which can be abbreviated IS, considers it an insult.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has used Daesh since at least 2014 and called IS the “terrorist group Daesh” in a briefing on March 17.
Other spellings include Da’ish, according to the BBC, and Daiish, Daish and Daash, the Washington Post reported.
The Associated Press, which sets the style and rules for many media organizations, uses Islamic State group (IS).
Q: Do they have any plans for removing the alligator from the Chattahoochee River?
—Skip Thompson, Atlanta
A: There are no plans to relocate the alligator from the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, park spokeswoman Ardrianna McLane told Q&A on the News last week.
Park officials are working with the National Park Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on a “good management outcome” for the alligator, which was photographed earlier this month.
“We hope to have a solution within the next few weeks,” McLane said.
The Cochran Shoals Fitness Loop remains closed.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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