Good morning from <i>The National</i> on December 11, 2024. Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates. <b>Live updates: Follow the latest on </b><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024/12/09/syria-live-news-russia-hmeimim-tartus/" target="_blank"><b>Syria</b></a> Syrian residents in the UAE are overjoyed after a lightning 11-day offensive by rebel forces ended the more than half-century rule of the Assad family. But families now based in the Emirates worry about the fate of the tens of thousands of people who went missing during the decades-long conflict in Syria. Days after the fall of president Bashar Al Assad's regime, Syrian citizens want to support their country by helping to rebuild the cities they once called home. Fayez Maarrawi, who moved with his family to Dubai in 2002, went home to Damascus on annual holidays but could not return after the 2011 crackdown on anti-government protests. Over the years, he convinced most relatives to leave Syria as the situation deteriorated. But he fears for those who went missing in the Assad regime’s notorious prison system. “It’s been 54 years under this regime and its end is the happiness of a lifetime. This is what we have always been hoping for,” said Mr Maarrawi, 56, who works in the technology sector in Dubai. “But knowing there are thousands of people still suffering and we may be unable to reach them, this is stealing away our joy. Read the full report from Ramola Talwar Badam <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/12/10/joy-and-anxiety-as-syrians-in-uae-fear-for-thousands-missing-after-fall-of-assad/" target="_blank">here</a> Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday stressed that excellence "is a way of life in the UAE" after honouring the nation's top achievers across all sections of government. Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President, set out the UAE's lofty ambitions for the future at the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award 2024. He said the annual event recognised those who turned "challenges into opportunities" and that the country's future progress would be powered by creativity. “Excellence is not just a goal, it is a way of life in the UAE. It reflects the vision of the UAE President [Sheikh Mohamed] to establish a government that not only meets ambitions but anticipates the future," Sheikh Mohammed said. "Toda, we celebrate achievements, but more importantly, we reaffirm that our journey of excellence knows no bounds. “Innovation in government is no longer a luxury; it is an imperative. Today, we honour those who have turned challenges into opportunities, crafting transformative solutions that set new benchmarks for government services." Read the full report<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/f1/2024/12/08/abu-dhabi-f1-lando-norris-wins-final-race-of-season-to-clinch-constructors-title-for-mclaren/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/12/10/sheikh-mohammed-hails-winners-of-government-excellence-award/" target="_blank">here</a> A major plan to transform Dubai into a “pedestrian-friendly” city could connect inaccessible neighbourhoods, and encourage mobility and healthier lifestyles, experts say. The Dubai Walk project could also boost public transport by linking pedestrian routes to existing infrastructure – although questions about sustainability, coping with summer heat and connectivity in a car-centric city remain. But the move is being hailed as a step forward in encouraging mobility and championing active lifestyles among the emirate's surging population. It is seen as echoing other successful schemes around the world, from New York to Seoul, that reclaim derelict spaces for pedestrian use. “There is no going back in terms of a car-centric city, but we can reduce the footprint and impact of cars … by connecting neighbourhoods and getting people to walk,” said Apostolos Kyriazis, associate professor of architecture and urbanism at Abu Dhabi University. Read the full story from John Dennehy <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/12/10/dubai-set-to-follow-in-footsteps-of-paris-and-new-york-to-create-pedestrian-city/" target="_blank">here</a> <b>FACT OF THE DAY</b> The UAE has unveiled an AI-powered strategy aimed at boosting mangrove regeneration by up to 30 per cent. Read more on the green drive from Rachel Kelly <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/10/uae-to-harness-ai-to-help-protect-crucial-mangroves-as-global-efforts-falter/" target="_blank">here</a> <b>THE WRAP</b> <b>FRONT PAGE</b>
