Princess Kate Makes Rare Consecutive Public Appearances after Cancer Diagnosis

 Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP)
Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP)
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Princess Kate Makes Rare Consecutive Public Appearances after Cancer Diagnosis

 Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP)
Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP)

Britain's Princess Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London, her second public appearance in two days, as she gradually returns to public duties after her treatment for cancer.

She watched from the balcony of a government building as members of the royal family, including King Charles, and politicians laid wreaths at the Cenotaph war memorial in central London.

The Princess of Wales was wearing a black hat and jacket adorned with red poppies, which are worn by Britons as a symbol of respect for those who have lost their lives in conflict.

On Saturday, she appeared at the Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Kate said in September she had finished chemotherapy, but her path to full recovery would be long. At the time, the 42-year-old said she would be carrying out a handful of public engagements later in the year.

Before this weekend's events her last public appearance was in October when she met the bereaved families of three young girls who were murdered at a dance class in northwest England.

The ceremony at the Cenotaph war memorial is held on the nearest Sunday to Nov. 11 to mark the end of World War One, and pays tribute to those who lost their lives in conflict

Kate's husband William, who is heir to the throne, said during a visit to South Africa last week that the past year had probably been the "hardest" of his life after Kate and his father Charles were diagnosed with cancer.



UNCCD Executive Secretary Praises Saudi Efforts to Combat Desertification

The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
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UNCCD Executive Secretary Praises Saudi Efforts to Combat Desertification

The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw, highlighted that the world is currently facing a critical situation. The increasing frequency and unpredictability of droughts present significant challenges to agricultural and food systems in affected countries. He emphasized that land restoration is one of the most effective tools for tackling these global challenges.
During his speech at the opening plenary session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) Monday in Riyadh, he praised Saudi Arabia for its commitment to combating drought and promoting land restoration through the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI).
The ongoing conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges.

On its first day, three major international initiatives were announced, including the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative.

This initiative aims to mobilize international action to improve preparedness for drought, transitioning the global response from emergency crisis management and post-crisis relief to a proactive approach centered on early prevention and preparedness before disasters occur.
Additionally, the International Drought Observatory and the Global Drought Atlas were launched, both designed to enhance monitoring and tracking efforts, implement preventive measures, and raise awareness among various stakeholders about drought issues worldwide.
On the eve of the multi-stakeholder talks in Riyadh, the UNCCD released a new report that underscores the escalating global emergency caused by land degradation.

The report highlights the damage caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, which are responsible for 80% of deforestation and account for 70% of freshwater consumption. Furthermore, 23% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from agriculture, forestry, and land use.
According to the latest UNCCD report, 46% of the world's land area is classified as arid. COP16 in Riyadh, taking place from December 2 to 13, is the largest session of the Conference of the Parties to date.

It marks the introduction of a green zone, an innovative concept introduced by the Kingdom to mobilize multilateral action and provide necessary funding for initiatives aimed at rehabilitating degraded lands.