Let's begin in Jeddah, where the Saudi Feast Food Festival is underway at the Abadi Al-Johar Theater until December 6, offering a delightful journey through the country's culinary traditions with 195 food stalls, cooking competitions, and workshops that celebrate the rich diversity of Saudi cuisine.

Meanwhile, in a move to strengthen international security, the UK has signed a historic agreement with Iraq, focusing on combatting people-smuggling and enhancing border protection, including training Iraqi law enforcement and addressing false narratives about migration.

In health news, there's a glimmer of hope in Lebanon as the WHO is optimistic that hospitals in and around Beirut might reopen quickly following a ceasefire, thanks to promising damage assessments, although the timeline will hinge on the stability of peace.

Turning to Russia, Dmitry Talantov, a prominent lawyer, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his social media criticisms of the Ukraine conflict, underscoring the tensions around free speech and information under recent censorship laws.

Shifting focus to Riyadh, where the UNCCD COP16 summit is set to tackle crucial issues like land degradation, desertification, and drought, bringing together leaders for ministerial dialogues and thematic days in a bid for global and localized action.

Finally, innovation meets art in Riyadh at the Diriyah Art Futures, where Saudi Arabia's pioneering center for AI-driven visual arts hosts an exhibition featuring over 30 artists, curated by Jerome Neutres, exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and art until February 15, 2025.