EU chief Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to offer support ahead of winter as Russia continues to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This marks her 8th visit, centering on winter preparedness, defense, and the use of Western weapons against Russia, though EU countries are divided on this issue.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, investigators have questioned two individuals regarding explosive pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to a tragic incident with 37 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. Reports suggest Israel inserted explosives into pagers from Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, an allegation denied by the company, directing suspicion towards Hungary-based BAC Consulting KFT instead.

In economic news, oil prices are climbing for the second week, driven by a US rate cut and shrinking global stockpiles. Brent and US WTI crude futures saw significant gains, recovering from historical lows amid declining US inventories and rising Middle Eastern tensions.

Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia will host the Global Summit on Child Protection in Cyberspace next October in Riyadh under King Salman's patronage, aiming to enhance international cooperation for online child safety. The summit, organized in collaboration with UNICEF and other global entities, seeks to create a safer digital environment for children.

Turning to the Middle East, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has called for immediate de-escalation following a rise in hostilities at the Lebanese-Israeli border. The escalating violence, marked by intense Israeli airstrikes, has resulted in destructive consequences and rising concerns from UNIFIL.

Finally, the conflict escalated further as Israel bombarded Hezbollah sites in Lebanon after leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed retaliation for earlier explosions. This exchange has fueled international mediation efforts to prevent a wider conflict, with calls for restraint coming from various global actors including the US to facilitate a Gaza ceasefire.