A Russian drone strike targeted a civilian bus in the town of Bilopillya near the Russian border, killing 9 civilians and injuring 4 others. The attack comes amid ongoing violence in the Sumy region, alongside peace talks and prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. Despite the negotiations, Russia signals its readiness to continue the war for years, raising doubts about the sincerity of the peace efforts.

correspondent Hani Mahmoud is reporting from Gaza City with the latest developments on the ground. He says there were attacks on 13 residential buildings in both Beit Lahiya and Jabalia where people were sleeping. He adds that these attacks happened without any warning whatsoever.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is holding a press conference in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith is reporting live from the city.

As Ukraine and Russia participate in diplomatic discussions in Istanbul, perspectives from both sides are emerging. Vyacheslav Matuzov, a political analyst and former Russian diplomat, joins Al Jazeera's live coverage from Moscow to provide insight into Russia's strategic stance. Meanwhile, Peter Zalmayev, Executive Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, speaks from Kyiv on Ukraine’s expectations and the potential outcomes of these negotiations.

Iranian and European diplomats have wrapped up a fresh round of talks in Istanbul, Turkiye, to discuss the future of Tehran’s nuclear programme. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister held discussions with representatives from the UK, France, and Germany amid renewed hopes for progress on a nuclear deal. The talks come after US President Donald Trump stated that a nuclear agreement with Iran may soon be finalised.

Direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia resumed in Istanbul after three years, with the US and Turkey overseeing the discussions. Despite the absence of Ukrainian and Russian leaders, there's cautious optimism for a potential ceasefire. However, the ongoing Russian military operations, including airstrikes on Ukrainian cities, continue to undermine trust. US President Donald Trump suggested a breakthrough might happen after meeting with Russian President Putin.

Former US President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East tour with a powerful speech from Abu Dhabi, marking the final stop on his trip. Speaking to top business and political leaders, Trump announces major trade deals, investment commitments, and a renewed partnership between the United States and the UAE.

Stay with us as we bring you all the key talking points from the briefing. You can also watch a livestream of that briefing at the top of this page.

Israel has confirmed it's in the early stages of a new military assault on Gaza. Thousands of more troops are expected to be deployed as part of this operation. Israel plans to consolidate the seizure of territory. The army says it will quote: 'seize and control' what is calls strategic areas of Gaza.

Gideon Levy, an analyst and columnist at the Israeli media outlet Haaretz, says what is happening in Gaza is the beginning of a “huge extermination programme”.