China open to addressing trade concerns through dialogue: ministry

China is always open to addressing economic and trade concerns through dialogue and communication, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

According to the consensus reached in China-U.S. talks in Geneva, Switzerland, both sides have agreed to establish a mechanism for economic and trade consultations to maintain communication regarding their respective concerns in economy and trade, spokesperson He Yongqian told a press conference, noting that relevant information will be released in due course.

Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid lingering differences

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a Ukrainian delegation would attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul with a commitment to ending the conflict with Russia, though he would not personally show up at the negotiating table.

At the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Zelensky told reporters that Ukraine would send a delegation to Istanbul.

Zelensky said Ukraine remained committed to dialogue but expressed doubts about Moscow's intentions. He told reporters that Ukraine did not see "any decision-makers" from the Russian delegation who will be present at the talks.

Yemen's Houthis claim responsibility for missile attack on Israel's main airport

Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday night that it had launched a new ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defense systems earlier in the night.

"We carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport, using a hypersonic ballistic missile," Houthi's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Earlier in the night, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

Pakistan, India agree to extend ceasefire until May 18: Pakistani FM

Pakistan and India held talks on Thursday and agreed to extend the ongoing ceasefire until May 18, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.

Addressing the parliament, Dar said that the militaries of both countries communicated earlier in the day and reached the decision to prolong the ceasefire, with plans to follow up with political dialogue.

"The ceasefire was initially agreed upon on May 10 to last until May 12. It was later extended to May 14, and now further extended to May 18," he told lawmakers.