WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, May 10, 2019 to 0800 GMT, May 11, 2019.

UN warns about refugee crisis

The United Nations refugee agency says at least 65 refugees have died in a boat accident in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tunisia. According to the world body, the Tunisian navy brought 16 survivors to the coast at Zarzis, where they awaited permission to disembark. Tunisia's defense ministry says the boat had left from the Libyan port of Zouara and was en route to Italy when it capsized. The refugees’ nationalities were not immediately known. The UN says more than 2,000 refugees died or went missing in the Mediterranean last year.

Trump tax returns

The chairman of the main US house committee in charge of taxing has issued subpoenas for personal and business tax returns of President Donald Trump. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal made the move after the Treasury rejected his formal demand for the release of 6 years of Trump’s tax records. The treasury secretary and the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner now face a deadline of May 17 to submit the documents. Meanwhile, democratic lawmakers are considering announcing more administration officials in contempt of congress for defying subpoenas. A resolution can then be drafted and put to vote in response to Trump’s blocking of congressional probes into his presidency and business investments.

US-China trade row

Two days of trade negotiations between the United States and China have ended without a deal. The Chinese delegation headed by Vice Premier Liu He has left the venue of the talks in Washington. US President Donald Trump says the negotiations will continue and that imposing more tariffs on Chinese goods depends on future talks. Washington has already increased tariffs on Chinese products from 10 to 25 percent. The US trade representative says Trump has ordered him to start the process of raising tariffs on all remaining imports from China. The value of products subject to the new round of tariffs is almost 300 billion dollars. Trump started a trade war with China last year after criticizing Beijing’s policies on protections for intellectual property.

US Iran policy

US Media say the White House has passed a phone number to the Swiss to share it with Iranian officials in case they intend to call Washington. Diplomatic sources familiar with the move told CNN that the Swiss are not going to hand over the number unless the Iranian officials ask for it. This followed a public appeal by Donald Trump to Iran to call him amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Tehran has already rejected Washington’s offer of talks. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has noted that there is no guarantee that Trump won’t renege on his promise as he did with the Iran nuclear deal, last year. Washington has recently deployed bombers and aircraft carriers to the Persian Gulf, saying it cannot rule out a military confrontation with Iran.

War on Yemen

The United Nations says Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has agreed to unilaterally withdraw its forces from three key ports over four days. UN officials say the movement will begin the pullout on Saturday from the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras-Issa. Last December, Yemen’s warring sides agreed to cease fighting in Hudaydah and withdraw their troops from the strategic port during peace talks in Sweden. The Ansarallah movement has repeatedly complained about Saudi Arabia’s repeated violation of the ceasefire in Hudaydah. The city serves as a lifeline for millions of Yemenis who are facing the threat of famine due to Saudi airstrikes and siege of the country.

Trade tensions

China says its latest trade talks with the United States have been productive. But, there are issues of principle on which Beijing will not back down. The Chinese vice-premier was briefing reporters after two days of trade discussions in Washington ended without a deal. He said three differences kept the two sides from reaching an agreement. Liu said, Beijing wants the removal of all punitive tariffs in a future deal, and demands a balanced text. China also wants to know how much import it should do from the US. The Chinese official said both sides will meet again in Beijing, without giving a date. Tensions between the US and China have resulted in tit-for-tat tariffs on more than 360 billion dollars worth of products since last year.

Algeria protests

Tens of thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets for the twelfth successive Friday to demand a sweeping political overhaul. They particularly called for the resignation of interim president Abdel-kader Bensalah. Press TV’s correspondent Kamel Mansari reports from Algiers.

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