World News Briefs -- September 9, 20202

Daily Mail: Fire at Greece's largest refugee camp WAS started by migrants: Minister confirms cause after group infected with Covid-19 refused to isolate – with 12,000 now homeless

* Fire has gutted Moria, the largest refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, after breaking out around 2am
* Greek minister said blaze was started by migrants who refused to go into isolation after testing positive
* Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi did not confirm if the fire was a deliberate act of arson
* A state of emergency has been declared across the entire island amid fears the disease could now spread
* Hundreds of migrants fled the camp towards nearby villages, but were blocked by police vehicles and locals

A Greek minister has confirmed that a fire which destroyed the country's largest migrant camp was started by migrants amid protests by asylum seekers who had tested positive for coronavirus and were refusing to go into isolation.

The Moria camp, home to 12,000 refugees on the island of Lesbos, was completely destroyed by a blaze which began in the early hours of Wednesday.

Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi has since said the fire was started by asylum-seekers, but did not confirm if it was a deliberate act of arson.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

US to withdraw 2,200 troops from Iraq by end of September.

Iran to compensate families of downed Ukraine airliner victims.

UN: Houthi rebels in Yemen recruited teenage girls.

Experts: Lebanon blast brings foreign insistence on reform.

Israel, UAE to sign deal at White House on September 15: Reports.


United States: End of Qatar blockade possibly 'in weeks'.

Saudi Arabia squeezes Aramco as low oil prices roil state budget.

ASIA

Afghan VP escapes deadly roadside bomb attack in Kabul.

India and China accuse each other of making military moves, firing warning shots along disputed border.

China accuses India of ‘serious military provocation’ at disputed border.

China plans sanctions against US officials who visit Taiwan, says Global Times editor Hu Xijin.

China accuses Australia of ‘barbaric’ searches of journalists’ homes over foreign interference laws.

Eyeing China, Taiwan urges alliance against 'aggressive actions'.

Australia revokes Chinese scholar visas and targets media officials, prompting furious China response.

China slams Australian Federal Government for 'blatant irrational behaviour' over foreign interference investigation.

Kim Jong Un calls for 'emergency measures' to repair typhoon damage.

Report: Seoul preps for joint Olympic bid with North Korea.

AFRICA

Africa leaders: Mali military gov't must name president by Sep 15.

Ethiopia's Tigray region defies PM Abiy with 'illegal' election. Ethiopia's Tigray region holds vote, defying Abiy's federal gov't.

Somaliland opens representative office in Taiwan.

UN urged to intervene in case of detained Hotel Rwanda dissident.

'We lost everything': Thousands homeless as Sudan battles floods.

Zimbabwe bans coal mining in Hwange and other game parks.

Fears for Congolese Nobel laureate after UN protection 'withdrawn’.

EUROPE

Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial put on hold after participant falls ill.

Government must make 'tough decisions' as Covid-19 cases surge, French science council says.

Coronavirus: ‘rule of six’ to apply in England from Monday.

Thousands flee fire at Greece's largest migrant camp. Thousands flee as fires devastate Greece's largest migrant camp.

Belarus: High-profile opposition figures arrested in 'security' probe. Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men.

Russia hits out at 'hysteria' over Navalny poisoning.

G7 condemns 'confirmed poisoning' of Alexei Navalny.

AMERICAS

US coronavirus deaths approach 190,000. Daily COVID-19 infections in US drop below 40,000 for the first time since June and deaths drop to 700 a day - as 25 states see cases decline in the last week.

Biden leads Trump by 12 points nationally among likely voters: Reuters/Ipsos poll.

White House says reducing record debt will be 'big second-term priority' for Trump.

Raging wildfires almost destroy towns in California, Oregon and Washington. Nearly 100 wildfires burn across US west with major fires out of control in California.

Daily cases reach record high in Argentina.

Venezuelan opposition leader urges military to back election boycott.

Bolivia's ex-leader Evo Morales barred from senate run.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Conflicts since start of US 'war on terror' have displaced 37m people – report.

U.S. blacklists ex-Lebanese ministers for supporting Hezbollah.

Charlie Hebdo trial: Artist recalls being forced to let gunmen into offices.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Tesla shares lead bounce-back in tech stocks just a day after Elon Musk lost record $16.3 billion when his electric car maker plunged 21% in one session.

Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook won't remove anti-vaccine posts despite Covid concerns.

Pressure cooker: Washington puts heat on US executives at Chinese firms, with TikTok latest example.

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