from berlin. tonight, thousands fleeing their homes in nagorno-karabakh. they have been pouring into armenia, hungary and exhausted from violence in the breakaway enclave. the u.s. as called for them to be protected and for aid to be let in. also coming up, u.s. president biden joins a striking autoworkers on the picket line in michigan, the first for a sitting u.s. president who is trying to boost his prounion credentials to win over more

blue-collar workers. and as iran continues its crackdown on women's rights including bans on dancing, we follow what exiled woman's bid to sing freely here in germany. ♪ i am brent goff. to our viewers watching on pbs in the united states and to all of you around the world, welcome. the number of people pouring into armenia from nagorno-karabakh is rising sharply. it has been a week since azerbaijan took control of the enclave in a lighting speed military operation. since then are median -- armenian authorities say 20,000 people have fled. the u.s. and the u.n. are calling for their rights and safety to be protected. reporter: they flee in cars,

buses, and trucks. vehicles choke the road leading out of nagorno-karabakh into armenia. the people crammed inside had exhaustion etched on their faces. many spent the night on the road. they fear they are leaving their ancestral lands for good. >> now we are stray dogs. that is our status. let the world know that we are stray dogs. reporter: many ethnic armenians in nagorno-karabakh feel they have no choice but to pack up their things and leave. azerbaijan located them for nine months. everything is lacking including the fuel to leave. this led to disaster when a gas tank exploded at a petrol station while people queued late on monday, leaving dozens dead and many injured. the explosion sending flames shooting into the night sky.

some of the blast victims were treated and evacuated by russian peacekeepers on tuesday. they have been stationed in nagorno-karabakh since azerbaijan wrestled -- after decades of interethnic tensions, armenians feel unsafe with the azerbaijanis fully in charge. as the exodus continues, this father is reunited with his daughter on the armenian side of the border. a moment of relief at a time of desperation. brent: today there were emergency talks between armenia and azerbaijan held in brussels. after those talks, dw news asked the azerbaijani president's foreign policy advisers about claims of ethnic cleansing being carried out by azerbaijan. >> we accept it an insult to the azerbaijan people.

he said azerbaijan is providing security for the civilians, and who based on their individual choice and in a free manner, are decided to go to the republic of armenia because of the current circumstances. azerbaijan ensuring freedom of movement. in the meantime, secure communications for armenian residents. it is a personal decision. reporter: but they are essentially being forced from their homes? >> no. the republic of azerbaijan as a result of counterterrorism actions on the ground did not enter civilian settlements and major cities. so far, azerbaijan armed and police forces are gutted by principles -- are guided by principles. we're trying to ameliorate the

humanitarian situation on the ground. there was no single resistance on the ground. reporter: the kremlin spokesperson has said that an international observer mission could only go into nagorno-karabakh with the azerbaijani side's agreement. what is your position on that? if you have nothing to hide, then it's ok surely? >> we are not creating a restrictive zone. currently we are in contact with our counterparts in azerbaijan. the u.n. office is accredited. some of the representatives could also have access for a security consolation. but we don't think there is need for any international observer mission because azerbaijan has nothing to hide.

certain things are very difficult in the meantime, understandably. certain difficulties and challenges are emerging. but azerbaijan has a strong determination to ensure the equal rights of armenian residents on the ground. we're delighted to see a discussion with her presented is about the inclusive process on the ground. reporter: we are seeing washington and moscow make clear statements against each other and the actions they are playing. are you worried that your country is just becoming a pawn perhaps on a broader geopolitical issue? >> what i would say about azerbaijan was a competition in our region. the region should not be seen through the prism of geopolitical competition. everybody should exert effort towards finding peace in the region. i think this is a crucial and

historical moment that armenia, azerbaijan, can be much closer to a peace treaty. brent: is it safe for ethnic armenians to remain inside nagorno-karabakh? i put that question to history professor ronald suny, a specialist in the caucuses region. ronald: i don't believe it is safe for armenians to stay in any part of azerbaijan. the azerbaijanis since september 16 have the upper hand. the russian peacekeepers are doing nothing. and armenians do not trust the azerbaijanis with whom they have had this active conflict now for 30 years. so in order to save themselves and what they can they are desperately trying to leave the country. azerbaijan's aims are to get rid of these armenians. they have been troublesome for the azerbaijani regime, and they are now savoring their victory over armenians and this will

guarantee his reign as a dictator in azerbaijan for a generation to come. brent: what do you make then of azerbaijan saying that there is no need for international observers to be on the ground because the country has nothing to hide? ronald: the very way you phrase the question, it seems contradictory in and of itself. we have nothing to hide, therefore there is no need for international observers. if you have nothing to hide, that the international observers come in and observe and find out what is going on there. it would be very good if some international observers or foreign powers got more actively involved in what is going on in karabakh. but russia, which was obligated by the armistice in the short 44 day war that occurred in the fall of 2020 was supposed to guarantee the safety of the armenians and keep the two sides apart, and allow humanitarian

aid, food, and medicine to reach the karabakh armenians. the russians failed in all of these ways, and armenians were, for six or seven months, cut off from armenia proper, and therefore they were weakened. then, suddenly and without provocation on september 19, the azerbaijanis attacked and the armenians under russian pressure were forced to disarm themselves, and now they are basically at the mercy of the azerbaijani military. brent: do you agree with the armenians who said they have basically been neglected by moscow, because moscow has been preoccupied with its invasion of ukraine? ronald: absolutely. there is a real parallel between these two events. putin is so busy with his army stuck in the mud of eastern ukraine that he has kind of

given up on the traditional russian hegemony and dominance in the south caucuses. russia still controls two areas in georgia, but they have given up, and have betrayed -- at least armenians feel this way -- they have betrayed their most loyal ally in the former soviet ally, armenia. there is still a russian base in armenia, but armenians are very discontented with the russians and disappointed. apparently mr. putin has personal animosities towards the armenian democratically elected prime minister. so here we have a situation in which an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, has won a quick war over democratically elected

state. where are the western powers that are fighting so hard in ukraine to prevent a democracy from being defeated by an authoritarian state? yet they are allowing a democratic armenia to be defeated by an autocratic azerbaijan, and 120,000 armenians ethnically cleansed from karabakh. brent: important questions coming tonight from professor ronald suny from the university of michigan. professor, we appreciate your time and your analysis. thank you. here is a round up of some other stories making headlines around the world. china has warned the philippines against, quote, stirring up trouble in the south china sea. it comes a day after minella said it removed a floating barrier installed by beijing to keep filipino fishermen out of a popular fishing area known as the scarborough shoal. both countries claim control of the reef. the speaker of canada's

parliament has resigned days after singling out for praise a ukrainian veteran who fought for the nazis during world war ii. the 98-year-old man received a standing ovation during a visit by ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy. speaker was heavily criticized by jewish groups and prime minister justin trudeau for his comments. u.s. regulators and 17 u.s. states are suing amazon for allegedly abusing its market position to inflate prices on other platforms to overcharge sellers and to stifle competition. the lawsuit brought by the u.s. federal trade commission could result in amazon being forced to sell off some assets. staying in the u.s., president biden is visiting michigan to join striking united auto workers on the picket line. he is believed to be the first u.s. sitting president to do that. his show of support for striking workers from the big three auto

companies, ford, general motors, and stellantis, comes at a time when biden is facing consistently low polling numbers for his handling of the economy. biden has been supporting the workers who are striking, calling for better pay and better benefits. dw's aya ibrahim is in detroit and has been talking with workers on the picket lines and she tells us what they made of the president's visit today. aya: i have been here all meaning -- all morning speaking to striking workers and it really is a mixed bag. some of them really appreciate the president's visit because they say this brings national and even international attention to their cause. and president biden today did say that with record pay for ceo's, record profits, they should get their fair share as well. we should also note that former president donald trump will be visiting detroit tomorrow. so, some see the positive attention that this brings them.

others, however, are wary of how their cause may be politicized, how it may be taken advantage of by politicians. they tell me this is really a fight between the union and the heads of the big three automakers, and that politicians should not be here trying to rally votes on the back of their cause. brent: that was aya ibrahim reporting from detroit. british prosecutors suspect a former executive at the german financial tech company wirecard, who was already accused of fraud, of running a russian spy ring. prosecutors say he was a key intermediary between five bulgarians arrested in the u.k. on suspicion of espionage, and the russian secret service. the men are on trial for spying in the u.k. and on a nato base in germany. he's wanted by german authorities and is believed to have fled to russia.

wirecard filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after revealing almost two billion euros were missing from its financial records. a short while ago i spoke to dw's birgit maass and asked her exactly what the former wirecard executive is accused of. birgit: first of all, it is really interesting to look at his background. he was once seen as some kind of tech wound or canned -- w underkind who is on the board of wirecard. that company collapsed quite spectacularly about three years ago. it was a bloated company and it was a huge embarrassment for the german financial authorities because that company had inflated their balance sheet by almost 2 billion euros. so there is a massive fraud in wirecard, and he was involved in that.

now he fled germany and as such is look for by the german authorities and also by interpol. now on top of that, he is also accused of spying for russia. u.k. authorities have uncovered why what they say is a sale of russian spies to the u.k. and those people are bulgarian, all of them residence in the u.k. these people are alleged to have done surveillance of people who could be of interest to russia. surveillance in the u.k.. also of other locations within europe. for example, military bases in germany. so, jan markalek is not looked at the u.k. authorities in this case but they have named him as the contact. so they basically say he is part of this sale of these bulgarian

nationals that today have been in front of the court in the u.k.. so, quite a surprising twist in the hole wildcard and jan marsalek saga. brent: here is a round up of more stories making headlines a sour. a top protest leader in thailand has been sentenced to four years in prison for insulting the monarchy. he's a leading figure, or has been one, in thailand's pro-democracy protest. he was convicted for a speech he held at the height of street protests in 2020. thousands of troops have marched through seoul to mark armed forces day for the first time in a decade. almost 5000 soldiers paraded through the streets of the south korean capital along with missiles, tanks and other weapons. the display comes as concerns grow over north korea's recent cooperation with russia.

the ukrainian military says it will review its report on the alleged death of russian black sea fleet commander victor sokoloff after images of him emerged on russian state television. on monday, ukraine said they had killed him and 33 other officers during a cruise missile attacks on the fleet's headquarters. now to ukraine and that destruction of the nova kahuku have dam. the shelling of the dam caused devastating floods which ruined crops in a region where people depend on farming to feed their families and to make a living. the reservoir itself was the region's sole water supply and with that done, people are now fearful for their futures. dw's max zander has more on this report. max: late-summer, and everything revolves around water. >> mom asked us to please get some water.

we have transport. it is difficult for her to walk, to carry. >> this is an ecological disaster. max: the water supply in this town is dry. what is provided in these barrels is wet but not safe to drink. the town provides some drinking water but it is simply not enough for everyone. people after organize that themselves. she takes us to her house. she is in mathematics and physics teacher but like most built -- most villagers here, they live off the land. the lack of water has become an existential threat. >> can see this is later cabbage. we have broccoli there. max: they use to water their crops from the reservoir but since the dam was destroyed, that is no longer an option. they spent money on drilling equipment to dig a well.

they could only afford to go 36 meters deep. they could use the water for the fields. around the house as well. but it is not good to drink. >> when i was brushing my teeth in the morning, the water was like taking soda. it feels like i am rinsing my mouth with baking powder solution. max: villagers here feel they are being left behind. while in a nearby area, city dwellers may have water, but have different worries. from here on what used to be the bank of the reservoir where you can see russian held territory. zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is just 10 kilometers away. >> the occupied that city on april 3, 2022. they entered with their troops and it became clear that they would terrorize us from over there. max: he tells us the city can use what water is left in the

reservoir but the russians are trying to stop them. every so often the russians hit their target. >> the shelling continues today. it is worse wherever there is a pumping station. they shelled more in order to deprive awesome of water. max: leaving the people without water until service is restored. the regional administration is working on a permanent solution. they are laying a pipe to connect them to the water system. they hope to be done before winter. there is no such plan for villagers. they planted less than normal this season knowing water would be scarce. but she plans to plant more next season, hoping the new well will help keep everything going, at least for a while.

not long ago the water that filled the space and hopeed feed -- help to feed this village. irena tells us villagers say because there is no water, wolves are crossing over from the other side. >> maybe it would be good for the ecosystem, for nature, animals, but it would be bad for us, the residents. max: no one knows whether the dam will be rebuilt or whether nature will be left to take over the basin. she says the villagers say if the reservoir is not filled again, they will probably all have to leave. brent: that was dw's max zander reporting. it has been more than a year since ina massenet meany died in police custody in iran. she was arrested by the morality police for not wearing a headscarf properly. today, the strict rules remain in place along with bans on dancing and even singing.

dw news met an artist who says she simply could not take it anymore and that is why she fled the country. ♪ reporter: doing what she loves most. in public and without fear. for her, it is such a new experience that she is not quite used to it. >> my heart is pounding. i keep thinking the police are about to come and ask what i am doing. reporter: she sings classical iranian music in a language spoken by people living in iran's northwest. she has performed with famous artists around the world, but that is something she cannot do in iran. the shia clerics who run the country consider female voices too corrupting. and so she took the painful decision to leave home.

>> the most important reason why my husband and i left is a difficult situation in iran. you can't lead a normal life, and recently things have become even harder for society and people in iran. because of what happened to mahsa amini, no one felt like singing anymore. reporter: along with two other iranian artists, they moved to germany with the help of a scholarship. >> this scholarship primarily offers financial support. we try to save artists who are threatened, for example, in iran. those whose lives are in danger

in their country. so they can continue their work which they cannot continue in their country, both here and in europe. reporter: starting from scratch in a new country is not a was easy. but she's thankful for the opportunity. >> i am a very hopeful person. otherwise i would not have endured life in iran. but i know this year will be very hard. i have to learn the language and work at the same time. i have to prove myself here. reporter: for now, this artist

in exile is using her newfound freedom to make her voice heard. ♪ brent: you are watching dw news live from berlin. here is a reminder of our top stories. the number of people pouring into armenia from nagorno-karabakh is rising sharply. last week, azerbaijan took control of the enclave which is home to 120,000 ethnic armenians. since then, armenia says that more than 28,000 people have fled across the border. in the united states, president biden has joined strike and car workers in the state of michigan who are demanding better pay and benefits. he is believed to be the first u.s. president to visit a picket line. it comes as he faces

consistently low poll numbers over his handling of the u.s. economy. you're watching "dw news." stick around. after a short break, i will be back to take you through the day. tonight, we are going to talk about the president at the picket line. is it all politics, or is there something more significant here? we will be right back. ♪ [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

>> welcome to "live from paris" world news and analysis from france 24. refugees continue to flee nagorno-karabakh. minimum azerbaijan says it will not impose a land corridor. russia strikes ukraine's port of odessa. ducks and crane facilities are hit. the impact stopped traffic. the president on e