But has been controlled by Ethnic Armenians for the last three decades. Last week, azerbaijan seized this disputed region. Fears of Ethnic Cleansing and persecution have driven over 6,650 people to cross into armenia, according to the armenian government estimates. Roads leading towards the Armenian Border are jammed with traffic as people leave in search of shelter, safety, and humanitarian aid. Earlier, zara amatuni a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the red cross in armenia told the bbc about efforts to supply aid across the region. We are trying to really offer our humanitarian support and resources to cover the immediate needs of the people, ranging from access to food, health care and other Essential Services such as water, energy and heat while the people are evacuated, but also trying to monitor and ensure the protection of people that are left behind, and also we are, during the past week we were able to deliver much needed humanitarian supplies, including around 70 metric tonnes of supplies such as wheat flour, Sunflower Oil and other stuff. Wheat flour, Sunflower Oil and otherstuff. In wheat flour, Sunflower Oil and other stuff. In addition to that we have found that nearly 50 people with Urgent Medical needs to get evacuated within the territory or outside. Ashley yesterday we facilitated the passage of critically injured people, 23 people to armenia to get specialised treatment. Lets go to the armenian capital yarevan. 0ur correspondent kasra naji is there. Im standing at the main square here in the capital of armenia. Behind me, you see riot police protecting this building behind me, which is the centre of the government in armenia. And also it houses the office of the Prime Minister. He has come under a lot of criticism and protest for allegedly not doing enough to protect armenian brethren in nagorno karabakh. Yesterday in the last several nights we have witnessed huge demonstrations here. Last night there were about 10,000 people here. They were urging for him, the Prime Minister, to resign. We are expecting another day of demonstration in about less than three hours from now and the police are basically preparing for that. The fact is that there is plenty of concern here for their security of the armenians within nagorno karabakh, and the fear that Tens Of Thousands of them might be heading this way and we are not sure whether armenia, the government are prepared to receive so many refugees. Now to ukraine, where the countrys Special Forces claim a Missile Strike killed the commander of russias Black Sea Fleet on friday in occupied crimea. In a statement, a Military Spokesman said admiral Viktor Sokolov died in the attack, but wouldnt name him directly when approached by the bbc. The Navy Building in sevastopol suffered a direct hit by western supplied missiles. Meanwhile, the United Nations has found what it says is russian war crimes in ukraine. During a presentation to the Human Rights Council in geneva, investigators reported unlawful attacks with explosive weapons, attacks harming civilians, torture, sexual and gender based violence, and attacks on energy infrastructure. Un investigators have also claimed that some of the war rhetoric and propaganda appearing on Russian Media could amount to incitement to genocide. They told the uns Human Rights Council that they were also looking into moscows Policy Of Deporting Ukrainian Children to russia. 0ur correspondent in geneva, imogen foulkes, has more. This latest report from the Un Human Rights Office to get as paints a very dark picture of the way russia is conducting its war against ukraine. 0ne the way russia is conducting its war against ukraine. One of the things very disturbing that this report cites is widespread use of torture. The investigators were able to visit parts of ukraine that ukrainian troops have re taken from Russian Forces, around kherson for example, there the received evidence of detainees who had been tortured, been held by Russian Forces, people who were apparently suspected of giving information to ukrainian troops. Some of these people were taught back these people were tortured so brutally that they died. Reports also of Sexual Violence and rape by Russian Forces including other women 83 years old. The Lead Investigator also voiced frustration about rumours of the forcible transfer of ukrainian children to russia, they said they had received so Little Information about this that they couldnt really paint a proper picture of what was going on, there really want more information from russia but russia did not cooperate with this report, its diplomats were not even in the room when it was delivered today in geneva. 0ne room when it was delivered today in geneva. One final thing, very interesting, the un investigators used the term genocide. It is not a term used lightly by human rights experts. They used it in the context of the Russian Media and the way it talks about ukraine and ukrainians. It said that rhetoric has become so violent and so hate filled that it could amount to incitement to genocide. British Army Bomb Disposal teams also known as sappers have been training their ukrainian counterparts to clear russian minefields. Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world with Hundreds Of Thousands of the explosive devices. 0ur defence correspondent Jonathan Beale reports from poland, where theyve been carrying out the training. Mine detectors beep imagine doing this while under enemy fire. Trying to find and make safe a deadly hidden device which could also kill you. Its what these experienced ukrainian engineers have been doing for the past year. Now, here in neighbouring poland, honing their skills, with the help of british sappers who faced a similar threat in the heat and dust of afghanistan. Back in ukraine, this is what they are facing ground littered with russian mines and explosives. Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world. And its what has bogged down their advance. Russias laid Hundreds Of Thousands of mines across ukraine, scattered over an area the size of florida. In some places, the minefields are ten kilometres deep. And in just one square metre, there could be as many as five mines. Sappers like den are now being targeted by Russian Forces. So they mostly have to conduct their work at night. And there are simply not enough of them. Would you describe being a sapper in ukraine at the moment as being the most dangerous job in the world . Yes, absolutely. A lot of them being killed by mines, by Russian Artillery because they are working on the front line . Yeah. Have you lost many friends . What message would you like to send the west . Keep going. We need your help. Is that because you are worried that the west wont keep going . Because we wont make it by our own. When we make staff safe, we should make sure the teams cover. The uk has also supplied ukraine with 1,500 mine detectors. The hope that it will make a difference. We are fellow soldiers at the end of the day. We share experiences throughout the course of our experiences and their experiences, and we train together. And do you think you have given them the skills to stay alive . We have added to them. The clock is ticking on ukraines offensive. And still in their way are the minefields and booby traps laid on an industrial scale. President biden has confirmed that the United States will establish diplomatic relations and recognise the independence of the cook islands and niue. The two self governing small pacific nations are part of a Free Association with new zealand, which also conducts most diplomatic relations for the islands. Mr biden� s announcement came ahead of a Washington Summit with Pacific Island leaders held on monday. The conference is widely viewed as part of an american Charm Offensive to counter growing chinese influence in the strategically important region. Earlier, i spoke with retired Navy Rear AdmiralMark Montgomery with the washington based Research Group foundation for the defense of democracies. This is the second time President Biden has met Pacific Island leaders in just over a year. Is it about a Charm Offensive what value do you put on these partnerships . Thank you for having me. And yes, this is undeniably good that President Biden, Antony Blinken and their teams are meeting with 18 Pacific Island states, again, only a year after the last meeting. And look, we have offered. There is a good package of assistance and diplomatic support on the table. I think it is aimed at trying to prevent chinese economic coercion and political manipulation in the area. And i think 40 million as part of the floor of. The president accidentally said a0 billion but clearly it is more in the a0 million range. Ijust dont know if the totality of these efforts, if it is enough to counter the chinese efforts to displace the United States, australia and new zealand as the historical partner of choice in the region. Indeed, we heard President Biden said last week at the United Nations that he wanted to responsibly manage competition, as he put it, between the us and china so it didnt dip into conflict. How important is a summit like this in terms of building on preserving or improving the china relations . I think this summit is more aimed at our partners and in some cases allies and it is a broad swath of issues, Notjust Security Being dealt with, the fisheries issues, maritime domain awareness, consumer issues, certainly a lot of Climate Change issues associated with rising sea levels, that these countries experience at a much greater risk than the rest of the world. So i think its really focused on them, but part of it is a competition with china and trying to show them that what we offer is part of a broader package and thats a bit different than what the chinese have on the table. Have on the table. And on that, the us confirmed today that it will recognise the independence of the cook islands and niue. What message does that send to china . I think were to make very clear that for these states, these two are with new zealand, there are three others with the United States, we have a deep level of support for them, these are countries we are going to invest in, but with all of them, trying to demonstrate that we are going to provide them with the diplomatic, economic and security support they need. And on that effort to win hearts and minds, the Solomon Islands did not send its Prime Minister, something the Biden Administration said it was disappointing. What if anything should be read into that decision by the Prime Minister not to attend . I believe thats the impact of chinese investments in both economic investments and Political Investments in the Solomon Islands over the last few years, and the United States not being aggressively involved. It is to be expected the chinese have made strong efforts there, so i think the United States should take that lesson is we need to be more gate engaged in this region, it has economic value to the United States, it has Security Value to the United States and that has a cultural legacy of us support throughout world war ii and since. What is your assessment of the stability in the South China Sea . The philippines saying it had removed a floating barrier installed by china to block filipino Fishing Boats entering a contested area. I think the chinese move to place the float in there was part of a Pressure Campaign on the philippines. Its very clear from the tribunal� s ruling that both countries have access to fishing rights. The chinese have a nine dash line, it was not a valid basis for sovereignty. The United States needs to be strong in this, we need to reinforce the 2020 statements that secretary pompeo had, making it clear we dont recognise these illegitimate moves by china in the South China Sea in the same way we dont recognise illegitimate moves by russia in crimea and eastern ukraine. United states needs to be clear about that, support our filipino allies, and also where the philippines are being pressured by the chinese in a relentless campaign. Retired us admiral Mark Montgomery, thank you so much forjoining us. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making the news. The speaker of canadas House Of Commons apologised for praising a ukrainian man who served in a nazi unit during world war ii. The 98 year old received a Standing Ovation in parliament after speaker anthony rota called him a hero during a visit by ukrainian president zelensky. Mr rota says he takes full responsiblity for his actions. Flooding in guatemala has killed at least six people more than a dozen others are missing. It happened when heavy rain caused a river in the countrys capital, gautemala city, to overflow. Six homes were swept away by the las vacas river, according to the countrys National Disaster agency. Among those killed a child. Rescue teams continue to look for victims. Its currently rainy season for the country. Scottish born actor David Mccallum has died. Known for playing a secret agent on the hit 1960s spy drama the man from u. N. C. L. E and more recently as Pathologist DrMallard On The Hit cbs tv show ncis. David mccallum was age 90. Youre live with bbc news. The 146 day hollywood Writers Strike could be wrapping up. The Writers Guild of america says a tentative agreement with studio has been reached. But before the wga returns to work, its 15,000 members still have to vote to ratify the deal. Experts say writers were likely successful getting most of their demands met, some of which were gaining higher pay and increasing retirement and Health Benefits protections from content produced using ai. Increasing residuals for some markets and strengthening regulation of options and exclusitivity in writers employment contracts. President joe biden has since issued a statement applauding the writers union. He said it did not come easy, but. Actors, meanwhile, are still on strike with similar demands. 65,000 members of Sag Aftra Union have been on strike sincejuly. Earlier, my colleague Sumi Somaskanda spoke to the former president of wga west, howard rodman. Howard, great to have you back on bbc news. I want to get your reaction to this news of a tentative deal between the union and the studio bosses. I think at the moment im exhausted and numb and i suspect with then a few hours, the elation and exhilaration and celebration will kick in. But mostly im really relieved. Its been a long strike, 146 days, there has been a lot of pain and i cant tell you how grateful i am and how grateful all of us are that the studios came round to negotiating seriously. Came round to negotiating seriously came round to negotiating seriousl. ~. , seriously. We actually spoke when the seriously. We actually spoke when the strike seriously. We actually spoke when the strike first seriously. We actually spoke when the strike first began. | when the strike first began. From what you know about this agreement, do you know if w