Democracy in decline worldwide

For the first time since 2004, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) has recorded more autocratic states than democracies around the world. Civil society activists often represent the last bastion of resistance. Autocracies such as Russia and China on the one hand; democracies like the USA or Germany on the other. Is that the great conflict

What are the Patterns of Border Conflicts? Crash Course Geography #37

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at borders and the stories they tell. When we look at a map, the shapes we’re seeing can seem so permanent, but a map is just a snapshot of the Earth at a particular time, and by looking a countries shape (and how it has changed across

Eight soldiers killed in Azerbaijan-Armenia border clashes

Baku and Yerevan trade barbs as flare-up along shared border threatens fragile ceasefire agreement. Seven Azerbaijani service members were killed and 10 more were wounded in clashes with Armenian troops on the countries’ shared border, according to Azerbaijan’s defence ministry. Armenian officials reported one casualty and said 13 soldiers were captured during Tuesday’s hostilities, while

Armenian troops killed in Azerbaijan border clash

A number of Armenian soldiers have been killed and captured in a flare-up of violence on the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia said some of its troops had been killed and two combat positions had been lost, while Azerbaijan said two of its soldiers were wounded. Azerbaijan made big gains in a six-week war fought last

Ceasefire called after three Armenian soldiers killed in clashes with Azerbaijan

Armenia said on Wednesday that three of its soldiers had been killed in an exchange of gunfire with Azerbaijan and Interfax reported that both sides had later accepted a Russian ceasefire proposal to try to calm tensions. Armenia’s defence ministry said in a statement that Azeri forces had attacked Armenian positions near the border between

Germany warns: AI arms race already underway

The world is entering a new era of warfare, with artificial intelligence taking center stage. AI is making militaries faster, smarter and more efficient. But if left unchecked, it threatens to destabilize the world. An AI arms race is already underway. That’s the blunt warning from Germany’s foreign minister, Heiko Maas. “We’re right in the

Armenian Leader Accuses Azerbaijan of Fresh ‘Infiltration’

Armenia’s leader on Thursday accused Azerbaijani troops of crossing the southern border and trying to stake claim to territory in a new escalation of tensions between the arch-foes. Last year Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh. The six-week conflict claimed some 6,000 lives and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of

‘They Chained Me to a Radiator and Beat Me’: Armenian POWs Speak Out

Armenian fighters tell VICE World News stories of brutal abuse at the hands of soldiers from Azerbaijan following the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. It was late at night and Armen, a 20-year-old soldier in the Armenian military, was sleeping in an abandoned hut when he was startled awake by a sudden burst of gunfire. He ran outside

Fury in Armenia as Azerbaijan displays war trophies

Baku showcases ‘park of trophies’ displaying the helmets of Armenian troops who died in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia on Tuesday accused its historic rival Azerbaijan of fomenting ethnic hatred by displaying helmets of Armenian soldiers killed during the war between the neighbouring countries last year. A decades-long conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region erupted into all-out

Armenian prime minister accuses military of attempted coup

Nikol Pashinyan rallies supporters after military calls on him to step down amid anger at Nagorno-Karabakh defeat The Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has accused the armed forces of an attempted coup against his government after top military officers signed a letter calling him to resign. Tensions between Pashinyan and the military erupted into open