26/08/2014 BBC World News

Hello, I'm Alice Baxter with BBC World News.

Russia says its soldiers captured in Ukraine had crossed

It comes hours before the country's two leaders are due to meet.

The US says Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were

behind air strikes against Islamist militia at one of Libya's airports.

Voters in Scotland weigh up the arguments after Monday's fiery TV

And new measures are unveiled in Mexico aimed at preventing

migrants from travelling to the United States on top of trains.

After months of conflict in Eastern Ukraine, Russian President

Vladimir Putin is due to meet his Ukrainian counterpart

It comes as Russia says ten of its soldiers that were captured

near the town of Donetsk, crossed the border by mistake.

However Ukraine claims they were sent in on a special mission.

Amid this tension, the meeting between

the two leaders in the Belarussian capital, Minsk, will be their first

As Ukraine tries to push further into the rebel held areas in the

east of the country, fierce fighting is continuing in Donetsk and

Luhansk, where our correspondent Steve Rosenberg reports from.

Well, throughout the morning, we've been hearing intermittent

We've been told that this is as far as we can go safely,

because apparently there's fighting going on about 10 or 15 kilometres

We've been talking to some of the Ukrainian soldiers here on

the ground, and from what they've been telling us, you get the

impression that they have little optimism about the negotiations

That was certainly the view of the local commander here, Igor Lapin.

We need Russia to stop sponsoring the bandits.

As soon as they see that they've lost

their supporter, and that no-one is supplying them with weapons,

and they've run out of ammunition, there'll be peace immediately.

Well, this is one of the towns that Ukrainian forces have retaken

And you can tell that because they've painted the

Ukrainian flag on all the lampposts, all the way down the road.

Since we've been in this town, we've seen quite a lot

of displaced people, and they have very dramatic stories to tell.

For example, Yana Litvishenko, from Luhansk.

A few days ago, her husband was killed when an artillery shell

landed in their backyard, just as he was feeding their dog.

We didn't hear the shell being fired.

Only when it crashed through our house.

I don't know which side I should be on.

What strikes me most about little towns like this one,

close to the fighting, is that life seems to go on as normal.

There are people out on streets, going to work, doing their shopping.

But when you speak to people, they are deeply pessimistic about the

chances for peace, and they fear that the conflict will continue.

With me now is Olexiy Solohubenko, the BBC's Ukrainian Analyst.

Let's begin by talking about these Russian servicemen. The Russians

claim they were over the border by mistake. They were from a special

regiment, won't they? They were paratroopers from central Russia,

who normally have special status. They veered into the Ukrainian

territory quite far. They were captured 20 kilometres inside

Ukraine. It was a mistake, they did not spot it immediately. They say in

their interviews, which were broadcast in Ukraine, in those

interviews and video statements they said they were not told by the

officers that they were going into Ukraine, and once they were inside

they guessed where they were. They didn't describe their mission but

gave quite a lot of detail about their armoured personnel carriers,

where they were told to cover all of the exit near and the nominations

that would link them to the Russian army -- cover all of the insignia.

There is a constant flow of weapons, of support, and now direct

involvement of more than previously off Russian forces. Certainly the

Russian government says it's a mistake, saying there was a case

without to 500 Ukrainian soldiers crossing into Russian territory,

which is true,. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered,

and of course all of this the backdrop to those talks taking place

today. We are still not sure whether Mr Poroshenko and Mr Putin will

actually meet face-to-face, but the gulf between these two sides seems

almost insurmountable. Indeed. It is actually being exacerbated by the

crowds. There are important developments, I think. There is the

attack by rebels, Ukrainians saying supported by Russian forces, on the

coast, in the place where the Ukrainian government thought it was

under control. Now there is an attack there. There are attacks

reported elsewhere inside. The latest from the National Security

Council of Ukraine is an accusation of Russian gunships, from Russia,

firing at border guards. This whole activity on the ground doesn't

really bode well for the success of the talks, should they happen. The

rhetoric on both sides, particularly yesterday from the Russian Foreign

Minister, is very strong. Accusing each other of perpetrating great

crimes -- grave crimes, amid that progress which looks problematic.

Thank you. There's much more on events

in Ukraine on our website. You'll find full background

and analysis, plus video and audio content, a look at the key

players in the crisis and analysis American officials have confirmed

that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were behind air

strikes in Libya over the past week, A senior American official told

the BBC that the United States was not consulted and was caught

off-guard by the attacks. Washington and four of its European

allies have condemned what they describe as outside interference

in Libya. Well for some analysis

on the situation in Libya I spoke to Professor George

Joffe, a Middle East expert at the Centre of International

Studies, Cambridge University. Inside Libya there is a struggle

going on that began well over a month ago, between nationalist

elements and Islamist forces there. This is for control of the country.

It goes back to elections that were held on June 25, when a new national

assembly was elected, but the problem is that the old national

assembly, which was Islamist dominated, and the new national

assembly, can't come to terms. One is located in Tripoli, the other far

to the east. Basically, because they can't come to terms, neither will

accept the authority of the other. So, in effect, what you now have, is

a confrontation of the left politics, a confrontation in

security terms, particularly in Tripoli, and a different

confrontation in security terms in Benghazi. The extremist Islamist 's,

one involving more moderate in Tripoli. That creates a situation

that is extremely insecure and very uncertain, where there is a real

danger of the country breaking apart. Very fragile. And Professor,

why do you feel that Egypt have allegedly become militarily active

inside Libya over the past few days. They goes to yet another struggle.

That is the struggle for influence inside the Middle East between Qatar

on one hand, which supports the most Muslim brotherhood, and moderate two

and Saudi Arabia and its allies, and also Egypt on the other, who don't

support the Muslim brotherhood. What in effect has happened, this has

become a new arena for a struggle between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for

influence over the whole of the region. I suggesting this is part of

a wider proxy war that we are seeing being played out across the region.

Saudi Arabia and a pro-Muslim bloc? I wouldn't characterise them as

anti-and pro-Muslim. The real issue is that Egypt and Saudi Arabia

disliked the Muslim brotherhood and are determined to eradicate it from

the political scene inside the region. Qatar, on the other hand,

has supported them and therefore in a sense is opposed to the Egyptian

and Saudi objectives. That, in a way, defines the nature of the

struggle. That is on top of yet another struggle between Saudi

Arabia on one hand as the embodiment of Sunni Islam, and Iran on the

other. Iran is not party to the struggle inside Libya, but if you

look at Syria, which is a parallel struggle in a sense, there it plays

a very prominent part. What you are looking at is a proxy war which

extends beyond Libya, into which Libya is now being dragged.

Postal ballots are being sent out today for Scotland's referendum

on independence, following the final televised debate.

There were fiery exchanges between Scotland's First Minister,

Alex Salmond, who heads the push for independence,

and the former British Finance Minister, Alistair Darling, who

A snap poll of Scots thought Mr Salmond was the better performer.

A grand setting for a fiery and at times ill-tempered debate.

Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling knew this would be their final

The issue of currency dominated the opening exchanges.

If we don't have a currency union, what's plan B?

Now, I had no luck three weeks ago when I

Well, you don't have to point, Alistair.

Those who favour the union are ahead in the polls, so Alex Salmond

To do so, he chose the issue of the NHS.

Are you the only person who doesn't realise what's going on in England

and Wales, and the threat to Scotland, unless

we establish financial control to protect our own health service?

What you're proposing is a far greater risk, a far greater

In amongst the arguments, a chance for both sides to

Now, of course we could go it alone, but I don't believe we'd be

as successful as Scotland will be as part of the United Kingdom.

A snap poll shortly after the debate pointed to

Postal votes are now being sent out, and it's over to

Stay with us on BBC World News, still to come:

Can comedy be just as funny in a second language?

We head to the world's largest Arts Festival to find out.

Now to an incredible story from Cuba. In Havana, an eight-year-old

boy with a fascination for Fidel Castro has taken to dressing up like

the ex-leader. The young boy was lucky enough to meet his idol when

the retired Cuban leader, on hearing of the boy's fascination with him,

invited him to his home. Sarah Rainsford reports from Havana on

this unlikely super fan. stars, but this boy idolises Fidel

Castro. He has some prize new photographs for his collection.

Fidel Castro invited him and the family to his house.

TRANSLATION: I felt very moved, because it was my dream. When I saw

him, my mother was shaking. She was crying. It was my dream to meet

Fidel, we all gave him a hug. Fidel Castro was empowering the

country for decades. He was forced to step down from ill-health the day

the boy was born. Now, Fidel Castro is rarely seen, so his condition has

become a source of speculation, both for those who condemn him and hail

him as a hero. He was well enough to dedicate this to his great friend,

and his family say Fidel Castro stood at two great them. 88 years

old is 88 years old, I would like to be like him at that age.

Surprise visits a side, he does seem destined to stay out of the public

eye. A whole generation is growing up without him, but it seems without

forgetting him. Russian military sources say 10

of its soldiers captured in Ukraine It comes as the country's two

leaders are set to meet in Minsk. The US says Egypt and the

United Arab Emirates were behind air strikes against Islamist

militia at Libya's airport. It says it was caught off-guard

by the attacks. The World Health Organisation says

more than 120 health workers have died from the Ebola outbreak in

West Africa. One of the latest casualties is

a Liberian doctor who was treated with the experimental drug Zmapp -

which has been credited with In a sign of possible progress,

a Canadian firm says four monkeys injected with an experimental

vaccine have survived what should The Coffin of a Liberian doctor. The

World Health Organisation says more than 120 health workers have now

died from Ebola this year. It was hoped the doctor would have had a

better chance of recovery as one of the handful of people to have been

given the experimental drug ZMapp. It's not clear whether the drug was

ineffective, or if he died from other convocations. ZMapp has been

given to two other Liberians and a Spanish priest and two Americans.

The priest died but the Americans recovered. He was seen speaking to

the press last week. The drug can cure a bowler but supplies have ran

out and it will take time to make more. Meanwhile, the outbreak has

killed more than 1400 people. With the death toll growing there is an

urgency to develop and test drugs to stop the spread of Ebola. A Canadian

firm has announced that a vaccine which includes its technology has

been given to fall monkeys. They survived what would have been a

lethal dose of the virus. Two monkeys which were not injected with

the vaccine died. The clamour for untested drugs could intensify after

the Democratic Republic of Congo reported two cases. The first

outside West Africa. Although the disease tends to appears to be of a

different strain. The World Health Organisation is sending protective

equipment to help. The virus can be contained with the right

facilities. The family of William Pooley, the British man who caught

the disease in Sierra Leone, say he is receiving excellent care in a

London hospital. Affected countries in West Africa have health system

struggling to cope. The UN described the outbreak as a war that could

take at least another six months to win.

To Pakistan, where the military offensive against

militants in north Waziristan has resulted in hundreds of thousands

The majority of them are women and children - taking refuge

While the government there has provided accommodation,

food and medical facilities, tribal customs mean that some women

find it virtually impossible to get the help they need.

BBC Urdu's Iram Abbasi reports from Bannu.

Chassis leaves her house to collect her weekly food ration. She is

afraid. It is forbidden for women in this tribal region to be out in

public unaccompanied by family members. It is seen as immoral and

often leads to social banishment. But she has no choice. If she does

not break the taboo her family will go hungry. TRANSLATION: I lost my

father a year ago and my brother is working abroad. Who is going to feed

my three sisters and my mother if I don't go out and get the food

ration? In my village are a male relatives used to help us but here

in this camp everybody is looking after their own families. It is easy

to ban women from going out but for those who have no men in their

families, should they just die of hunger? More than 800,000 people

have moved out of the tribal area of north was arisen -- North was a and

since the military campaign began. Some are facing severe health

issues. According to international NGOs around 70% of victims are women

and children who are vulnerable to health issues. Even those who have

men in their families say they still struggle. TRANSLATION: I walked for

three days to get to Bannu after the Pakistan Army told us to leave the

area. My back problem has got worse. Although there are separate medical

facilities for women, my husband does not want me coming here because

he is worried about being punished by tribal leaders. He let me come to

the health centre only after he saw me crying in pain. The government

says its hands are tied. TRANSLATION: The tribal elders have

appealed to the authorities not to force them to allow women to leave

their houses. They say only men should be allowed to get help. We

are helpless and cannot force them to change their customs. The

challenge is to change the mindset of the men in the camps. Until then

women like her will continue to break the rules in order to survive.

Iram Abbasi, BBC News, Bannu. Hurricane Marie is battering

the Pacific Coast of Mexico The storm brought torrential rain

which has caused landslides Mexican marines are still searching

for three fishermen who've been missing since their boat sank

on Sunday. Four other crew members

managed to swim ashore. Staying with Mexico -

the government has unveiled new measures to prevent migrants

from Central America travelling on the roofs of freight trains heading

north towards the United States. Human rights groups say

the move is part of a wider policy of clamping down

on migrants rather than offering The decades Central American

migrants have travelled north to the US on the roofs of the freight train

known as the beast. It is an extremely arduous and hazardous

trip. The migrants are exposed to Mexico's heat and torrential rain

and are vulnerable to extortion from drug gangs and corrupt officials

along the way. The train takes them through drug cartel controlled

regions of eastern and northern Mexico. Yet, a number of men, women

and children -- the number of men, women and children is as high as

ever. The government has unveiled new plans to stop people getting on

the train. They plan to use increased surveillance of the tracks

and trains, including with satellite technology. TRANSLATION: We will

reinforce security on roads, installations, tracks. We will

strengthen regional and local coordination with respective

authorities. And we will maintain a permanent communication with

consulates from Central American countries, based on

co-responsibility. The man tasked with tightening the southern

border, is a former senator, and said the move is intended to protect

the migrants. TRANSLATION: We want to prevent migrants putting their

lives at risk using a train that is meant for cargo and not passengers.

We will develop strategies to guarantee the security of migrants

and combat and eradicate the criminal groups that violate

migrants' rights. The migrants rights organisations are sceptical.

They argue that the government is under pressure from Washington and

that clamping down on the migrants is not the answer. They say that the

Mexican government and the Obama administration have opted for

punitive measures rather than humanitarian ones, such as offering

alternative sources of employment in the migrants' countries of origin.

With record numbers of child migrants, many of them unaccompanied

making the trip to the US every month, the issue looks set to remain

high on the political agenda. Nevertheless, with the levels of

poverty and violence in Central America among the highest in the

world, any migrants would consider these latest measures a risk worth

taking. In less than a month, all eyes will

be on Scotland - where the future But - for the past month,

Edinburgh has been in the spotlight for very different reasons -

the world's largest arts festival. Acts

from nearly 50 countries have been performing dance, cabaret, theatre,

musicals and stand-up comedy. But is humour the same

around the world? When I do improvisation I have

to be careful where I go. For me it is a new challenge,

it is a big challenge. I have problems with conjugating

verbs in the past tense. If that case happens I will say

the verb in the infinitive form My style of comedy

in Russian is very language based. So I have a lot of plays

on words and such things. Unfortunately it is impossible to

translate these jokes and I had to write new material in English

for English-speaking audiences. This means money in this country,

but in Japan this means nothing, so this kind of thing we changed. Some

of the material is good in Italian and I try and translate some jokes

about Italy. I don't know why, something about the references are

very important. Sometimes you just change something and it is good.

This is the worst word for an Italian to say. A friend of mine

died trying to say it. You know if people are not laughing

so I admire the guy is trying to do this in another language because it

is hard enough in their first language. I could not agree more!

Finally, the festivities were not Justin Edinburgh. Thousands of

revellers braved wet conditions in west London for the final day of the

Notting Hill Carnival on Monday. They defied the soggy conditions for

the annual celebration, which is thought to be Europe's biggest

street party. You are watching BBC world news. Thanks for watching.

MUSIC: "It Don't Mean A Thing" by Duke Ellington

celebrating the music of Count Basie and Duke Ellington.