28/08/2014 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Alice Baxter.

With more allegations of Russian military involvement in Ukraine, the

UN Security Council is meeting for an emergency session on Ukraine.

Pro-Russian rebels there have taken over the town of Novoazovsk,

NATO says a thousand Russian troops are inside Ukraine.

, but it is difficult to fight with Russia and its army.

We'll hear reports that Jihadist militants from Islamic State appear

to have executed "dozens" of captured Syrian army soldiers.

The outgoing Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been sworn

in as president at a ceremony in Turkey's parliament.

Research says graduates from the top universities and fee-paying

schools dominate the most senior positions in British public life.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council is

getting underway in New York to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

It comes as Russia is accused of sending troops over the border.

NATO says there are well over a thousand Russian troops operating

inside Ukraine, a claim the Kremlin denies.

It comes as pro-Russian separatists opened up a new front

The rebels have taken the coastal town of Novoazovsk

and are threatening the strategic port city of Mariupol.

The BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent James Robbins reports.

A Ukrainian soldier warns his colleagues, a sniper threatens.

But now as victory looks possible they are being forced out from

some areas amid claims Russia has sent reinforcements to the rebels.

Russia has sent a number of armoured personal vehicles, tanks and troops.

Ukrainian forces are capable to tackle and to cope with

the Russian-led guerrillas, but this is quite difficult for us

Moscow denies its forces are in Ukraine.

But that was undermined by this rebel leader, Alexander Zakharchenko

admitted Russian soldiers fight alongside his men, but claiming the

Earlier this week, these Russian paratroopers were apparently caught

Moscow says they crossed the border by mistake, but now

their mothers are appealing to the Kremlin to get them released.

Over the past few weeks, Ukraine's Government forces have

It is almost two months since rebels were forced to free

You can see how the area they once controlled has shrunk.

There are still forced to be between 3000 and 4000 separatist

fighters, bolstered apparently by a significant number of Russian

troops, despite Moscow's formal denials.

Further south, another front opened according to several reports

a town was taking largely by Russian troops and tanks.

Look at this video, which Ukrainians say is a Russian

It could be another part of Russian efforts to prevent a defeat, not

just of the rebels, but also of the Kremlin's strategy and prestige.

NATO has released aerial pictures it says shows Russian armour inside

Ukraine, a blatant attempt says one NATO general to change the momentum

of the fighting that currently favours the Ukrainian military.

As the battle for control of the eastern Ukraine rages on,

EU leaders use words like "intolerable" and "aggression"

David Cameron is warning of further consequences if President

Let's go to the United Nations in New York where

an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is underway.

This meeting was called for by Lithuania. What has been said?

The meeting was just this moment getting under way. The

undersecretary general is briefing the Council on the latest in Ukraine

and he is likely to carry the message of the UN

Secretary-General, basically warning that further de-escalation of the

crisis and urging parties to come together for talks in a manner that

respects Ukraine's sovereignty. Before the meeting began, the

president of the Security Council said this meeting would basically

put Russia in the public light, having to answer questions about why

they are sending troops into Ukraine, something Russia denies. In

the Security Council, there has been concern for months that they could

be direct confrontation between Ukraine and Russia and so this

meeting will likely get the US and the Europeans hounding Russia for

their actions and the Russians denying it, saying they have no

troops. Many out there will be asking what

good or talking will do. Only a few days, we saw Presidents Poroshenko

shaking hands with President Putin in Minsk. Well today's meeting prove

any more useful? Really, the US and Europeans feel it

is important to have a meeting where Ukraine can lay out the information

they have about Russian interference. And where Russia can

speak for itself and deny or try to deny its involvement. But the

accused aggressor is a permanent member of the Security Council and

that is why it has not been able to act, because they hold a veto power.

Beside this open forum, there is little concrete action.

Steven Pifer is a former US ambassador to Ukraine,

I would like to begin with these new aerial shots that NATO has. They say

it represents and it escalation of Russia's interference. How much of

an escalation you think we are seeing in the country.

I think this is a major step. The Ukrainian military have made

increasing progress in terms of squeezing the area that the

separatists have. It looked like a separatists were on the verge of

defeat and now Russia has taken this new step of deploying Russian forces

into Ukraine. And yet Russia denies this. We have had some sort of

acknowledgement that there may be Russian boots on the ground in some

sort of voluntary capacity, but we heard from the separatist leader

Alexander Zakharchenko saying there are lots three to 4000 Russians

fighting. How do you think the outside world should read this

situation? I think we have seen a situation where President Putin has

chosen to escalate, as he does not want to see the insurgency in

eastern Ukraine defeated. And so he has now escalated, including Russian

forces, and I think this will create a difficult situation, because on

the other side Mr Poroshenko is in a situation where he does not want

another conflict in eastern Ukraine. He knows that Crimea is a

long-term issue, but he wants to resolve it. It is hard to see

unfortunately how you can get on a diplomatic path that might lead to a

political settlement. Indeed, diplomatic efforts are under way in

New York. And in the past couple of hours, we have had it confirmed that

Ukraine will be reinstating army conscription. To what extent can

NATO and the European Union really help? I think there are couple of

things it. Mr Poroshenko has described things such as the

decentralisation of power and status of the Russian language, he says he

does not want to deepen his relationship with nature, these

could be the basis of a settlement, but Moscow has not moved to go

towards a settlement and now we are in a situation where the West should

consider whether there is anything they could do to change President

Putin's calculation. A second step might be to be put right the

Ukrainian military with some military assistance, such as

anti-armour weapons. Maybe surfaced MSI was that will allow the

Ukrainian military to drive up the cost. Reports from Russia suggest

the Russian Government is trying to hide reports of Russian casualties

in Ukraine. If Russia begins to suffer economic pain and begins to

see Russian casualties, does that affect their calculations?

OK, thank you. Thank you.

Reports from Syria say that fighters from the Islamic State group have

killed dozens of captured Syrian soldiers after overrunning an

A video posted online purportedly shows the aftermath of the killings,

with a long line of bodies of young men lying face

There is no independent confirmation of this video.

With me is Sebastian Usher, Middle East Regional Editor at

We have both watched this video. What did you make of it?

It's did not seem the kind of thing that is unexpected with the Islamic

State. We have seen when they have overrun other brigades in their

stronghold, after taking the brigade headquarters, they massacred the

soldiers. In fact, they did worse than what you are describing there,

they put their heads on spikes in the middle of the city. It does not

seem a strange thing for them to have done in the way that they are

trying to instil fear in their enemies. In that sense, we can be

reasonably sure that when they claim they have done it and other sources

say they do, and we see the pictures, it adds up to pretty

conclusive evidence. In the last few hours, we have had a

second video being posted online. We will not show it as it is very

upsetting and is a much more select and better edited video showing the

execution of a Kurdish man. This is sending a strong message to the

Kurds and the United States. This is the difference levels they operate

on. The early video was a the difference levels they operate

on. The early video was grainy one to document what happened after an

attack. This is that they have just put up is very similar to the James

Foley video, different camera angles are used,

Foley video, different camera angles are it is a set piece, you first see

a dozen or so suppose Kurdish fighters, supposedly the strongest

force against the Islamic State in Iraq, speaking, and then one is

shown in the backdrop... It is a great dramatic backdrop. It is very

staged and do the same as they did with James Foley, they say that more

will be executed if the Kurds fight on the site of the United States and

then they slit his throat, they do not show the moment, they show the

prove afterwards. He is wearing an orange jumpsuit. It is very

choreographed. It is called A Message In Blood. We have not shown

it as it is very upsetting. Another development, 43 UN peacekeepers...

Wouldn't know capture them, but we do not think it is Islamic State. We

don't think so as they are not operating that far south. This is

different rebel forces. It is nothing to be too positive about as

the group to Haslam is probably an Al-Qaeda affiliates -- group that

has them. In another similar case, they were released, but this is

different. There are many nationalities who make up this force

that patrols this area. There is a big concern that perhaps they may be

passing over training to other people.

Now a look at some of the days other news.

The World Health Organisation's warning that the number of cases

of Ebola in West Africa could eventually exceed 20,000.

So far, more than 1,550 people have died from the virus,

and there are more than 3,000 confirmed cases - mostly in Guinea,

The children's charity, Barnardos, has warned that the widespread child

abuse uncovered in Rotherham is just the "tip of the iceberg".

1,400 children were abused over a sixteen year period -

but the charity says the problem is rife across Britain's

country and that it works with thousands of children every year

Wayne Rooney's been named the new England captain

The 28-year-old Manchester United striker takes over from Liverpool's

Steven Gerrard, who retired after England's World Cup elimination.

In a statement on his official website Rooney said

that to be appointed captain was beyond his wildest dreams.

Here in Britain a prominent Conservative MP, Douglas Carswell,

has announced he is defecting to the UK Independence Party.

He'll resign as an MP, triggering a by-election.

If he wins, he will deliver UKIP their first seat in parliament.

Here's our political correspondent, Ben Wright.

The For 1's a Westminster news conference delivered a real

political bombshell. -- for once. I am needing the Conservative Party

and joining UKIP. Douglas Carswell said it had not been an easy

decision. Independent minded and Euro-sceptic, he said on the UKIP

can shake up the cosy clique of Westminster. The top talk before

elections and see what they must to get our support but on so many

issues, on modernising our politics, controlling our borders, bank

reform, cutting public debts, EU Referendum, they never make it

happen. Nigel Farage predicted others would follow him into the

UKIP fold. This is not my show today, this is Douglas's shawl. It

is no great secret that are a number of members of Parliament sitting on

Conservative and Labour benches who hold UKIP views very strongly. This

will be the same of the big by-election battle. UKIP had a

resounding victory here in the Euro elections and Douglas Carswell has a

significant personal following so will they vote for him? Yes, I think

it is the best thing he could do because now he will get extra votes.

I think it is the wrong moves, I do not think he will get re-elected. I

voted for them before. I like his policies. He has moved over to UKIP

and that is good news. If he gets a foothold for UKIP here in Essex

months before the general election, it will help his new party make

further inroads elsewhere in the country. David Cameron knows he has

got a fight on his hands. It is deeply regrettable when things

happen like this and people behave in this week, but it is also

counter-productive. If you want a referendum of the future of Britain

in the EU, the only way to get that is to have a Conservative government

after the next election and that is what until very recently Douglas

Carswell himself was saying. Many MPs are heading back to Westminster

after the holidays and in the coming weeks they will be back on the

seaside trying to turn the tide against UKIP.

The outgoing Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been sworn

It follows his victory in Turkey's first ever popular vote for head

Mr Erdogan has vowed to give more power to the previously ceremonial

post of president but his critics say the move will

The star of Turkish politics continues to soar.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan arriving to be sworn in. He took the oath of

allegiance inside the parliament building. Applauded by many, but

booed by the opposition who left the chamber in revolt. The pomp and

ceremony was on show for the new head of state who has promised to

increase his powers by changing the constitution. He is the first ever

popularly elected president in this country's history. It was previously

ceremonial post but he has managed to change and he was elected to

weeks ago with 52% of the vote. He then went on to be a wreath at the

mausoleums of the founding father of the country. His critics say he has

strayed from the secular principles of Turkey and is too Islamic.

Speaking at the palace, he sounded our conciliar literary note.

TRANSLATION: We will work hand-in-hand for economic growth and

to improve social welfare. He has had a volatile year. Anti-government

protesters raged against his authoritarianism. The opposition say

it is typical of his style. But he has also transformed the economy.

His challenge now is to unite a divided country. Western Allies were

absent to date, perhaps a sign of Turkey's recent isolation but

absent to date, perhaps a sign of will have to work with the new

leader of a powerful new tool member, a key ally in a region

fraught with danger. Britain is still

"deeply elitist" towards people who went to private school -

and Oxbridge graduates dominate the most senior positions in public life

- that's according to a new report. The Social Mobility and

Child Poverty Commission found that seventy percent of senior judges,

half of the house of Lords and a third of

the cabinet went to private school. A degree from Oxford and Cambridge

is not just about academic excellence and personal success,

it also opens doors. Today's report shows today's

graduates still have Three quarters of our top judges,

59 percent of the Cabinet and almost half of all newspaper

columnists have Oxbridge degrees. But this report shows elitism

begins even earlier. Only 7% of the population is

privately educated but one third of MPs went to fee-paying schools

as did 62% of senior military officers and more than half

of the highest-ranking diplomats. The report warns this lack

of diversity means Britain's key institutions do not

represent the public they serve or Its authors say it's time to end

what they call the closed shop With me is David Johnston.

He's a commissioner with the Social Mobility and

Child Poverty Commission. Thank you for coming in. You believe

it is a clothes shop at the top? Not entirely, but it certainly is for

most people, the chances of getting in if you went to an ordinary state

school. It is not impossible, but it is very difficult. Do you believe

that by bringing out this report we might see a change in the way some

institutions hire graduates? I hope so. Often when we talk about this,

we focus on politics, we see the Shadow Cabinet is unrepresentative

for instance. Often lawyers, diplomats and people doing those

interviews are from the same background. All of our key

institutions in public life have theirs. What the commission is

calling for is to remove the University name of candidates when

you look at them for jobs. When they do that, deselect a very different

of people. I do not think it is positive discrimination, it is

levelling the playing field. I would say positive discrimination exists

at the moment, if you are using an old school tie to get ahead in your

job or if you are using personal connections to get a work

placement. That could be just outright discrimination. What about

families who prioritise getting their children to private schools

and decide not to buy expensive holidays and houses but put the

money towards good schools for their children, are being penalised? Quite

the contrary. They made a wise decision because they can see the

advantages that a private school buys in British society but it is

important to recognise that the vast majority of people in this country

cannot make that sort of choice. They would not have the means to

send their children to private schools. Only 1% of people who go to

private school get their fees paid for. The vast majority cannot afford

this. What do you want to see happen now? The first thing is to improve

the standard of education that everyone gets. We want universities

to look at the way they select, so they are not simply selecting those

with the top grades from schools Best Out producing top grades. Then

we want businesses to put aside some of the preconceptions they have

about the School university that people have been to. In the

interview room that we want them to judge how well someone could do the

job rather than other things like recognising their university and how

they interact in the universe -- in the interview room. Many thanks for

coming in to talk to us. You have been watching world News today.

Child Poverty Commission. watching.

Good evening. Some lively weather on the way for the British