NATO as accused Russia of breaching Ukraine’s sovereignty by directly supporting rebels in the east of the country.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking after an emergency meeting with NATO ambassadors, said that "despite hollow denials", it was clear that Russian forces illegally crossed the border into Ukrainian territory.

"This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilise Ukraine as a sovereign nation," he said.

"This is a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It defies all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution."

Rasmussen called on Russia to halt all military action and supporting the rebels, and to take “immediate and verifiable steps towards de-escalation of this grave crisis".

Kurdish forces have recaptured three oil fields near the city of Mosul, which were overrun by Islamic State militants in recent weeks.

IS blew up the installations at Ain Zalah as they retreated from the Kurdish Peshmerga attack.

The US has been supporting the Peshmerga with air strikes, helping the Kurds to regain some of the ground lost to IS.

The water situation in the US city of Detroit has been described by the UN as “an affront to human rights”.

Around a third of the total population in the city, which declared bankruptcy last year, are faced with having their water supply cut off as they are unable to pay their bill, The Times reported.

“I have not changed my opinion on the subject... There is and there will not be a referendum... It’s crazy what is being planned right now and it is deeply negative for Catalan society and Spanish society.”