A day after an international deal in Geneva to defuse the East-West crisis in Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists vowed not to end their occupation.
Separatists are holding public buildings in Ukraine, saying they need more assurances about security before complying with an international deal.
Gold extended its biggest drop in three weeks on prospects of further cuts to the US’s quantitative easing programme.
Ukraine’s president has threatened military action after pro-Russian separatists occupying government buildings ignored an ultimatum to leave.
Oleksander Turchinov says Ukraine authorities will launch an "anti-terrorist" operation with the army against pro-Russian separatists.
Ukrainian forces have launched an "anti-terrorist" operation to end the grip of separatists on the eastern town of Slaviansk.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Front, blamed the EU for declaring a new Cold War on Russia that would hurt all concerned.
Russia threatened several states with retaliation if they voted in favour of a resolution declaring Crimea’s secession vote from the Ukraine invalid.
The West’s insensitive handling of issues in the Ukraine created Russian President Vladimir Putin’s version of the Cuban missile crisis.
The US president tells his Russian counterpart his political strategy is a generation out of date.
South Africa, Africa’s biggest maize producer, has had to import yellow maize for the first time since April 2012 as stocks remain tight.
The gold price recovered from a four-week low as G7 leaders threatened further sanctions against Russia over its annexing of Crimea.
Rates decisions from Africa’s two largest economies, developments in Ukraine and key US, European and Asian reports are likely to move markets.
Elite Russian troops have stormed a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea as Russia’s defiant march rolled on despite sanctions and growing global isolation.
Vladimir Putin has signed laws completing Russia’s annexation of Crimea as investors took fright at a US decision to sanction his inner circle.
Give us an unbiased outlook on the situation in Ukraine and acknowledge that the truth in trials is also often "thrown to the wolves", say readers.
Putin has made it clear that the country will no longer cave to the wishes of the US and its allies.
The US and its G7 allies will gather next week at the Hague to consider a further response to Russia’s attempt to absorb Ukraine’s Crimea region.
A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin is one of the steps which would formalise the annexation of Crimea, which was part of Russia until 1954.
Russia’s government has acknowledged for the first time that its economy faces major troubles.
A referendum result shows that 96.77% of voters in Ukraine’s Crimea region have voted to join Russia, according to a government commission.
SA will release last month’s inflation figures, while economists keep tabs on Ukraine since Sunday’s vote by Crimeans to join the Russian Federation.
Russia has vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that declared a referendum on the status of the Crimea region "can have no validity".
Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of provoking a fatal gunfight in the eastern city of Kharkiv overnight.
The occupation of Crimea has left most of the former Soviet republics in Cold War mode.
Leaders of the G7 economies have told Russia to stop its work on a referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea region or face action.
Escalting tensions in Ukraine are causing cereal supply disruptions to South Africa and pushing up food prices.
Pro-Russia troops have used gunfire in seizing a Ukraine military base, while Nato has declared early-warning flights around the east.
A senior Russian official appealed to the West after a far-right leader said he planned to run for president in Ukraine.
Russia says any US sanctions imposed on Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine will boomerang and that Crimea has the right to self-determination.
The external struggle to dominate Ukraine has put fascists in power and brought the country to the brink of conflict.
From the Oscar trial circus to Number One getting booed yet again, we fill you in on all the news you need to know this week.