Ukraine crisis

Kiev calls for extra aid to fight insurgency amid predictions economy will shrink by 6.5% in 2014.

Six Shakhtar Donetsk players refuse to return to Ukraine as conflict rages near club's home.

Brent contract finishes flat for the week while US contract gains.

Commerzbank predicts gold prices to rise to $1,350 per troy ounce by end-2014.

IBTimes UK speaks to international relations experts about the political implications of the crash of MH17.

Vice-president of Malaysia Airlines Huib Gorter also reveals airline plans to fly relatives to Ukraine.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine after taking off from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur.

Russia stocks and currency fall after pro-Russian separatists are accused of downing civilian jet.

Malaysia Air incident amplifies geopolitical risks alongside Israel ground offensive in Gaza.

IB Times UK covers the reaction to the alleged shooting down of Malaysia Airlines passenger plane with 295 passengers aboard over eastern Ukraine.

Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of allowing weapons and fighters across its border to fuel conflict.

UK central bank policymakers fret about the lack of market volatility in response to global flashpoints.

Kiev ends rebel blockade of strategic airport after warplanes inflict heavy separatist losses.

At least 500 people were abducted in eastern Ukraine between April and June 2014

Airstrike follows an attack carried out by the government to regain control of the area.

The attack followed a warning by the government that it planned to regain control of Donetsk.

Ukraine agreed a $17bn package with IMF in May but wants more aid to rebuild eastern region.

EU to announce targets on Wednesday as Obama and Hollande say Russia must stop destabilising Ukraine.

Russian consumer confidence rebounded slightly in June from a record low the previous month.

Ukraine's interior minister Arsen Avakov says rebels have fled Slovyansk while insurgents deny reports.

EU's Gunther Oettinger said European countries have right to sell on Russian gas.

Gazprom said gas flows to Europe steady on Thursday.

Russia could face economic isolation and $100bn of capital flight in 2014.

Ten-day truce between Ukraine and separatist rebels expired on Monday evening without renewal.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vows: "We will attack, we will free our land."

Gold prices have risen some 2.4% in Q2.

Anatoly Klyan killed by gunshot to abdomen allegedly fired by Kiev forces.

Sergei Glazyev lashes out at Ukraine's president after he signs a controversial EU deal.

Russian parliament's upper chamber vote to revoke right to order military intervention in eastern Ukraine.

Military manoeuvres come as Ukraine says its troops will stop fighting pro-Kremlin militias.