As the tough talk between the leaders escalates, Tony Abbott has been called a "foul-mouthed, despicable, loutish oaf," while Vladimir Putin has "blood on his hands".

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, 83, has been hospitalised but is determined to fight for his life, Russian press agencies report.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos will team up with a Boeing-Lockheed Martin to develop US-made rocket engines, in competition with Elon Musk's SpaceX venture.

A ceasefire between Ukraine and separatist rebels began last night and appears to still be in place following a five-month bloody conflict left more than 2,000 dead.

Russia's decision to play hardball with Western food producers could not have come at a worse time for the New Zealand dairy sector as the season starts to get into full swing.

The European Union will strike at the heart of Russia's economy by extending sanctions to block all investment in the country's oil companies.

Dairy farmers in this country can expect to come under financial pressure if milk powder prices remain low and tensions in Europe continue to mount, say economists.

Vladimir Putin has boasted to European leaders his forces could sweep into Kiev in two weeks if he wanted.

Swathed in tight security in Newport and nearby Cardiff, Nato's 28 heads of state and government will map the future of their 65-year-old pact.

The crisis in eastern Ukraine and the response to the threat posed by Russia are poised to overshadow a fresh attempt by the European Union to set order in its affairs.

Nearly 200 cabin crew resigned from Malaysia Airlines following its double tragedy this year, causing crew shortages among staff.

Russia widened investigations into McDonald's restaurants in what looks like a tit-for-tat retaliation against American interests after the West imposed sanctions over Ukraine.

Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine are being bolstered by 1200 troops who "trained for four months in Russia", according to the separatists' leader.

Russia's defence secretary has assured his US counterpart that there are no military personnel in its controversial aid convoy for Ukraine, the US says.

A one-year ban instituted by Russia on food imports from the West could hurt NZ's dairy trade, even though local exports are exempt, say economists.

A New Zealander, who was found guilty of a child sex crime committed in Russia, has lost his appeal against his conviction.

People should be sceptical of Moscow’s huge aid convoy to eastern Ukraine, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Despite all the talk of action against Vladimir Putin, Exxon Mobil, the largest US energy company is undeterred, starting work on $700m oil well in the Arctic.

Russia's sweeping bans on imports of European, US and Australian food may prove a diplomatically embarrassing bonanza for New Zealand's cheese exporters.

Nato officials say Russia has massed 20,000 troops in battle-readiness near the border, backed by Spetsnaz commandos, tanks and aircraft.

Vladimir Putin has ordered bans on food imports from countries that have issued sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

The internet credentials of some New Zealanders will almost certainly have fallen into the hands of a Russian cyber gang, an online security expert fears.

On the morning of July 15, Moscow was as hot as an oven.