Advanced and developing countries alike voiced worries over fragile global growth, eurozone stagnation and the swamp of excess monetary liquidity as the IMF and World Bank spring meetings kicked off.
French President Francois Hollande on Thursday hit out at "homophobic" acts by opponents of a same-sex marriage bill following violent protests that included an attack on a gay bar.
A memorandum on supplies of Kazakhstan-made copper rods to Finland was signed during Kazakhstan-Finnish forum on green economy and modernization in Astana.
Spain's centre-right government has vowed to "promptly" tighten the nation's abortion laws, angering the opposition Socialist Party which had eased access to the procedure.
Hollywood names and arthouse directors on Thursday get to hear if they are in the frame for the Palme d'Or at next month's Cannes film festival, the world's leading cinema showcase.
Italian lawmakers meet on Thursday to begin voting on a new president in a key step that could end a two-month impasse between political parties that has blocked the formation of a new government.