US President Barack Obama agreed to hold off a controversial decision on sending arms to Ukraine until German-led efforts to broker a ceasefire with Russia are given a chance.
Samsung and Microsoft said they had ended a patent dispute that had seen the US software giant sue the South Korean conglomerate for breaching a 2011 licensing contract.
Sam Smith, the British soul singer whose ballad "Stay With Me" has propelled him to fame in a matter of months, picked up two Grammy Awards including Best New Artist.
Antonio Banderas, 54, is on form. The Spanish star will shortly play Pablo Picasso in "33 Dias," and will be in Terrence Malick's next film, "Knight of Cups."
The United States will appoint an openly gay official as a special envoy to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people overseas.
Secretary of State John Kerry stressed to his Iranian counterpart that the US aimed to meet a late March deadline for a deal reining in Iran's nuclear programme.
Pope Francis will bring his message of peace and compassion to politically gridlocked Washington in September when he becomes the first pontiff to address the US Congress.