Pope Francis Elevates 20 New Cardinals

Pope Francis created 20 new cardinals Saturday, further tilting the church’s leadership toward developing countries as he enters a crucial period of reform of the Catholic Church.

Nigeria Pushes U.S. for Troops

President Goodluck Jonathan said he has asked the U.S. military to dispatch troops to northern Nigeria, the region where Islamist militants have captured territory, suggesting that Boko Haram had established links with Islamic State.

• Boko Haram Attacks Northeast Nigerian Town

Iran’s Leader Sends Obama New Letter

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei has responded to overtures from Obama seeking better relations with his own secret communications.

Ties Deepen Between Greece and Russia

Shared Orthodox Christianity and political sympathies have forged a bond between Moscow and the new leaders in Athens, complicating Western efforts to address problems with both governments.

Argentine President Accused of Coverup

The Argentine prosecutor has requested charges be placed against President Cristina Kirchner, as a suspect in a case over the alleged coverup of a probe into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish Center.

Islamic State Hits Iraq Base Used by U.S.

Islamic State militants wearing Iraqi military uniforms and suicide vests attacked an Iraqi air base where U.S. military advisers are training Iraq’s security forces, the most direct attack on a base used by U.S. forces since the current conflict began.

Bus Collides With Freight Train in Mexico, Killing at Least 16

A passenger bus and a freight train collided at a grade crossing in northern Mexico on Friday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 22, an official in Nuevo León state said.

Eurozone GDP Picks Up on Strength of Germany

A strong pickup in Germany led an acceleration in eurozone economic growth in the final three months of 2014, but large parts of the currency area were either close to stagnation or still contracting.

• Lopsided Growth Raises Stakes
• Germany Picks Up Pace

Twin Crises Test Merkel’s Influence, Stamina

Should either crisis spiral out of control, critics will point to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s leadership—trying to compromise with Russia or pushing a tough line against the Greeks—as a primary culprit.

Global Climate Talks Lead to Watered-Down Text

Officials negotiating a sweeping global pact on climate change watered down a draft of the agreement this week in an effort to include the conflicting priorities of a broad range of countries.

Netanyahu Is Tough to Beat in Vote

Weak approval ratings, scandals, a sluggish economy and an outcry over a coming speech to the U.S. Congress aren’t preventing Benjamin Netanyahu from emerging as a favorite to win an election mandate for a fourth term.

Taliban Militants Storm Pakistan Mosque

Suicide bombers attacked a Shiite mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 19 people and wounding more than 41, officials said.

Modi Presses India Police to Solve Christian Attacks

India’s premier pushed police in the capital to catch the culprits in a series of recent attacks on Christian houses of worship and a school, which church leaders say reflect rising religious intolerance.

Two Libyan Oil Fields Attacked

Two Libyan oil fields were attacked on Friday, Libyan oil officials said, in a fresh wave of violence targeting the North African country’s vital energy sector.

Saudi Arabia Closes Embassy in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has closed its embassy in Yemen’s capital, San’a, citing security concerns and the deteriorating political situation, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs said.

Venezuela Says It Foils Coup Plot

Venezuela’s government said it foiled an alleged military plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, prompting the country’s defense minister to publicly pledge allegiance to the embattled leader.

Ecuador Orders Newspaper and Cartoonist to Publish Apology

Ecuadorean authorities ordered El Universo newspaper and a local cartoonist to publish an apology for a satirical photomontage of a National Assembly member, in a case that is fueling concerns about censorship and press freedom under the administration of President Rafael Correa.

Canada Confirms Case of Mad-Cow Disease

Canada said it had confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a beef cow in Alberta, adding that no part of the animal entered the human food or animal feed systems.