Middle East

• Iranian state television announced that the country's nuclear authority is building 3,000 advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
• The exiled leader of the Syrian opposition, Moaz al-Khatib, visited his country for the first time since fleeing last year, meeting with rebel groups to shore up support for his coalition.
• In an interview with the Sunday Times of London, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad lashed out at Western leaders, accusing them of hypocrisy as they publicly seek to end the conflict while at the same time "militarize the problem."

Asia

• China is defending what is expected to be an increase in defense spending in a budget to be unveiled at the National People's Congress set to begin Tuesday.  
• A powerful car bomb targeting Shiites leaving a Karachi mosque killed at least 45 and wounded another 149, the latest in a string of sectarian violence to hit the country.
• Cambodian translators at a tribunal charged with prosecuting members of the Khmer Rouge went on strike after not being paid for three months, delaying the proceedings.

Africa

• Fighters believed to be affiliated with the militant Islamist group Boko Haram attacked a military base in Nigeria killing 20 as the group's leader denied that he is willing to enter into peace talks with the government.
• Congolese government troops, citing the need to preserve a fragile peace process, returned control of two towns to the M23 rebel group, which had withdrawn in order to put down a factional dispute that has split the rebel movement.
• The Chadian general overseeing the operation alleged to have killed the militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who is believed to have orchestrated  the attack on a gas refinery in southern Algeria, said he can not confirm that the militant leader has been killed.

Europe

• Cardinals convened in the Vatican for a series of meetings ahead of the conclave that will select the next pope.
• Swiss voters overwhelmingly enacted measures -- known as the "fat cat initiative'' -- that will impose strict limits on executive compensation.
• Germany threatened to veto the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen-zone, which allows for passport-free travel for citizens of member states.

Americas

• Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro said the country's ailing president, Hugo Chavez, has been receiving chemotherapy since battling back from a respiratory infection.
• The Brazilian economy posted anemic economic growth for 2012, growing by just 0.9 percent -- compared to  2.7 percent in 2011 -- according to government figures released Friday.
• Mexico's ruling party amended its party platform to allow for private investment in the state oil company, which may lay the groundwork for energy sector reform.