Globe Trot: Iran talks seek last-minute deal

IRAN: With talks over Iran’s nuclear program continuing hours before a March 31 deadline, negotiators are reportedly stuck on two issues, the main ones that matter. They are: what should happen to economic sanctions, and how many centrifuges and what kind are too many. One surprising feature to the talks is how the French have become the hawks in the room, critical of U.S. movement toward Iran. Just about everyone sees President Barack Obama pushing for a strategic realignment of U.S.-Mideast relations, and Max Boot sums it up best.

COLOMBIA: A prominent missionary is facing charges of being a terrorist leader for his long-standing work among Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels. Russ Stendal, who has been on hand during high-level talks between Colombian and FARC leaders held in Havana since 2012, says he’s being prosecuted now in part because some of the FARC leaders have become Christians.

“Somebody set a trap for me, and I walked into it,” Stendal said. “They are accusing me of rebellion for the missionary trips and visits we have made to conflict zones distributing Bibles and radios.”

Observers say a possible trial (Stendal could face 15 years in prison) would have “chilling effects” on mission activity in South America.

NIGERIA: Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari has won of a historic victory over Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, with most votes counted. The president must receive 25 percent of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to win. Both candidates have reached that threshold in 24 states, but Jonathan trails Buhari overall by almost 3 million votes.

Christians have been ambivalent, and even opposed, to the incumbent Jonathan, who has proved unable or unwilling to combat rising attacks by Boko Haram. That attitude set the stage for a win by Buhari, a Muslim, in a country that’s never before elected an opposition party member head of state. Last week, more than 400 women and children were kidnapped from the northern Nigeria town of Damasak.