U.S. to speed up embassy relocation to Jerusalem

ISRAEL: The United States plans to open its new embassy in Jerusalem in May, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s declared independence following the Arab-Israeli War. The move comes significantly ahead of a timetable offered by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence, but is actually symbolic: Most U.S. diplomatic staff will continue to operate from Tel Aviv.

SYRIA: Grim fighting between rebel groups and the Bashar al-Assad regime continues, with heavy civilian casualties. But in Kobani—a northern city controlled by Kurdish YPG (People’s Protection Units) that survived, with U.S. support, an Islamic State (ISIS) onslaught in 2015—an American relief group has succeeded in working alongside a new church to plant … a playground.

BRITAIN: Law enforcers are using the British television series McMafia, which makes its U.S. debut on Monday, to promote their own real-life crackdown on Russian oligarchs living in London.

SWITZERLAND: The deputy director of UNICEF resigned after admitting he sent inappropriate messages to female colleagues and was part of a cover-up of sexual misconduct at Save the Children.

MAN KNOWS NOT HIS TIME: The body of preacher and evangelist Billy Graham was brought late yesterday for public viewing near his home in Asheville, N.C. On Saturday the body will be taken to Charlotte, N.C., and next week to Washington, D.C. There, from Wednesday to Friday, Graham’s body and casket will be the fourth of a private citizen’s to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. His funeral will take place in Charlotte next Saturday. Don’t miss longtime Billy Graham aide and former WORLD Magazine religion writer Ed Plowman’s reflection on Graham’s legacy and WORLD Magazine national editor Jamie Dean’s commentary on “The other Billy Graham rule.”

Graham’s largest-ever crusade was in 1973 in Seoul, South Korea, where 3.2 million people attended the five-day event.

NOTE: Next week I begin several weeks of overseas travel, and Globe Trot will be intermittent.

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