World news-roundup!

Country: Azerbaijan

For the first time in its 30-year history, the European Day of Jewish Culture is to include Azerbaijan. Jewish institutions in Azeri capital Baku will join dozens of other nations in celebrating this year’s theme: Jewish languages. In Portugal, Rodrigo Leão will sing in Ladino, a Jewish dialect.

Country: Poland

Foreign journalists could be jailed for three years for using the term ‘Polish death camps’ if a new bill makes its way through the country’s parliament. The government wants to stop blame being assigned to Poland for the actions of Nazi Germany, and says diplomatic actions have been ‘ineffective.’

Country: United States

A pro-Palestinian student advocacy group has denied that it compiled data on Jewish students on American college campuses. The allegations were made against Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) by pro-Israel groups also active on campus. Israeli politicians condemned the marking out of Jewish students.

Country: Australia

Australian Jews have condemning a bill to remove the words ‘offend’ and ‘insult’ from the country’s Racial Discrimination Act. Critics say the Act is ‘Orwellian’ but the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said changing it would ‘signal that the public promotion of racism will be tolerated’.

Country: Chile

An Israeli tourist has alleged that a Chilean border official defaced his passport with a drawing of a penis and the words ‘Viva Palestinia.’ Tal Y’aakobi, 25, from Rosh HaAyin, was passing from Chile to Argentina when the incident occurred. He claims he was questioned for more than an hour.

Country: Ukraine

Jewish Ukrainians have expressed unease at the decision to name roads in the capital Kyiv after wartime nationalist leaders thought to have murdered Jews. Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych, leaders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, will both be honoured.