World news-roundup: Jewish football coach leads Colombia to World Cup

Country: Colombia

A Jewish Argentine football coach has led Colombia’s national team to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year. Jose Pekerman, who grew up in Argentine capital Buenos Aires, has Ukrainian ancestry. He took over as Colombia’s coach in 2012 and last year led the side to third-place in the Copa America.

Country: Ireland

Ireland’s tiny Jewish population has risen by 29 percent in the last five years, according to the 2016 census. An extra 573 Jews now living in the Emerald Isle brings the country’s total to 2,557, most of whom live in Dublin. The new influx is believed to be personnel from multi-national technology firms.

Country: Canada

A rabbi in Ottawa has admitted that it was his fault Jews weren’t mentioned on the original plaque unveiling Canada’s new national Holocaust memorial. Rabbi Daniel Friedman’s mea culpa came after Jewish groups reacted with ‘outrage’ the lack of any specific reference to Jews at the $7.2 million site.

Country: France

A Jewish woman has been elected the new leader of UNESCO, beating the favourite from Qatar. Audrey Azoulay, a former French culture minister, will head the Paris-based body. Earlier this month both the United States and Israel opted to withdraw as members in protest at UNESCO’s ‘anti-Israel bias’.

Country: Brazil

Editors at a Sao Paulo-based newspaper have apologised for a crossword clue for ‘Palestine’ which read: ‘Territory that suffers Israeli occupation and bombings.’ Estado de S. Paulo reacted after complaints from Jewish and pro-Israel groups, apologising for the ‘wrong way’ the question was addressed.