News in Brief -(3-06-2019)

Iran briefly detains two European diplomats
TEHRAN, June 02: Iranian police briefly detained two European diplomats at a mixed-gender party, which are illegal under Iranian law, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Saturday. A British and a Dutch diplomat were released in the early hours of Friday morning after being identified as foreign government workers. The report said the party in the capital, Tehran, was attended by several men and women, but did not elaborate or specify if alcohol was present. — AP
Pro and anti-Israel protests draw hundreds in Berlin
BERLIN, June 02: Hundreds of people including prominent German politicians and members of the Jewish community are protesting against a larger, anti-Israel rally in Berlin. Police in the German capital of Berlin kept the competing protests on Saturday apart. The annual al-Quds - Arabic for Jerusalem - march against Israel drew more than 1,000 participants, with some chanting "Palestine will be reborn!" or "Free Gaza!" Others waved Iranian flags. — AP
AU troops arrest two al-Shabab terrorists
MOGADISHU, June 02: The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops are on Sunday interrogating two al-Shabab terrorists who were arrested on Saturday in a foiled ambush in southern Somalia. The AU mission said the two terrorists were arrested with detonators at Wanlawyen in Baledogole when the militants tried to ambush the troops who were escorting a logistics convoy from Arbiska moving towards Baledogole. It said the two suspects have been taken to Baledogole for further interrogation for possible prosecution. — Xinhua
Bukele takes oath as president of El Salvador
SAN SALVADOR, June 02: Conservative businessman Nayib Bukele took office Saturday as president of El Salvador, tasked with turning around grinding poverty and rampant gang violence that are sending thousands fleeing to the United States. Bukele was sworn in by the speaker of the National Assembly in a square in downtown San Salvador, as a large, boisterous crowd applauded and shouted "We did it!" The telegenic Bukele, 37, was elected in February to succeed Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a leftist former guerrilla who maintained close relations with his Nicaraguan and Venezuelan counterparts. — AFP
Russian cinema goers denounce 'censorship'
MOSCOW, June 02: Russian cinema goers denounced the "censorship" of Elton John biopic "Rocketman" after watching the film's edited Russia version with all scenes of gay sex removed. The British singer has slammed the Russian cutting of the musical biopic of his life as "cruelly unaccepting" and international rights groups have condemned the move. The local distributor said it amended the film to comply with Russian law after film critics who saw a preview of it noticed scenes featuring men kissing and gay sex were missing. — AFP