Deutsche Welle English Service News May 25th, 2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Pakistan Tests Missile Amidst Kashmir Conflict In the midst of growing tensions with India over Kashmir, Pakistan has test fired a medium-range missile. Meanwhile, the international community steps up efforts focused on easing the conflict between the two states. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_543398_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Train crash kills at least 117 in Mozambique In Mozambique, about 120 people are dead and another 350 were injured in a train crash on Saturday morning. The accident happened near the town of Tenga in Maputo province. Radio Mozambique is quoting police and fire department sources as saying the train had "technical problems" with its brakes. The Red Cross said rescue workers have begun removing bodies inside the carriages. President Joachim Chassano said the accident was a national tragedy, and urged people to donate blood and support families of the victims. Bdies recovered after China Airlines plane crash with 225 aboard Taiwanese search and rescue teams have recovered about 100 bodies, after a China Airlines plane crashed with 225 people aboard into the sea off Taiwan. The Boeing 747 China Airlines plane - which belongs to Taiwan - came down shortly after 3 pm local time on Saturday, west of Penghun island. It disappeared from radar 20 minutes after taking off from Taipei, bound for Hong Kong. The cause of the crash is not yet known. Most of the passengers had been Taiwanese nationals. Others were from Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Australia. Pakistan tested first of a series of missile tests Pakistan says it successfully test-fired a medium-range, surface-to-surface missile on Saturday. It's to be the first of a series of missile tests, about which India was informed in advance. The Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he did not consider the test a serious development. Troops of both sides traded heavy artillery fire across the border overnight,described by an Indian defence official as some of the heaviest in recent days. Germany Embassy to reduce staff in Pakistan The German Foreign Ministry has said it will reduce the number of diplomatic staff in Pakistan due to the increased risk of terrorist attacks. Germany has about 40 diplomats in Islamabad and about 10 in Karachi. The U.K. and France have already announced similar measures. Israeli troops move out of Tulkarm Israeli troops and tanks have moved out of the West Bank Tulkarm refugee camp, after they arrested four Palestinian and took away weapons and explosives. The army said they also prevented two suicide bomb attacks by arresting one man carrying explosives in the West Bank, and shooting another in Tel Aviv. /--The Hamas organisation has said it will continue targeting Israeli civilians with suicide bombings because Israel also attacks Palestinian civilians. Hamas founder and spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Jassin, said no Palestinian should demand an end to suicide bombings, as President Yasser Arafat has just done. / --German Foreign Minister Joshka Fischer travels to the Middle East on Wednesday. Vietnam says communists wins more seats in assembly In Vietnam, the ruling Communist Party has strengthened its grip on the country's National Assembly, following last Sunday polls. In results announced on Saturday, officials say only 51 non-party candidates got a seat in the 498-seat Assembly, compared with 66 in the previous elections in 1997. Officials say turnout was 99.73 percent. 50 million citizens were eligible to vote. Vote counting is done in secret and all candidates must be vetted by the communist Fatherland Front. Good turnout for Lesotho election Lesotho citizens turned up in force Saturday to vote under a new electoral system, they hope will usher in a new era of stability and prosperity after years of political turbulence. Crowds in the impoverished mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa began queuing long before dawn to take part in the election, held for the first time under a combined first past-the-post and proportional representation system designed to give smaller parties a voice in parliament. On Friday, Lesotho launched an international appeal for emergency food aid, saying half of its two million people face devastating shortages. Kenyan police arrest Somalis Other African news briefly: Kenyan police have arrested 18 suspected Somali illegal refugees who were flown into the country on a plane that landed undetected at a remote airstrip. Local media describe Friday's incident as a "major lapse in security". Police were tipped off by the members of the public, who saw the plane land and leave in just minutes. Mini-buses had been waiting to help refugees flee to Nairobi. Sebegal says to host new Madagascar peace talks Senegal has said Madagascar's newly sworn-in and former presidenta will attend talks in Dakar next Wednesday in a bid to end a political crisis which is threatenening to split the vast island off southeast Africa. The former President of Madagascar, Didier Ratsiraka, is refusing to recognise a court ruling handing Marc Ravalomanana the presidency following December elections. The talks are to be held under the auspices of the Organisation of African Unity, the United Nations and a group of African leaders. It's the second attempt by Senegal to solve the deadlock. Ethiopia 30 dead after demonstrations In Ethiopia, at least 30 people were killed when Ethiopian police fired at demonstrators on Friday in a town south of the capital Addis Ababa, according to the BBC. Officials say at least 12 people were killed. Ethiopia'sInformation Minister, Bereket Simon, told Reuters police had acted to prevent looting by organised gangs. Montoya pole position in Monaco Formula 1 Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya has pole position for Williams in Sunday's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher, who is seeking Ferrari's 150th win on Sunday, will start from the second line. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information please turn to our internet website at http://dw-world.de/english Here you'll find out what's happening in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world. News and background reports from the fields of current affairs, culture, business and science. 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