Tanker crash claims 11 in Bombay: Eleven people were killed when a tanker carrying toxic chemicals rammed a truck in the western Indian city of Bombay, the Press Trust of India said yesterday. AFP says from New Delhi.

It said two of the victims were women adding the crash occurred overnight Saturday on a highway in Bombay. The victims were hitching a ride on the truck.

France's Nat'l Front loses seat: iTrarjpe £ fajj-tigJiC' National Front suffered a surprise defeat. Ibsing'its sole parliamentary seat in a key by-election Sunday in the southern port city of Toulon, officials said. AFP says from France.

Results showed Socialist candidate Odette Casanova winning 50.07 per cent of the vote against National Front rival Cendrine Le Chevaliier in the final round of the two-stage vote. Le Chevallier was fighting to keep her party's only seat in parliament.

Ex-spy chief goes on trial in ROK: Seven former agents of the main government spy agency, including its chief, went on trial Monday on charges of smearing President Kim Dae-jung during his election campaign last year. AP reports from Seoul.

Another three former officials of the Agency for National Security Planning, including its No 2 man. were under arrest awaiting trial on similar charges.

The charges include meddling in politics in violation of laws governing the agency's activities. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.

Netherlands goes to polls Wednesday: Some 11.7 million Dutch citizens are called to the ballot box in Wednesday's general election, with polls predicting voters will reinstate incumbent Labour Premier Wim Kok at the head of a coalition government. AFP reports from the Hague.

There are 22 parties contesting the general election. Together they have put forward a total of 1.095 candidates who are competing for one of the 150 parliamentary seats up for grabs.

HK woman dies after jetfoil crash: a 77-year-old woman died Monday and 24 people remained in hospital with injuries suffered when a jetfoil hit a submerged object on a voyage to the neighbouring Portuguese enclave of Macau. AP reports from Hong Kong.

Marine officials still, were trying to find the submerged ob-Jec t and learn what caused Saturday's crash, which injured 121 ol Uic 244 people on board.

Artillery shell kills 6 in Vietnam: An artillery shell from the Vietnam War killed six people and injured three others in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. local press reports said Monday. AP reports from Hanoi.

The incident took place last week when farmer Nguyen Van Kieu. 40. threw into a fire the 105mm shell he collected late last year while dredging a canal near his house. The explosion instantly killed Kieu and five construction workers.

Earthquake shakes Taiwan: An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck east of Taiwan yesterday, but there were no immediate reports of damage, officials said, Alukers says form Taipei.

A Central Weather Bureau statement said the quake's epicentre was about 100 miles due southeast of Taiwan's eastern coastal city of Hualien and some 30.4 km beneath the earth’s surface.