A drug used to strengthen the bones of women with breast cancer helped cut the risk of the cancer returning by 36 per cent, European researchers said yesterday.

They said Zometa, sold by Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, helped women with early-stage breast cancer who were already taking hormone therapy to reduce their cancer risk.

The finding comes from the first large-scale study to show a drug in the class known as bisphosphonates can reduce the risk that cancer will come back.

Zometa, known generically as zoledronic acid, is usually prescribed to fortify the bones of breast cancer patients whose tumours have spread to the bone. Breast and other cancers commonly spread to the bone and patients can be crippled by the pain and fractures that result.

The researchers studied 1,803 premenopausal women who were taking a synthentic hormone to shut down their ovaries, a practice more common in Europe than in the United States, where such women often get chemotherapy.

Asian wine auction uncorks $8.2m

America's leading wine auction house sold $8.2 million of fine vintages in Hong Kong yesterday in Asia's largest such sale, underscoring the city's potential as a regional wine hub.

Acker Merrall and Condit's inaugural auction of fine and rare wines in Hong Kong drew hundreds of collectors from Hong Kong, China, Asia and the West.

The mood was convivial and bidding brisk during the day-long session which netted $8.2 million in sales with 92 per cent of the 922 lots sold, as well as smashing at least five world auction records for some of the world's finest wines.

The day's highlight was a 12-bottle case of 1990 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, often considered the world's most expensive wine. It was sold for $242,000 including the buyer's premium to a Singaporean buyer. The price was a world record for any case of Romanee-Conti of any vintage ever sold.

Prince William on naval patrol

Britain's Prince William could be chasing Caribbean drug runners when he joins the Royal Navy for a two-month training course.

The second in line to the throne may also be called on to provide humanitarian relief if a hurricane hits during his deployment in the region on the frigate HMS Iron Duke. Defence officials said yesterday that William, preparing for his future role as head of the armed forces, would start his Royal Navy attachment this week.

William, 25, is following in a royal tradition - his father, uncle and grandfather all served in the Royal Navy.

Rear Admiral Robert Cooling, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, said the attachment would be rigorous.

"If we treated him like some super VIP and tailored a programme for him and walked around on egg shells, then that would be difficult," he told reporters. "But he's not, he's going to come just like any other young officer and do all the things that young officers get involved in."

Killer elephant 'Osama' shot dead

An elephant named 'Osama bin Laden' that has killed more than 11 people and injured dozens over the past few months was shot dead in eastern India, officials said yesterday.

The wild male elephant had been terrorising villagers in two states, destroying their crops and homes.

Forest officials and a police team tracked down the rogue jumbo in the eastern state of Jharkhand, where it was shot dead, Ravi Ranjan, a senior government official said.

"Yes, Osama has finally been killed and it took us 20 bullets to silence him," Ranjan told Reuters from Jharkhand yesterday.

Hundreds of villagers gathered to catch a glimpse of the dead elephant.

Two toddlers dead

British police are investigating the deaths of a five-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl who are believed to have been stabbed in south London, Scotland Yard said yesterday.

A third child, a six-month-old baby, is suffering from suspected stab wounds and in a critical condition in hospital.

All three children were found at a home in Carshalton on Friday evening after police and the London Ambulance Service were called, but the five-year-old and the four-year-old died later in hospital.

A 39-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman have been arrested and officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command and the Child Abuse Investigation Command have launched an investigation.

Three killed in motorway crash

Three people have been killed and two seriously injured after a van crashed through a motorway barrier, British medical services said yesterday.

The van overturned after going across the central reservation of the M5 motorway in central England before colliding with a car.

Two people in the van died, as did a man driving the car, while two other car passengers, a woman and a 11-year-old girl, were airlifted to hospitals in Birmingham with serious abdominal and pelvic injuries.

"Several cars were in other collisions while it is believed they were trying to avoid the initial crash," said the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

"A man, believed to be in his 20s was treated at the scene for head and chest injuries. He was transferred by land ambulance to Worcester Royal Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

"At least 15 other people were treated at the scene by ambulance crews and BASICS Doctors for minor injuries, including cuts and bruises. They were checked over by medics and did not require further hospital treatment."

The M5 was closed for several hours before reopening.