9 women drowned in India: Nine women labourers travelling in a tractor-drawn trolley were drowned Friday when their vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a river near the western Indian town of Nasik. a domestic news agency reported. AP reports from New Delhi.

Rescuers found six bodies while a search was on for the three remaining bodies in the Kukadi river in Maharashtra state. Press Trust of India said quoting police officials. The area is 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from New Delhi. Twelve of the 21 women, who were crammed in the trolley, were rescued by villagers. The tractor went out of control after a mechanical fault. Press Trust said.

2m drug addicts in Russia: Russia has a total of two million drug addicts and another four million people who used to be drug abuser, a women's health group said on Thursday. Xinhua reports from Moscow.

The Women's National Health Protection Movement said the number of juvenile drug takers was increasing, with up to 800 children aged seven to 10 registered in the Moscow police bureau as drug users. In the meantime, drug trafficking has spread rampantly. Over the last two years, the number of people arrested on the grounds of drug production and trafficking has doubled.

Shimon Peres in Beijing: Former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres arrived in Beijing yesterday for a five-day visit, Xinhua reported. AFP says from Beijing.

Peres, honorary president of the Council for the Promotion of Israel-China Relations, was welcomed by Vice Premier Qian Qichen. and is to visit a mosque before leaving next Wednesday. Peres' successor as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is to visit China from May 26 to 28.

Dalai Lama arrives in Japan: Tibet s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Japan yesterday to attend an international Buddhist conference, organisers said. Reuter reports from Tokyo.

The Dalal Lama would leave for the western Japanese city of Kyoto to take part in the conference and would return to Tokyo on April 10 for another religious gathering and a welcoming reception, the organisers said. He would leave Japan for India on April 12. they said. China on Thursday urged Japan to block the Dalai Lama s visit, saying he would use the trip to promote independence for his Himalayan homeland.

Former chief of NSP held in HOK: South Korea's former intelligence chief was arrested early yesterday for his role in a smear campaign prior to last year's presidential election. Reuter reports from Seoul.

Known Young-hae. a former director of the agency for National Security Planning (NSP). was arrested shortly after midnight in the hospital where he was recovering from a suicide attempt two weeks ago.