NEWS LITE : GIRLS BIT TOO SPICY FOR HISTORICAL TASTES.

A top Indian classical dancer asked the government to ban a performance by the Spice Girls at an archeological site known for its erotic sculptures.

The concert, scheduled for November in the central Indian town of Khajuraho, will ``marginalize the delicate spiritual context in which the temples were constructed nearly 1,000 years ago,'' Geeta Chandran said in a statement Wednesday from New Delhi.

``The eroticism of Khajuraho is part of the larger Hindu view of the cyclicality of life,'' she said. ``The profile of the Spice Girls does not match that of the temples. . . . Eroticism sans spirituality will be reduced to pornography.''

Indian performers have been kept away from the temples of Khajuraho by archeological authorities. Government officials were not immediately available for comment.

Suit over `Twister' takes different spin

A filmmaker who unsuccessfully sued the makers of ``Twister'' for copyright infringement received a bill for about $1.2 million from their lawyers.

Lawyers for Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg and other Hollywood heavyweights filed the bill Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. They argued that the lawsuit brought by Stephen Kessler of Kirkwood, Mo., was unreasonable, if not frivolous.

In his lawsuit, Kessler accused Crichton and Spielberg of stealing his screenplay ``Catch the Wind'' to make ``Twister.'' Both stories are about storm chasers.

On Jan. 28, a jury rejected Kessler's claim. He is seeking a new trial.

Plane passenger held in assault

Tokyo police arrested a man Thursday on charges he bit a fellow passenger on a Japan Airlines flight after the woman refused to give him her phone number.

Jiro Zennyoji, 51, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of inflicting bodily injury.

Zennyoji and the alleged victim were both on a two-hour flight from South Korea to Japan on Oct. 6, police said.

According to police, Zennyoji switched seats to be next to the 33-year-old government employee, then asked for her number.

When she refused, he allegedly bit her right arm, causing an injury that took two weeks to heal.

Rockers see something foul in eagles foundation

The docket reads Eagles vs. eagles.

The rock band Eagles contend that the National Foundation to Protect America's Eagles, based in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., infringed on the group's name and image in selling music and videos.

The lawsuit also objects to the foundation's Internet address ``eagles.org'' and its telephone number, 800-2-EAGLES.

Eagles Ltd. and Eagles Recording Co., two companies formed by the band, worry the foundation's enterprises will be confused with the band's.

``They apparently feel threatened in some way,'' foundation founder Al Cecere said. ``We're defending our mark. . . . We're not going to let them bully us around.''

The nonprofit foundation saves injured and orphaned eagles and releases them into the wild. Eagles lead singer Don Henley has donated to the foundation.

Somebody in need of snooze button

A true denizen of La La Land, Drew Barrymore has a special morning wakeup routine: ``I try to stay in bed for 10 minutes to get my surroundings going. I ponder my place in the universe. Then I wash my face and turn into my psyche.

``I check my karma and get my balance for the day. Then I go out into the universe with a positive attitude and a strong shield of love,'' she says.

Back in driver's seat; Televised car theft gets TV ending

Tim Cole, whose minivan was stolen by a carjacker during a nationally televised chase through Southern California, received a new van while on the ``Leeza'' show.

Nissan Motors presented Cole, 48, with a new 1998 Quest on Wednesday.

``One little bit of advice - every time you're on the road, keep your doors locked,'' talk-show host Leeza Gibbons said.

Cole was on his way to a job interview when police say Pete Tauveve abandoned his pickup truck and carjacked Cole's Chevy Lumina on Feb. 11 near Los Angeles International Airport. Tauveve struck several cars and a freeway median before he was arrested, police said.

Cole said while taping ``Leeza'' that the Lumina ``is probably totaled out.''

Tauveve, 27, of Long Beach, was booked for investigation of carjacking and was being held on $100,000 bail.

The ``Leeza'' show segment with Cole is scheduled to air March 5.

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1) Catzilla

Humane Society of Sonoma County Shelter Manager Carol Rathmann holds up Blanco, a 28-pound cat left at the shelter by an elderly couple, as Mulder, a mixed breed, looks up at his natural nemesis. Some 300 people from across the United States have offered to adopt the obese feline.

Associated Press

(2) A planned Spice Girls show in Khajuraho, India, has drawn fire.

(3) Henley