SYDNEY: Customs officers at Perth airport said on Friday an Australian caught with birds' eggs in her bra was attempting to smuggle them into the country from Thailand. The 48-year-old woman will appear in court next week on charges under the wildlife protection act that carry a maximum 10-year prison term. Five of the seven eggs were broken.

China, Pakistan to bolster defence ties

BEIJING: China and Pakistan are expected to further cement their military ties and firm up several measures designed to bolster the latter's conventional weapons capability during Chinese defence minister general Chi Haotian visit to Islamabad beginning Friday. Pakistan is likely to order a wide array of new conventional weapons from China and may even seek Beijing's help in overcoming some technical snags in tanks recently bought from Ukraine, sources here said. Gen-chi, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), China's top military organ, is leading a16-member high-powered delegation to Islamabad, the first such interaction between the two sides after the may nuclear tests.

Clinton raped nursing home owner, alleges daily

Washington: In what could bring fresh trouble to Bill Clinton, who has just emerged triumphant from the Senate impeachment trial in the Monica Lewinsky case, a leading American newspaper today accused the US President of raping a nursing home owner when he was attorney general of his home state Arkansas. Clinton raped Juanita Broaddrick `with extreme violence' and later apologised to her, the Wall Street Journal alleged in an editorial page article. The reported incident took place in 1978 when the 35-year-old Clinton campaign worker, was invited by the then attorney general to visit campaign headquarters and was taken to a room for coffee.

Ban on tobacco, alcohol ads

KATHMANDU: All broadcast tobacco and alcohol advertisements in Nepal are being stopped with immediate effect, a senior governmentofficial said on Friday. The minister for information and communications, Jaya Prakash Gupta, said the ban had been announced over two months ago and came into effect Friday, Nepal's National democracy day. The ban will affect the state-run Radio Nepal and Nepal Television as well as privately run FM radio stations. The ban does not cover print media or billboards which can continue to display tobacco and alcohol advertisements. The loss of revenue to the media is expected to be high but the government has promised it will compensate them for the loss of revenue.

Church plans market research to attract worshippers

LONDON: Church of England leaders have turned to a market researcher who has sold dish soap and diapers to help figure out what worshippers expect from their churches and priests. Using focus groups to conduct market research is part of a larger strategy by England's state church to appeal to younger worshippers and appear more businesslike, according to the Daily Telegraph. Theprogramme is being overseen by the church's 19-member Archbishops' Council, which met this week to talk about `how to attract new customers.' The church has hired Jayne Ozanne, a market researcher who has helped sell diapers, facial tissue and other products.