NEWS LITE : NORWEGIANS LOSE THEIR COOL.

Hundreds of Norwegians shed their usual placidity Thursday, rushing a new Ikea furniture store in Oslo that was offering $135 gift certificates to the first 100 customers.

Dozens of people had camped out overnight at the store and hundreds more showed up in the morning.

Just after Oslo Mayor Per Ditlev-Simonsen and entertainer Synnoeve Svaboe completed the opening ceremony, the crowd stormed in, chanting ``100 more gift certificates,'' breaking merchandise and causing some minor injuries.

Pianoless teen gets grand gift

Nobody said self-taught classical pianists had it easy. But Jason Rodgers' path was especially hard - he had to search to find pianos to hone his talent, spending afternoons at one school and evenings at another.

The days of walking and cadging rides are over. On Wednesday, a piano was delivered to his family's house in Philadelphia, a gift from a philanthropist who once heard the 16-year-old boy play.

``My baby's got his own piano,'' Jason's mother, Alice Eason, teased as the dark mahogany Bellah baby grand arrived at their row house.

Once it was assembled, Jason stood back and just looked at it. It was one of the few times in his life he had to be urged to play. Finally, his mother and others talked him into it and he played some Chopin.

Philanthropist Carole Haas heard Jason play a Rachmaninoff prelude at a City Hall reception, recalling he ``just seemed to glow as he played. He radiated.'' She said she knew instantly that he deserved a piano an acquaintance had been looking to donate as a tax write-off.

Now, along with study at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music and a scholarship at Settlement Music School, Jason can practice just by stepping into his living room.

Miss World slated to carry gun

Miss Israel, an 18-year-old student who is expected to report for military duty in her country early next year, won the 1998 Miss World contest on Thursday in Victoria, Seychelles.

Linor Abargil is due to begin 20 months of Israeli military service in April 1999. But her father, Jackie Abargil, said he hopes the army will postpone her induction so she can fulfill her yearlong duties as Miss World.

After she was crowned, Abargil - who said she wants to be a lawyer after finishing her studies - smiled and waved at the cheering crowd. She will get the top prize of $100,000.

Miss France, 23-year-old language student Veronique Caloc, was runner-up. Miss Malaysia, Pick Lim Lina Teoh, a 22-year-old actress and model, was second runner-up.

After 48 years, the beauty contest created by former British serviceman Eric Morley to liven up drab, postwar England, underwent a face lift for this year's contest, televised in 130 countries.

A British production company did away with the high heels and swimsuit parade before the judges. Instead, the women paraded in different sets of clothes, from a casual look to smart party dresses. Instead of talking about themselves, they talked about friends and future careers.

The company also made sure that the contestants were environmentally friendly, planting trees and taking part in a ceremonial return of hawksbill turtle shells to the sea.In recent years, the contest has been criticized by some for demeaning women.

Clinton, pals fit golf into holiday agenda

Before feasting with his family on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, President Clinton took the in-laws out for an afternoon round of golf Thursday at Maple Run Golf Course, about 10 minutes from Camp David.

``Happy bird day!'' Clinton shouted to reporters as he zipped around in a golf cart.

Clinton, looking like a country gentleman in olive pants, an argyle sweater and a jaunty cap, played with his brothers-in-law, Hugh and Tony Rodham, his stepfather Dick Kelley, and Hollywood producer Harry Thomason, a frequent holiday guest and longtime friend of the family.

``He's good. Two under (par),'' Thomason said of Clinton after the ninth hole.

The group played under sunny skies and on a blustery fall day.

Clinton, his wife, Hillary, and their daughter, Chelsea, were spending an extended holiday at the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. The family and Clinton's dog, Buddy, left the White House on Wednesday and the president was scheduled to stay through Sunday.

Roasted turkey and prime rib were on this year's Thanksgiving menu at Camp David along with traditional fixings, including dinner rolls, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and maple-glazed sweet potatoes, corn, green beans and yellow squash and giblet gravy. Apple, pecan and pumpkin pies and ice cream were on the table, too, according to the White House.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Miss World Linor Abargil of Israel is flanked by runner-ups Pick Lim Lina Teoh and Veronique Caloc.

Adil Bradlow/Associated Press

(2) President Clinton eyes his approach shot at the Maple Run Golf Course in Maryland, before heading off to Thanksgiving dinner.

Greg Gibson/Associated Press