NEWS LITE : ROSS STILL SHAKEN FROM AIRPORT SCUFFLE.

Diana Ross, arrested briefly recently after she allegedly struck a security guard she said had improperly touched her when she set off a metal detector at Heathrow Airport, told the Telegraph of London the incident had a profound impact on her.

``What happened at the airport brought the fear of death to me,'' she said. ``After Heathrow, I am scared of dying. I really am. It opened up a lot of fears for me. . . . When I got back to Connecticut, I had to get a minister to pray for me over the phone.''

Ross said she plays spiritual tapes every day. ``I spend a lot of time with my higher self. I am working on my spirit and my soul a lot; it comforts me. It keeps me on purpose, reminds me of the beauty in life. You know what? It's not about prosperity, it's about self.''

TV host Larry Kingto be a father again Larry King, 65, and wife, Shawn, 38, expect their second kid in June. Their boy, Chance, is 7 months old. ``I'm reinventing manhood,'' said the TV talker modestly. Said Mom: ``Larry's thinking of hiring himself out as a stud service.''

First lady serves lunch to chef Child

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton won praise for courage Thursday after serving lunch to celebrated chef Julia Child, one of four women honored at the White House for advancing women's causes.

On the menu: chicken with pesto, potato and goat cheese puree, autumn greens with artichokes and pumpkin mousse.

``Hillary, it takes a lot of guts to serve lunch to Julia Child,'' joked Labor Secretary Alexis Herman.

Honored for ``shattering glass ceilings'' were Herman, Child, University of Pennsylvania President Judith Rodin and Ann Fudge, Kraft Foods executive vice president. Child was the first person to have a televised cooking show and to win an Emmy Award for it.

``It is exciting for me as I travel around to meet young girls who are no longer in any way limited by what they see as visions for their own lives and potential,'' thanks to women like the honorees, Clinton told guests in the White House State Dining Room.

But the country still has work to be done to ensure equal pay for women, access to affordable child care and health care, Clinton said.

The Sara Lee Foundation will make a $50,000 donation in each honoree's name to the nonprofit organization of her choice.

Mandela speechpuzzles audience

What's a seven-letter word for embarrassed political figure? M-A-N-D-E-L-A.

Nelson Mandela, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, used a Scrabble metaphor Wednesday to wrap up a speech before the Palestinian Legislative Assembly that ran twice the expected time.

``Twenty-two points, plus a triple word score, plus 50 points for using up all my letters,'' he said, smiling at a bewildered assembly of politicians who were not familiar with the American game. ``Game over. I'm out of here.''

The former South Africa president spoke for half an hour in support of the peace process with Israel.

The Palestinians, who regard Mandela as a symbol of freedom and self-determination, frequently applauded. They also were puzzled, however, by his farewell.

Mandela gave the assembly a hearty ``Shalom'' - Hebrew for ``peace'' and ``goodbye.'' The correct Arabic term would have been ``Ma salameh,'' which means ``go in peace.''

Monica off sweets for Jenny Craig gig

Monica Lewinsky has reportedly shed 30 pounds in her bid to become Jenny Craig's Sarah Ferguson. A buddy says she's forsworn vanilla cupcakes, double cappuccinos and chocolate pudding cake for fresh fruits and veggies, J.C.'s low-cal meals and snacks, plus she works out an hour daily. A J.C. spokesman acknowledged an agreement with the ex-intern but dismissed a report that she's getting $10,000 for each lost pound. He also said tales that she must lose 100 pounds were exaggerated.

Antidepressant prescribed; Zoo ordersherb for fretful bears

Two bears apparently down in the dumps about life in the zoo will get a decidedly human treatment - St. John's wort.

It is hoped that the herb, a sort of natural Prozac known to have antidepressant qualities in humans, will produce similar results in No Oreja and Nikki, spectacled bears that were acquired by the Bridgeport, Conn., zoo five years ago from zoos in Chicago and Detroit.

After the bears' arrival at Beardsley Zoo, No Oreja - Spanish for ``no ear'' - began pacing in her cage. Nikki soon picked up the habit.

``What happens with captive animals is they tend to get anxious and develop traits that are unacceptable, habits of spinning and pacing and just nervous attitudes in response to captivity,'' said Howard Hochman, a veterinarian at the zoo.

Dr. Richard French, a veterinary pathologist at the University of Connecticut, said animals allowed to graze on large amounts of St. John's wort can develop allergic reactions that occur with exposure to sunlight.

But small or moderate amounts shouldn't harm the bears, he said.

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

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1) Easy rider

Peter Fonda rides along Beach Street in Daytona Beach, Fla., headed to a personal appearance Wednesday at the Indian Motorcycle Daytona shop.

(2) Mandela