Informed Sources

RETURNED TO SENDER

Washington -- Retired U.S. Admiral JONATHAN HOWE, the United Nations' special representative in Somalia, has been quietly pulled out of that country by U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Howe headed last year's hapless effort to catch Somali strongman Mohammed Farrah Aidid, and even offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture. At the time, Boutros- Ghali vigorously condemned Aidid and called for him to be brought to justice. Nonetheless, U.N. sources say, since Aidid is now considered a key part of peace negotiations, Boutros-Ghali has decided that Howe's continued presence in Somalia would only hinder the process.

A NOBEL LAUREATE BETS ON JORDAN

Bangkok -- DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the leader of the Burmese democracy movement, has been held under house arrest by the military government in Burma for more than four years. Last week, when she was allowed to break her silence and meet with U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson of New Mexico, human rights wasn't the only thing on her mind. "She asked me if I thought Michael Jordan was going to make it as a baseball player," says Richardson. "We made a friendly bet -- she bet that he would make it, and I bet he wouldn't. And hopefully we will see the result of this bet after spring training, and perhaps I can return to collect on my bet."

SEAQUEST LIVE

Washington -- The U.S. is in a race with Russia to develop high-speed underwater projectiles. Russian researchers are said to have accelerated such projectiles at 4,270 ft. per sec.; now militia sources confirm that the U.S. NAVY has a program to fire underwater projectiles at 4,760 ft. per sec. -- near the speed of sound. If they actually work, these 007-like weapons would greatly affect the strategy for any future below-the-sea conflict.