News In-briefs

The United States recently asked for DNA samples from members of the bin Laden family. The U.S. wants to definitively rule out suspicions that Osama bin Laden was killed in a recent attack on a convoy of men traveling in Afghanistan. The armed forces pathology lab is currently examining human remains from the attack.

A U.S. drone plane fired a hellfire missile into the midst of the group. One of the members who was killed has been described as a tall man, dressed in Arab attire and treated with deference by others. This has led to speculation that the man was bin Laden.

The family has yet to respond to the request. Some of the family members have disowned Osama bin Laden for his actions in the past and given indications they would cooperate with U.S. government officials.



Both the ruling and opposition parties of Korea recently denounced comedian Jay Leno for his racist remark directed toward Koreans. The reaction to the statement was unusual in that the two parties were unified.

The criticism came after Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil called the host of "The Tonight Show," an "ill-mannered . . . guy" after his off-color joke about skater Kim Dong-sung's disqualification at the Winter Olympic Games.

Leno joked on-air that skater Kim might have been mad enough to kick, and then eat, his dog when he got home. "It is unthinkable that a host of a TV program watched by many U.S. viewers made insulting, racially prejudiced remarks about Korea," said Lee Myung-shik, a vice Millennium Democratic Party spokesman, as reported on koreaherald.com.



U2 lead singer Bono wins the award for longest acceptance speech(es) at the annual Grammy awards show in Los Angeles. Bono defied all attempts to shut him up, cutting into advertising spots worth nearly $500,000.

Bono's four acceptance speeches, which organizers requested be limited to 30 seconds, totaled nearly five minutes. At one point organizers tried-unsuccessfully-to drown Bono out by playing music.

During one of the speeches, U2 guitarist the Edge grabbed the microphone and said, "Some very special things have also happened to me," but was cut off by Bono. Bono snatched the microphone, explaining, "He's a guitar player. I do the talking."



Nineteen people, including one American citizen, have been jailed in Cambodia as a result of a rebel attack on the capital, Phnom Penh. The group was charged with being members of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters. The relatively unknown group is backed by Cambodian exiles living in the U.S.

Three small explosions outside of the Vietnamese embassy and an opposition party office sparked the trial. The explosions were minor and caused very little damage and no serious casualties.

The judge claimed there was evidence for each person's involvement in rebel activity, but defense lawyers claim the verdict was unjust and will appeal the judgement.

Gilbit Sao, the American citizen charged in the attack, has been sentenced to 10 years even though the judge admitted there was no evidence connecting him to the explosions.

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