CNN news 2007-08-31 加文本

cnn 2007-08-31



【电信1】 Realvideo / MP3

Good afternoon, I'm Melissa Long here at the cnn Center in Atlanta with a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Congressional investigators delivered a classified briefing on Iraq to lawmakers today. The details are already trickling out. The Associated Press says the report finds Iraq's government has failed to meet political and military goals. The government accountability office says it's fallen short, at least 13 of 18 benchmarks. A White House assessment of progress in Iraq is due September 15th.

The last three South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan have been released. This brings to an end now a nearly six-week ordeal, which started when 23 Christian volunteers were seized last month. Twelve of the hostages were freed on Wednesday after the South Korean government reaffirmed its commitment to withdraw from Afghanistan. Two were murdered and two others were released earlier in the month.

Some gay rights activists are scorning Senator Larry Craig for saying he is not gay. They say it's hypocrisy because the Idaho Republican has opposed a gay rights legislation. Craig says he did nothing inappropriate when he was arrested in an airport men's room. Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in the case but is now considering efforts to withdraw that plea. A largest gay Republican group in Washington is calling for Craig to resign.

In Durham, North Carolina, in the courtroom, former prosecutor Mike Nifong pleaded not guilty today to charges he did not turn over complete DNA results during the Duke lacrosse rape case. Defense attorneys for the three falsely accused players are asking the judge to punish Nifong. They say he purposely withheld results from tests that showed none of their DNA was found on the accuser in the case.

Phoenix is sizzling under unbearable heat for 29 days this year. Temperatures have hovered at or above 110 degrees, 29 days straight and this shatters the 1970 record. Forecasters say relief is on the way. And I guess that's relief if you'd call 105 temperatures a bit cooler.

A new poll shows most fans are done with embattled football quarterback Michael Vick. Sixty percent of people surveyed by Galaxy say Vick should be out of the NFL for good. Eight in ten want to see him serve prison time for his role in a dogfighting ring.

You are up-to-date. Those are the headlines for you at this hour on this Thursday, the 30th of August. For more on these stories or the news of the day, remember cnn is your source whether you are surfing the web, watching television or on the go with your cellphone.