美联社新闻一分钟 2008-05-14

（单词翻译）

1. Authority investigators¹ are looking for one or more arson² suspects linked to several wildfires burning across central portion of the state. A witness told investigators someone in a car was spotted³ dropping something into an open field and fires started soon after that. So far the blazes have destroyed or damaged about 100 homes. Winds are forecast to slow today.

2. More than 12,000 people are thought to be dead and another 18,000 may still be buried in the rubble⁴ after yesterday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake in China. Officials say the death toll⁵ was likely declined as soldiers and rescue teams reach the areas closer to the quake's epicenter.

3. Officials in western Indian say at least 60 people have been killed after six bomb blasts ripped thorough crowded areas. Another 150 people are reportedly wounded. Authorities say a seventh bomb was defused before it exploded.

4. And the New York Knicks introduce Mike D’ Antoni as their new coach. The team is hoping his high-scoring brand of basketball will turn around the squad⁶ with seven straight losing seasons.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. defuse: v.

If someone defuses a bomb, they remove the fuse so that it cannot explode.

2. squad: n.

a group of players from which a team will be chosen for a particular sports event.