美联社新闻一分钟 2007-04-29

（单词翻译）

1. One of the holiest Shiite shrines¹ in all of Iraq has been hit by a car bombing. More than 50 people were killed in an explosion in Karbala. Another 70 were wounded.

2. A suicide bomber² has killed 22 people at a public meeting in northwestern Pakistan. The country's interior minister was in the room at the time and is among the 35 people who were injured.

3. "Scotty" has been beamed up. The ashes of actor James Doohan who played "Scotty" on "Star Trek³" were blasted off into space. The ashes of astronaut Gordon Cooper were also on board.

4. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the first player selected in this year's NFL draft. The LSU alumni faces the daunting⁴ task of reviving the Oakland Raiders franchise⁵. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson went second to the Detroit Lions.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. blast off: phrase
When a space rocket blasts off, it leaves the ground at the start of its journey.

2. alumni: n-count
The alumni of a school, college or university are the people who used to be students there.

3. franchise: n-count
A franchise is an authority that is given by an organization to someone, allowing them to take part in an activity which the organization controls.