1. Officials are making preparations for President Gerald Ford's body to lie in state this weekend at the Capitol Rotunda. A funeral service is expected to take place at the National Cathedral after the New Year. The 93-year-old Ford passed away Tuesday night at his home in California.

2. The body of a US climber missing for more than a month has been found on a remote mountain in southwestern China. A second climber is still missing and presumed dead. The body discovered was partially buried and had not yet been positively identified.

3. A federal appeals court ruled today that names and urine samples of about 100 Major League Baseball players can be used by government investigators in their ongoing probe of steroid use in sports. The government's perjury case against San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds could be bolstered if his name is on the list of players who tested positive.

4. Preparations are being made in Times Square where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to ring in the New Year. The dropping of a giant ball at Times Square has counted down the final seconds of every calendar year since 1906.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. rotunda : N-COUNT
A rotunda is a round building or room, especially one with a round bowl-shaped roof.

2. perjury : N-UNCOUNT
If someone who is giving evidence in a court of law commits perjury, they lie.

3. bolster : VERB
If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it.

4. calendar year : N-COUNT
A calendar year is a period of twelve months from January 1 to December 31. Calendar year is often used in business to compare with the financial year.