A team of astronomers with members from Yale University and a Venezuelan astronomy center discovered a new object orbiting the earth's sun. Officially named 2000 EB173, the ball of rock and ice measures 373 miles in diameter-about a quarter of the size of Pluto, making it the second largest asteroid-and resides 3.6 billion miles from earth in the Kupier Belt located beyond Neptune. The Kupier belt is believed to be the frozen remnants of the early solar system. EB173 is of the same family as Pluto but is considered too small to be recognized as a major planet.

Afghanis Endure Water Shortage

Three years of inadequate rainfall has resulted in a severe water shortage in southern Afghanistan. The Dala Dam region, previously known for its fine fruit, was once fed by nine rivers. Today all but one of those lay dry and the Dala Lake, which provides water and a livelihood for more than a million people, has been dry for more than four months. The lake was, as recently as three years ago, more than 130 feet deep. Unless "rain falls in the coming rainy season," said United Nations' southern Afghanistan coordinator Leslie Oquist, "we will see Africa-like pictures in this region." The fruit farmers are worried that the lack of water will obliterate their crop. Herders in the area report that most of their 10,000 animals have either died or been sold as food. No rain is expected in the near future.

Albright Travels To North Korea

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was met with open arms and a lavish ceremony involving approximately 100,000 performers in communist North Korea. Albright, the first senior U.S. official to visit the country, met with leader Kim Jong Il in the capital city of Pyongyang. Held in a sports stadium, the 90-minute welcoming ceremony involved fireworks, song and depictions of communist pride. Talks focused less on North Korea's missile program and Western concerns. "We have a moratorium on testing of all long-range missiles and we obviously are continuing these very serious missile discussions," Albright told reporters. "I take what he said on these issues as serious in terms of his desire and ours to move forward to resolve the various questions that continue to exist on the whole range of missile issues."

Census Shows Change In Times

For the first time since the Census Bureau started keeping statistics on working parents, families in which both parents work have become the majority. Even in the most traditional families-married couples with children-two working adults has become the norm. According to a new report based on 1998 data, both spouses were employed in full or part-time work in 51 percent of couples as compared to 33 percent in 1976. Even parents with children under one year-married or single-are working more than in the past. In fact, the percentage of mothers with a child under one who work has doubled from 30 to 60 percent in the last 22 years.