A German researcher and his team have discovered that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by cellular telephones raised the blood pressure of 10 young volunteers. Phones were attached to the volunteers' heads, with the volume turned off so they would not know when the phones were on. The researchers found that 35 minutes of radio-frequency EMF caused increases in resting blood pressure of at least 5% whether they were standing or lying down. This could be important for people already suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension, an important risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Cellular telephones have been linked to a variety of health problems ranging from fatigue, headaches, and burning skin to tumors, but there is still no proof they post any serious health threat.

The New York state Assembly voted Thursday to pass a law that now requires doctors to report the names of people living with HIV and AIDS, and notify their sexual partners. Under this new law, health-care workers must try to get infected patients to identify any former sexual partners who may be at risk, and notify them. Currently, doctors have the option of telling partners about the virus in some cases, but they have feared lawsuits if they do so. The state Senate had already passed the bill. Critics argue that such requirements will deter some people from seeking testing and treatment.

Pakistan said its moratorium on nuclear tests announced last week could be lifted if they felt it was in their national interest to do so. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said Pakistan's actions would depend on the weapons capabilities of arch-rival India, and the level of "provocation."

Sherriff's deputies in Maryland spotted a driver going the wrong way down a freeway, and when he pulled over but ignored commands to turn off the ignition, the deputy used his baton to break the window. The man was beaten, and a dog and pepper spray were used to subdue him. The man was hospitalized for four days. He was charged with fleeing and eluding police, reckless and negligent driving, hit and run with property damage, and other charges. Doctors have informed the authorities, though, that the man is a diabetic and was suffering from diabetic shock. County officials said the charges will be dropped if an investigation confirms this.

A legislator of the Russian Duma has requested the country's top investigator look into the possibility that Boris Yeltsin has been replaced by a double. The lawmaker claims the president's appearance and actions have seemed suspicious since his 1996 re-election. Since his second inauguration, Yeltsin has fired most of his old staffers and installed new ones. The legislator also pointed out that Yeltsin used to hide his left hand, which is missing two fingers, but now displays it openly, and has suggested the Yeltsin's daughter has become the president's new image maker - advising him how to walk and talk like the original. The newspaper which reported this editorialized that some people "see flying saucers every day... contact the spirit world... try to catch ghosts in their hands," but they are usually not members of the government "who write legislation and take part in the country's political life."

In 1942 the Canadian government promised it would return Camp Ipperwash to the Kettle and Stony Point Natives, once WWII was over. That did not happen. In 1995, a violent Indian rights protest erupted and the military abandoned the site. Now the property has been returned, and an environment cleanup could begin by autumn. The Canadian government has pledged C$26.3 million (US$17.9 million) for economic development and infrastructure. In the summer of 1995, dozens of armed Indian protestors occupied the camp and an adjoining park. Ontario police maintained a month-long siege, during which one Indian protestor died and two others were injured.

Diplomats in Belarus are now living in the presidential compound but will have to learn to live with occasional power cuts. President Alexander Lukashenko backed down from his threat to evict the 22 diplomatic families but according to a quote from the deputy foreign minister in the the official newspaper, "from time to time there will be no lights and no electricity." Diplomats said the order to quit their residences was a violation of international norms and most Western countries had said they would recall their ambassadors if it was carried out. The Lithuanian ambassador said Belarus had earlier proposed three alternative places to live: one lacked comforts, another was 25 miles away, and the third was still just a construction site. The fight with his neighbors has further isolated Lukashenko, who has been criticized for his authoritarian style of government and unwillingness to implement market reforms.

Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi was interviewed by Western journalists for the first time since a reported assasination attempt. While saying that he hears of such attempts, he claims they are lies, and waved his arm frequently to illustrate that the alleged site of the wound showed no sign of injury. Caves in the mountanous region of Libya, where the attack was supposed to have occurred, offer hideouts to Islamic militants trying to depose Gadhafi.

Six Russian satellites launched early Tuesday morning were all in the wrong orbit by Tuesday evening. Officials said the Strela-3 satellites can still be used, though. These satellites provide a communications system dubbed "space mailboxes for Russian spies," and are used to record radio messages transmitted by Russian agents worldwide. They relay the messages back to Earth when flying over Moscow. Russia plans to produce a commercial version of the satellite to earn cash for their underfunded space and military programs.