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Join Talk 2 America Wednesday, 1 August, at 18:00 UTC for a live chat with author Lawrence Otis Graham, who will give some historical perspective as Senator Barack Obama campaigns to become the nation's first African-American U.S. president. Graham will discuss his book, "The Senator and the Socialite: The True Story of America's First Black Dynasty", which tells how former slave Blanche Bruce rose in 1874 to become a wealthy U.S. Senator, laying the ground work for future black politicians in America. Send questions in advance to chat@voanews.com - and you may get a free copy of the book.

Iraqis Celebrate Asia Cup Victory Fans danced in the streets of Iraq and fired gunshots into the air -- despite orders from authorities against celebratory gunfire Taleban Sets Noon Monday as Hostage Deadline Taleban spokesman said Sunday that negotiations between the militant group and the Afghan administration are deadlocked Israel Says No Objections to US Gulf Arms Deal Israel has long expressed wariness over US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states Japan's Ruling Party Suffers Major Defeat It is sharp rebuke for PM Shinzo Abe's government; despite loss, he says he will not resign N. Korean Foreign Minister Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Disarmament A Philippine foreign affairs spokesman says North Korea's Pak Ui Chun reiterated North Korea's view that the six-party disarmament deal should follow the principle that if one party takes action, the others respond in kind ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Tackles Thorny Issues With Draft Charter One of most controversial issues is Burma's objection to proposal to create regional human rights body WHO Says Environmental Hazards Kill Millions of Children First-ever study to highlight children's susceptibility to harmful chemical exposures at different periods of their growth Chinese Authorities Prevent Multinational AIDS Rights Conference Chinese officials become more supportive of AIDS prevention efforts, discrimination against people with HIV common, and authorities are still suspicious of activists School Feeding Program in Benin Under Threat UN World Food Program says tens of thousands of children in Benin will not receive daily school meal next term unless it receives more funds immediately Indian Government Faces Allegation of Gender Bias Soon after, senior woman police officer was denied top appointment, stirring fiery debate in country on whether gender bias persists in government