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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.

Car Bomb Kills 6 in Baghdad Authorities say 12 wounded in blast at al-Tayran square, Monday No Word on Fate of Kidnapped South Koreans Earlier deadline passed with no word about fate of hostages, who were abducted July 19 NATO To Use Smaller Bombs in Afghanistan Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says number of civilians killed during fighting between NATO with Taleban has damaged reputation of alliance ASEAN Charter to Include Human Rights Commission Deal reached Monday by foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN members overcame fierce objections from Burma's military government Nuclear Inspectors Visit Iranian Heavy Water Plant Local media report inspection of the Arak facility took five hours Japan's Ruling Party Suffers Major Defeat Despite loss, Prime Minister Abe says he will not resign Freed Terrorism Suspect Feels 'Victimized' by Australia In an interview aired on Australian television before his departure, Mohamed Haneef said he was relieved to have been cleared of terrorism offenses, and he strongly denied any links to extremism Questions Surround Terror Trial in Mauritania Defense lawyers are presenting final arguments on behalf of 14 suspects accused of fighting alongside a radical Islamic group China's Paper Recycling Saves Trees, But Demand for Virgin Wood On The Rise Conservationists say demand for virgin wood is fueling illegal logging, deforestation Nkosi Johnson Story to be Portrayed in Film Nkosi, who died at age 12, captured world attention at Durban AIDS conference in 2000