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Join Talk 2 America Wednesday, 8 August, at 18:00 UTC for a live chat with The Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger. His latest book, Belmont, is about a 1963 murder that mimicked the Boston Strangler scenario. Junger recently reported from Nigeria on the subject of blood oil, and received a National Magazine Award in 2000 for "The Forensics of War," published in Vanity Fair in 1999. Join us live, or send questions in advance to chat@voanews.com, and you may receive a copy of Belmont.

20 Million Affected by Floods in South Asia As heavy monsoon rains continue to sweep India, Bangladesh and Nepal, government and relief agencies are battling to help the victims Afghan Doctors Hope to Visit Ailing South Korean Hostages Two of surviving 21 hostages reported to be gravely ill; South Korean, Afghan officials struggling to secure their freedom Rice Promises 'Substantive' Mideast Conference US secretary of state expects to make several more trips to region to lay groundwork for autumn meeting Iraqi Top Shi'ite Cleric's Aide Killed in Najaf Police say Fadhil Aqil, aide to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was killed late Thursday in a drive-by shooting, one month after another aide was stabbed to death Pakistan Supreme Court Frees Jailed Opposition Leader, Increases Pressure on Musharraf Outspoken government critic, Javed Hashmi, was charged with treason in 2003, sentenced to 23 years in prison Darfur Peace Talks Falter Before They Begin About a dozen rebel factions are taking part in talks, but one important group is absent - the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid al-Nur African Issues to Dominate Security Council's August Agenda Security Council members will discuss crisis in Darfur on August 9 Thailand Seeks Closer Ties with Muslim Nations Move is part of two-pronged strategy to end separatist violence in three of its southern provinces Report Seeks Punishment for Wartime Rapists in Ivory Coast Both sides in Ivory Coast's conflict agreed to peace accord earlier this year, but fail to address widespread sexual violence Female Astronauts Discuss Upcoming US Missions NASA plans major additions to International Space Station in two separate missions, both under command of female astronauts