Iraq-Japan Iraqi and US officials pleaded for more international aid to rebuild Iraq amid a deadly insurgency that has prompted Washington to shift funding from reconstruction to security. Iraq Two French journalists taken hostage in Iraq in August are still alive, and "indirect" negotiations have resumed to try to free them, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told officials and party leaders. US President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry go head-to-head for the final time in their knife-edge election battle, with their third and final televised debate. Nigeria Defiant Nigerian union leaders took their nationwide general strike into a third day and gave no sign of faltering over their demand that President Olusegun Obasanjo find a way to slash fuel prices. Mideast The Israeli army expanded its massive operation in northern Gaza, as an 11-year-old schoolgirl became the latest victim of a fortnight of spiralling violence in the Palestinian territory. Afghanistan The deadline for complaints about the conduct of Afghanistan's landmark presidential elections has been extended until late Thursday, an electoral official said. China-Taiwan China angrily rejected Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's call for peace talks, accusing him of cheating public opinion and risking "great catastrophe" if he pushed for Taiwan independence. Sudan A European Union delegation led by Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot was holding talks here after renewed EU sanctions threat against Khartoum over the Darfur crisis.