Paris - The two main airports of the French capital Paris were closed late Monday after the national weather service forecast the arrival of a storm packing heavy rains and winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour (kph).

The ban imposed by the French Civil Aviation Agency (DGAC) on flights landing at and taking off from Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports was to be enforced at 1900 GMT and remain in effect until at least 0900 GMT Tuesday.

Paris - Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak said Monday in Paris that a ceasefire could come into effect in the Middle East "perhaps as early as next week," French media reported.

Mubarak made the statement after holding talks about the situation in the strife-torn region with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace.

The Egyptian president invited Sarkozy to take part in a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza to be held March 2 in Cairo. Both leaders have been active in trying to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel.

Val d'Isere, France - Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal leads after the downhill run of the men's super-combined at the alpine ski world championships in Val d'Isere on Monday.

Svindal posted 1 minute 30.99 seconds on a shortened downhill run, four-hundredths of a second ahead of Bode Miller of the United States.

Adrien Theaux of France was third, 0.91 seconds back, ahead of compatriot Jean-Baptiste Grange, 1.10 seconds behind Svindal.

Grange, who leads the World Cup slalom standings, looks well positioned to mount a challenge for gold in the slalom leg scheduled to start at 5 p. m (1600 GMT).

Paris - The French government is set to announce a loan of 6 billion euros (7.75 billion dollars) to aid France's two large auto makers, Renault and PSA Peigeort Citroen, several dailies reported on Monday.

In exchange for the loans of 3 billion euros to each company, at interest rates significantly below market levels, Renault and Peugeot have committed themselves not to shut any French factory or outsource production abroad for the period of the loan, which is five years.

Val d'Isere, France  - Fresh snowfall has delayed the start of Sunday's women's downhill race at the alpine ski world championships.

Val d'Isere, France  - Overall W