Paris - French lawmakers will begin examining later Tuesday the government's bank rescue plan, which could cost as much as 360 billion euros (490 billion dollars), French media reported.

The lower house of the Parliament, the National Assembly, was to open debate on the measure in the afternoon, with a vote foreseen for Tuesday evening.

The plan, announced Monday by President Nicolas Sarkozy, would make available up to 320 billion euros to guarantee interbank loans and another 40 billion euros for the recapitalization of struggling banks.

Paris, Oct 14 : ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Integral gamma-ray observatory has observed several low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts, confirming the existence of an entire population of weaker bursts hardly noticed so far.

When it comes to detecting gamma-ray bursts (or GRBs), Integral is equipped with the most sensitive detector ever launched into space – the IBIS imager.

Its field of view is very well shielded from any background radiation, making the detection of faint gamma-ray signals possible.

Paris - The Paris Bourse continued its strong recovery on Tuesday on news that the US government was also undertaking radical steps to shore up its banking system.

In mid-morning trade, the benchmark CAC 40 was up 4.87 per cent, to 3,703.48, with 38 of the 40 listed stocks gaining ground.

Industrials again led the way on the hope that measures undertaken by euro-zone countries, Britain and the United States would stimulate the money markets and encourage banks to resume lending.

Paris - With investors apparently encouraged by the wide-ranging bank rescue plan announced by euro-zone leaders late Sunday, French shares rebounded strongly on Monday.

In mid-afternoon, the CAC 40 index was up a healthy 7.43 per cent, to 3,412.58, with 39 of 40 listed stocks gaining ground.

The surge was led by industrials, on the belief that credit would flow again to businesses and consumers.

Steel giant ArcelorMittal was up 17.86 per cent, to 25.83 euros, while energy supplier GDF Suez gained 16.77 per cent, to 28.37 euros.

Rome - Italian groups representing the families of victims of the terrorism that bloodied the country during the 1970s and 1980s have condemned France's decision not to extradite a former member of the Red Brigades.

The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said over the weekend that convicted murderer Marina Petrella would not be extradited to Italy.

The decision reversed a pledge by Sarkozy that France would no longer grant asylum to members of the Red Brigades and under extremist groups involved in urban guerilla violence during Italy's so-called "years of lead".

Paris - One day after the euro-zone summit on the finance crisis, the French government was to present its bank rescue plan following an extraordinary cabinet meeting later Monday.

The most important aspect of the plan will be the measures undertaken to prod banks to lend each other money. To that end, euro-zone leaders decided late Sunday to have states provide guarantees for interbank trades.

Paris is likely to create a new mechanism guaranteeing bank debt in exchange for certain collateral.

The French government is also expected to establish a new authority for state investment that will support the capital resources of troubled financial institutions.