House backs $700bn bail-out plan...

The US House of Representatives has voted by 263-171 in favour of a $700bn (£380bn) plan to rescue the US financial sector. 

The House vote was the second in a week, following its shock rejection of an earlier version on Monday. 

The package is aimed at buying up the bad debts of failing institutions on Wall Street. 

US President George W Bush praised lawmakers and said he would sign the bill into law later on Friday. More...