Berlin - The German Parliament lower house signed off Friday on Chancellor Angela Merkel's 500-billion-euro (683.1-billion-dollar) bank rescue package aimed at shoring up international investor confidence following weeks of share market turmoil.

Merkel unveiled the plan on Monday as part of a concerted effort by governments around the world to stabilize markets and to help troubled financial institutions limp through the crisis, which was triggered last year by an upheaval in the risky US subprime mortgage business.

Dublin - The choked voices on the airwaves telling tales of job losses, repossessions, debt and downright misery signal the seismic shift in Ireland's economy that has caught thousands unaware.

One such voice is that of Kathleen, a mother of four, who sobs as she describes how she was given a sub-prime mortgage to redecorate the family home she inherited.

With arrears of 7,000 euros (9413.6 dollars), she is now in danger of losing that home as interest rate increases meant that her repayments jumped from 1,600 to 2,300 euros a month.

Madrid - People may marry for love, but divorce is about money, as Spain's deepening economic crisis is making clear.

This year's slowdown and the credit crunch affecting banks are cutting divorce rates, Madrid divorce lawyer Antonio Prada says, estimating the decrease at 30 per cent so far.

"It has become extremely difficult for couples wanting to divorce to sell their home at a reasonable price, and the crisis is also making it harder to maintain two separate households," Prada told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Mexico City - The Bank of Mexico used an additional 1.5 billion dollars to prop up the Mexican peso on Thursday, following a sharp depreciation in recent days.

With the latest intervention, Mexico's central bank has sold more than 10.8 billion dollars since last week.

The dollar is now worth more than 13 pesos, while it was worth some 11.2 pesos on October 1.

Washington - US President George W Bush on Thursday said he recognized global concerns about the far reaches of the financial crisis and reiterated that wealthy nations were working together to bring markets under control.

Speaking at the signing of a trade extension deal with four Latin American nations, Bush said all nations were in the middle of carrying out comprehensive plans to stabilize financial markets.

Berlin - Germany moved a key step closer Thursday towards injecting 480 billion euros (650 billion dollars) into troubled banks, with its 16 states swinging behind the federal plan.

The accord, announced by Chancellor Angela Merkel, makes it feasible for the legislative package to become law Friday.

Most of the eurozone nations and some allies have agreed to identical aid packages, each comprising a huge guarantee for interbank lending and semi-nationalizations of banks by state equity funds.