US House approves $145bn for wars, relief

WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives today easily approved US$91.8 ($145.62) billion President George W. Bush sought for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for Gulf Coast hurricane relief, even as lawmakers voiced doubts about the efforts.

The emergency spending bill also contained language barring a state-owned Arab company, Dubai Ports World, from managing American ports, although the company has pledged to pull out of the deal that the administration initially approved.

- REUTERS