RETAIL VOTE: The Indian government won a vote in its parliament's powerful lower house Wednesday that gave backing to its plans to open up the country's massive retail sector to international big-box companies such as Wal-Mart.

CLOSE CALL: The government won with 253 votes, while 218 lawmakers- who say the move will crush small shop owners and farmers - voted against the plan, after 43 lawmakers belonging to two socialist parties abstained from voting.

WHAT'S NEXT: Parliament's upper house will debate the issue later this week.