EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn has welcomed the Greek parliament's approval of a harsh new austerity package.

Greece is a step closer to getting a new €130bn bailout after its cabinet signed off on a fresh dose of austerity measures last night.

The Greek parliament overwhelmingly approved next year's austerity budget, extending the savage spending cuts that have already left people struggling as the country tries to slash its vast debts and tame a severe recession.

One person has died after violent clashes broke out among protesters during a demonstration in Athens by tens of thousands objecting to the government’s new austerity measures.

A public backlash against Greek austerity measures is set to continue today as MPs in Athens vote on law reforms to activate yesterday’s deal on tax rises, pay cuts and 150,000 public sector redundancies.

The Greek parliament has voted narrowly in favour of imposing more belt-tightening on its people in a bid to pay the nation’s debts and stave off looming bankruptcy.

The Greek Parliament will take one of its toughest decisions today – impose more austerity measures on its rebellious citizens or bankrupt the nation.

The European Commission insisted today it isn’t bluffing over the euro crisis - if Greece does not vote for more austerity tomorrow there is no more EU bailout money.

GREECE cleared its first hurdle in getting a vital €12 billion loan to pay debts next month and avoid default as the government won a vote of confidence.

IRELAND will almost certainly have to wait at least another month before getting a cut in the interest rate it pays on its EU/IMF loan, according to EU and government sources.

The Greek parliament will vote on a draft bill of hard-hitting austerity measures to try and control their debt today.

The Greek parliament today re-elected president Karolos Papoulias to a second five-year term in office.

FIFA’S emergency committee have lifted the suspension of the Greek Football Federation (HFF) after new laws were passed in the country to make the body more independent.