Greece approves austerity budget

Greece’s parliament has approved a 2016 budget that includes deep spending cuts and tax increases amid economic recession.

The budget passed by 153 votes to 145, with two MPs absent in the 300-member parliament. The vote was strictly along partisan lines.

The government forecasts zero economic growth this year and a contraction of 0.7% in 2016. Earlier, it had predicted declines of 2.3% and 1.3%, respectively.