Greeks back austerity measures

Greece’s lawmakers have approved a key austerity bill, paving the way for the country to get its next vital bailout loans that will prevent it from defaulting next month.

The unpopular €28bn five-year package of spending cuts and tax hikes was backed by a majority of the 300-member parliament today, including Socialist deputy Alexandros Athanassiadis, who had previously vowed to vote against.