Greece’s Parliament approved late Thursday a raft of fresh austerity measures and economic reforms that the country must implement in the next four years to unlock a much-needed cash payment to meet upcoming debt obligations. Meanwhile, Greece’s most influential creditors — Germany and the International Monetary Fund — remain deadlocked over debt restructuring. The measures, totaling more than €4 billion ($4.4 billion), were passed by a vote of 153 lawmakers from the ruling left-wing Syriza party and its junior coalition partner, the Independent Greeks, securing a majority in the 300-seat parliament. (full story)