NEWS FLASH

Greek Protesters Clash With Riot Police Ahead Of Austerity Vote | Greek protests ahead of a parliamentary vote on yet another austerity package turned violent Wednesday when riot police fired tear gas a protesters who had thrown petrol bombs at them, BBC reports. The $13.5-billion euro ($17.5 billion) austerity package includes tax increases and pension cuts and would be the country’s fourth major austerity package in three years. The package would also cut severance pay and other benefits for workers while raising the retirement age. Greek workers launched a three-day strike Monday after unemployment reached 25 percent this month, as austerity measures have led to contraction that has increased both economic hardship and the debt they was supposed to reduce.