11.   Parliament on Tuesday approved an austerity budget, marking an important step towards getting badly needed loans from the International Monetary Fund.

12.   Parents with small children and most employees on sick leave will see their government benefits trimmed under an austerity budget presented Tuesday by the Social Democratic government.

13.   Parliament was expected to approve an austerity budget later Monday which foresees reduced spending in all sectors.

14.   And his austerity budget, which has triggered a wave of strikes and huge protests, is going before the Senate, where the government lacks a majority.

15.   Cabinet ministers plan to meet Tuesday to discuss the crisis and efforts to save a deficit-fighting austerity budget, which has turned labor unions against the government.

16.   Defense, like most government sectors, is short on cash due to an austerity budget.

17.   Fed up with crowded classrooms and more job cuts, French teachers went on strike nationwide Monday to press the conservative government to back off its austerity budget.

18.   In its austerity budget, the government led by Prime Minister Radu Vasile has reduced spending in all areas, prompting protests among education, health and defense officials.

19.   Italy, Spain and Portugal have recently introduced austerity budgets in an effort to meet the deadlines.

20.   Italy and Spain recently introduced austerity budgets in an effort to meet the deadlines.