German MPs approve final Greek bailout payment worth $17.6bn

German lawmakers have approved the payment of a final bailout loan installment to Greece worth €15 billion ($17.6 billion). The German parliament’s budget committee raised no objections to the payment at a special sitting on Wednesday, which was convened during the parliamentary summer break, AP reported. The pro-business Free Democrats and far-right Alternative for Germany sought to block the move, but their motions were voted down. European authorities had earlier approved the payout in principle. However, the final approval was delayed as Athens was asked to find additional budget savings for 2018 after extending a sales tax discount on islands affected by the ongoing refugee crisis. Greece’s third successive international bailout ends in late August.