Public sector strike hits services and schools
About half of all state schools in England and Wales are being affected by a strike by UK public sector workers.
Picket lines have been set up as three teaching unions join Public and Commercial Services union members such as jobcentre and border control staff to protest at planned pension changes.
A march and rally is also taking place in central London.
The government says the plans are "fair to taxpayers" and other trade unions are continuing with negotiations.
Along with the opposition, it has condemned the strike action, although Labour leader Ed Miliband has accused ministers of mishandling negotiations with the unions.
The action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the University and College Union (UCU) affects England and Wales.
The unions say the proposals would mean more work and contributions for a reduced pension.
About 12,000 schools are being affected, although the actual total may turn out to be higher.
Information from about 75% of England's 21,500 state schools showed a third would close, a third would remain open, and a third would be partially closed. In Wales, according to local authority figures, more than 1,000 out of 1,800 schools are either closed or partially closed.
In London, where police leave has been cancelled, union leaders and activists gathered at Lincoln's Inn Fields for the march to Westminster.Airport delays
The impact of the co-ordinated industrial action began to be felt at ports and airports on Wednesday evening, when some UK Border Agency staff walked out from 1800 BST.
Travellers were warned to expect delays on arrival at UK ports and airports - although most are not currently reporting disruption.
As flights began to arrive, Heathrow airport said passengers were "generally" not experiencing excessive delays at border control. Gatwick said there were "very slight delays" while Luton reported disruption had been kept to an "absolute minimum" and Stansted said passengers are not seeing delays.
People leaving the UK are not affected because departing passengers come into contact with security staff employed by the airports, who will not be taking industrial action.
The walkouts by the PCS, which has around 260,000 members including coastguards, police support workers, court staff and driving test examiners, will be staged across the UK.
The government said that, in the Civil Service, "early signs are that less than half of the PCS Union's own members have decided to take part in today's strikes".
IN A RELATED STORY ... FEEDING THE BEAST
Greek unions call 48-hour strike to protest planned cuts
The strike will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece said. A rally is planned for Tuesday that will end outside the Parliament building.
Greece's Parliament is due to vote Wednesday on a tough five-year package of tax increases and spending cuts, a day later than originally planned.
The austerity measures must be passed if Greece is to win the last $17 billion portion of a $156 billion bailout package from other European nations that was granted in 2010, and also to clear the way for another potential bailout package to keep Greece afloat going forward.
HOW TO FEED THE BEAST ... RAISE TAXES!
California tells online retailers to start collecting sales taxes from customers
Beginning Friday, Amazon.com and other large out-of-state retailers will be required to collect sales taxes on purchases that their California customers make online.
The new tax collection requirement — part of budget-related legislation — is expected to raise an estimated $317 million a year in new state and local government revenue.
But those taxes may come with a price. Amazon and online retailer Overstock.com Inc. told thousands of California Internet marketing affiliates that they will stop paying commissions for referrals of so-called click-through customers.
Both Amazon in Seattle and Overstock in Salt Lake City have told affiliates that they would have to move to another state if they wanted to continue earning commissions for referring customers.
Both Amazon in Seattle and Overstock in Salt Lake City have told affiliates that they would have to move to another state if they wanted to continue earning commissions for referring customers.
NET NET = LOST JOBS, REVENUE AND TAXES .... GO CALIFORNIA!!!
