Strike hits ports, public transport

A strike in Finland halted public transportation and shut down ports nationwide on Friday as workers protested against government cutbacks aimed at trying to drag the Nordic country out of a three-year economic downturn. Trains and city buses were not running and Finnair, the national carrier, cancelled 16 domestic flights. Some shops were expected to be closed during demonstrations later in the day in Helsinki and major Finnish cities. The strike came after talks on a collective agreement on wages and working hours collapsed. Three unions are protesting government cutbacks, including limits to holiday benefits and overtime pay.