Police clear Occupy camps in Los Angeles,

Philly

Police in Philadelphia dismantled tents and arrested Occupy protesters

who refused to leave early Wednesday.It was reported about 40 protesters were arrested following a

clash with police. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening

injuries. In recent weeks, cities across the nation have begun clearing

encampments, citing economic, health and public safety concerns.

In Other NewsIn Other News Mass strikes began across the United Kingdom on Wednesday, with up to 2 million workers walking out of jobs in schools, hospitals and police stations. Unite, the country's biggest trade union, said strikes and marches were taking place up and down the country. Public-sector workers are walking out over proposed pension reforms. A federal judge will begin a week and half of hearings on whether John Hinckley Jr. (who shot and almost killed President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981) eventually should be released from the mental hospital where he has been a patient since his 1982 trial ended in a jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The motion proposes a series of eight new visits of 17 to 24 days each to Hinckley's mother's home. After that, the hospital wants "the sole discretion to place Hinckley on convalescent leave" and to do so "without any further review by this court."No

immediate decision is expected during the court hearing. In the past, the judge has taken some time before issuing a written ruling. Britain started evacuating its diplomatic staff from Iran on Wednesday after protesters stormed its embassy and a separate compound. The demonstration was a result of an Iranian Parliament vote Sunday to expel the ambassador and reduce diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in retaliation for its new sanctions. Britain cut all financial ties with Iran last week over concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has slapped the parent company of the "Greatest Show on Earth" with a record penalty for alleged animal rights violations. Feld Entertainment Inc., which produces the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, has agreed to pay $270,000 for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act on several occasions from June 2007 to August 2011. Analysts have begun providing their final tallies for Cyber Monday sales, which found that people piled more in their virtual shopping carts than ever before. Monday was the highest-grossing online shopping day in U.S. history, with spending reaching $1.25 billion, according to market research firm comScore. That's up 22% from the previous record, which was last year's Cyber Monday. Online shopping for the month of November has hit $15 billion, a 15% increase compared to last year.