2015 Event After a credit rating downgrade to 'junk' by Standard & Poor's, Brazil implements a $17 billion austerity package that will eliminate ten government ministries, cut public spending, and halt both hiring and salary increases in the public sector 2015 Event A federal U.S. judge orders a halt to an executive order issued by President Barack Obama that allows approximately 5 million illegal immigrants to remain in the country; Obama expects to overcome this hurdle to implement the order as planned 2014 Event Pope Francis gives Easter Mass in St. Peter's square; his message included prayer for peace in Syria and Ukraine, a halt to Boko Haram attacks against Nigerian Christians, and for all to care for the hungry and the needy 2014 Event Shanghai and Hong Kong halt live poultry sales after a third death from to the H7N9 bird flu is reported in Hong Kong; China has reported 19 deaths and 96 infections from the bird flu at the beginning of 2014 2013 Event A plan to improve the technical functionality of U.S. stock exchanges in announced following the NASDAQ halt in trading in August, 2013 2012 Event Fears over bioterrorism cause top international virologists agree to halt work on a more virulent strain of H5N1 influenza virus 2011 Event After a rare public outcry, President Thein Sein of Burma decides to halt the controversial Myitsone Dam project 2011 Event A recent crash on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway prompts a halt in service and an inspection of all sections of the track 2010 Event The U.S. threatens to impose sanctions on North Korea, continuing its attempt to halt perceived nuclear weapons ambitions 1992 Event U.N. votes for sanctions against Serb-led Yugoslavia to halt fighting 1979 Event President Carter announces immediate halt to all imports of Iranian oil 1978 Event Memphis fire fighters halt 3-day strike under a court order 1968 Event President Johnson orders a halt to all bombing of North Vietnam
