Portugal's largest union confederation vowed to bring the country to a standstill Thursday with rallies against austerity measures and labor reforms.

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"Those who have been trying to bring Northern Ireland to a standstill need to take a long, hard look at what it is they think they're achieving, " she said.

BBC: Northern Ireland

Cricket is also nothing short of a religion in places such as India and Sri Lanka, where cricket players are superstars and big matches bring daily life to a standstill.

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And as we've seen in past blackouts, the loss of electricity can bring businesses, cities and entire regions to a standstill.

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Despite Grand Central's strategic significance, however, a bucket of sand tipped into one of these converters would have been enough to bring the terminal -- and 80% of the country's eastbound military movement -- to a standstill.

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