Sao Paulo/Buenos Aires - Trading at the Sao Paulo stock exchange was again suspended Wednesday, for the sixth time in three weeks, after the fall in its leading index Bovespa went beyond the 10 per cent mark that activates the circuit breaker.

The half-an-hour suspension was launched at 5:17 pm (1917 GMT), less than 45 minutes before the scheduled closing time. The Bovespa was losing 10.03 per cent at the time.

Brazilian markets were again influenced by the market drops in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Wellington - New Zealand's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by an unprecedented 1 per cent to 6.5 per cent on Thursday, its third cut in 13 weeks after making no reductions for five years.

Governor of the Reserve Bank Alan Bollard cited "ongoing financial market turmoil and a deteriorating outlook for global growth" as main reasons for the record cut, which had been widely predicted.

Wellington - New Zealand's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by an unprecedented 1 per cent to 6.5 per cent on Thursday, its third cut in 13 weeks after making no reductions for five years.

The Reserve Bank had cut its Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 8 per cent on July 24 after keeping it at 8.25 per cent - one of the highest in the developed world - for 12 months and reduced it again to 7.5 per cent on September 11.

Damascus - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Syria late Wednesday, where he was received by the Syrian assistant foreign minister at Damascus airport.

Upon arrival, Solana said that his visit to Syria is a follow up to what has been achieved in the Syrian-European relations. He also expressed his satisfaction with the indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel.

Kampala - At least 20 people died after a brake failure caused an overcrowded bus to crash into a row of taxis late Wednesday in Kampala.

The brakes failed as the bus was edging up an incline. The driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled down the road, colliding with at least 15 taxis and a few other vehicles.

The death toll could be much higher and many injured passengers were rushed to hospital, Central Broadcasting Service radio reported.