NICOSIA – Cyprus conceded on Thursday that tight capital controls would remain in force longer than expected as the island’s banks reopened for the first time after the government was forced to accept a tough EU rescue package to avoid bankruptcy.
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MERIDEN – The gunman who killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school fired 154 rounds in less than 5 minutes, selecting high capacity magazines from a home arsenal stocked with swords, knives and a cache of guns, officials said.
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JOHANNESBURG – Former South African President Nelson Mandela is “responding positively” to treatment for a recurring lung infection after being admitted to hospital overnight, the government said on Thursday.
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BEIRUT/ISTANBUL – Fifteen Syrian students were killed when rebel mortar bombs hit a Damascus University canteen on Thursday, state-run news agency SANA said, as attacks intensified in the centre of the capital.
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SAO PAULO – Builders are threatening to halt construction on Sao Paulo’s new World Cup stadium within weeks because of a dispute over financing, a move that could throw next year’s global soccer tournament into disarray and embarrass the government.
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ROME – Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani has failed in his attempt to find a way out of Italy’s political deadlock and President Giorgio Napolitano will now seek another solution, the president’s palace said on Thursday.
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PRETORIA – “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius was granted permission to travel abroad on Thursday when a South African judge relaxed bail conditions imposed after the Paralympic and Olympic track star was charged with murdering his girlfriend.
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PARIS – With his approval ratings and most of his economic pledges in tatters, French President Francois Hollande will try to convince a disillusioned nation on television on Thursday to keep faith in him to restore the economy to health.
