What’s happy in the new year?

December 31, 2013 - Daily News Briefing

When we say “Happy New Year” tonight, we aren’t just making a wish. We’re stating a fact.

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The Federal Aviation Administration announced six states on Monday that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the march of the unmanned aircraft into US skies. Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas, and Virginia will host the research sites, providing diverse climates, geography, and air-traffic environments, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. Governments, businesses, farmers, and others are making plans to use drones.

A Pakistani police official says authorities have defused four small bombs planted near the house of former President and Army Chief Pervez Musharraf, just two days before he’s to appear in court in a treason case. Police said an onlooker spotted the devices on Monday alongside a road about a half kilometer from Musharraf’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad.

China’s local government debt has soared 70 percent over the past three years, according to an official audit Monday, which called on local leaders to curb the rapid increase. The report follows warnings that rising debt could endanger China’s economic growth. Communist Party leaders have pledged to make getting debts under control an official priority.

The average amount of electricity consumed in US homes has fallen to levels last seen more than a decade ago. Because of more energy-efficient housing, appliances, and gadgets, power usage is on track to decline in 2013 for the third year in a row, to 10,819 kilowatt-hours per household, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The home of Germany’s ambassador to Athens was sprayed with gunfire early Monday, in a suspected terrorist attack that prompted both governments to declare it would not strain ties between bailed-out Greece and its leading lender. No one was hurt when gunmen riddled the official residence of Ambassador Wolfgang Dold with bullets. The Greek government seeks a major debt relief deal with eurozone creditors.

Armed assailants who identified themselves as disciples of a self-styled prophet attacked the state television station, the airport, and the main military base in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, in what many feared was a coup attempt early Monday, before being repelled by the country’s military, officials and witnesses said.

The first commercial passenger flight from Key West to to Cuba in more than 50 years landed Monday in Havana, capping several years of efforts to reunite the two islands, though regular air service still appeared a distant prospect.

Samsung said a 110-inch TV that has four times the resolution of standard high-definition TVs is going on sale for about $150,000 in South Korea. The launch Monday of the giant television set reflects global TV makers’ move toward ultra HD TVs, as manufacturing bigger TVs using OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) proves too costly.

Compiled from wire service reports

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

Compiled from wire service reports

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

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