Realpolitik in Ukraine

February 10, 2015 - Daily News Briefing

Fair or not, the West might need to temporarily back down in Ukraine to prevent more violence.

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The killing of more than 20 soccer fans outside a Cairo stadium in a melee with security forces has revived scrutiny of police tactics in Egypt less than a month after a woman was shot dead during the dispersal of a peaceful protest marking the anniversary of the 2011 uprising. The violence late Sunday, which prompted the Cabinet to suspend the national football league indefinitely, came three years after Egypt witnessed one of the deadliest soccer riots in the sport's history, and dealt a further blow to the military-backed government's attempt to project an image of stability after four years of political turmoil.

Nigeria's Islamic extremists Boko Haram pushed their conflict further into neighboring countries with attacks on Cameroon and Niger, abducting more than 30 people including those aboard a packed bus, said residents Monday. Three Cameroonian towns were attacked and in Niger, the town of Diffa was attacked for the third time in recent days. To battle Boko Haram, nearby countries have pledged to send troops to help Nigeria squash the militant group that killed more than 10,000 people last year. Nearly a year ago Boko Haram abducted more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls who remain missing.

The European Union decided Monday to hold off temporarily on slapping sanctions on more Russians and Ukrainian separatists and await the outcome of possible peace talks later this week. With the leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine due to hold negotiations in Minsk, Belarus, on Wednesday, the EU has held off placing asset freezes and travel bans on 19 more individuals, including five Russians, for their actions in eastern Ukraine.

The families of 52 people killed in crashes caused by faulty General Motors small-car ignition switches will receive millions in compensation from a company fund. The new total, which is one more than last week, was posted Monday on an Internet site by compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg. Each death claim is worth at least $1 million under guidelines established by Feinberg, who was hired by GM to handle claims and make payments.

Automakers are cramming cars with wireless technology, but they have failed to adequately protect those features against the real possibility that hackers could take control of vehicles or steal personal data, a member of the US Senate is asserting. Basing his argument on information provided by manufacturers, Sen. Edward Markey (D) of Massachusetts has concluded that "many in the automotive industry really don't understand what the implications are of moving to this new computer-based era" of the automobile.

McDonald's Corp's worldwide same-restaurant sales fell a steeper-than-expected 1.8 percent in January, as the company struggles to shake off the after-effects of food scandals in China and Japan. January marked the eighth straight month of worldwide same-restaurant sales declines at McDonald's, which is also battling changing consumer tastes, tough competition in the United States and economic and political turmoil in Europe, its top sales market.

A deep-space observatory has to wait yet another day before flying. SpaceX called off Sunday evening's launch attempt because of trouble with the Air Force rocket-tracking radar. The company targeted Monday, but decided to wait until Tuesday for better weather. That gives SpaceX time to replace a video transmitter on the first-stage booster of the Falcon 9 rocket. Following liftoff, the leftover booster is supposed to flip around and aim for a platform floating off the Florida coast. The landing test has been tried once before, without success.

“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.

To send a comment to the Editor, email editor@csmonitor.com.

“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.

To send a comment to the Editor, email editor@csmonitor.com.

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