On human rights, world opinion matters

August 20, 2014 - Daily News Briefing

Unrest in Ferguson, Mo., is a local, state, and national problem. It is also a global problem if it undermines the US ability to push for universal human rights.

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A large crowd, some chanting "Hands up, don't shoot," gathered Tuesday at the site where St. Louis police officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man after a reported convenience store robbery. The shooting happened just a few miles from Ferguson, where a police officer's fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old, Michael Brown, has touched off days of protests. St. Louis Police Capt. Ed Kuntz said police responded shortly after noon following a report of a robbery at a convenience store. The man, 23, had a knife and refused police orders to drop the weapon, Kuntz said. When the man allegedly raised the knife and moved toward the officers, both opened fire, killing him, said Kuntz, who commands the police district where the incident occurred.

An Egyptian effort to broker an end to a month-long war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip appeared to collapse Tuesday after Israel walked out on the talks in response to a barrage of Palestinian rocket fire. The Israeli walkout occurred just hours before a midnight deadline, leaving the fate of the negotiations in question and raising the possibility of a resumption of heavy fighting. There was no immediate Egyptian comment, but a Hamas official declared the talks over. The breakdown dealt a harsh blow to nearly a week of Egyptian-led diplomacy meant to end weeks of fighting that has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian and U.N. officials.

Police said they prevented a "horrific tragedy" by arresting two teenage boys who plotted to kill three high school staffers then gun down as many students as possible in a quaint Los Angeles suburb. The boys, who were trying to get weapons, had been under constant surveillance since the school district informed police of their plans last Thursday, South Pasadena police Sgt. Brian Solinsky said Monday. He would not elaborate on the plans or what form they took, but Solinsky said they were "very specific" and included named targets.

Tens of thousands of protesters armed with wire cutters and backed by cranes broke through barriers protecting Pakistan's parliament and other government buildings Tuesday night, demanding the country's prime minister resign. Government authorities had warned they would not allow protesters to enter Islamabad's "Red Zone," but the demonstrators met no immediate resistance from police or the hundreds of troops guarding the buildings. Wearing masks and carrying makeshift shields, they hammered through barbed wire and locks connecting shipping containers that had been erected as a barrier around the zone, which also holds the president's and prime minister's ceremonial homes and many diplomatic posts.

Armed groups in Syria have an estimated several hundred portable anti-aircraft missiles that could easily be diverted to extremists and used to destroy low-flying commercial planes, according to a new report by a respected international research group. It cites the risk that the missiles could be smuggled out of Syria by terrorists. The report was released just hours after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice Monday to US airlines banning all flights in Syrian airspace. The agency said armed extremists in Syria are "known to be equipped with a variety of anti-aircraft weapons which have the capability to threaten civilian aircraft."

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is stepping down from the company's board, bringing to a close 34 years with the software giant. Ballmer says he plans to devote more time to his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers, civic contributions, teaching and study. Microsoft published Ballmer's resignation letter on its website Tuesday along with a response from current CEO Satya Nadella. The 58-year-old says he plans to hold on to his Microsoft stock and will continue to offer feedback on products and strategy. With 333.3 million shares worth $15 billion, Ballmer's 4 percent stake in the company makes him the largest individual holder of Microsoft shares.

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