Russia’s gay propaganda laws illegal

LONDON — Russia’s prohibition of what it considers the promotion of homosexuality is discriminatory and violates freedom of expression, Europe’s top human rights court ruled on Tuesday, in a strong rejection of laws that rights groups say have been used as cover for abuse and violence.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, but gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are often subject to discrimination and persecution.

The prohibition has been seen as a central plank of President Vladimir Putin’s nationalist message, one that has positioned Russia as a defender of Christian and traditional values, and the West as decadent and godless.

Ruling in favor of three gay activists, the European Court of Human Rights found the laws were “discriminatory and, overall, served no legitimate public interest.” It ordered Russia to pay the men a total of 43,000 euros ($48,000) in damages.

Russia vowed to appeal.

Executives charged

LONDON— With two capital infusions in 2008, Barclays was able to survive the financial crisis without a government bail out even as other British banks teetered.

Now, those deals, struck with Qatar and other investors, have come back to haunt Barclays as it is trying to escape a thicket of legal andr eputational problems.

British authorities on Tuesday charged the bank and four former top executives, accusing them of mis representing arrangements with Qatar as the bank secured a total of $15 billion.

The criminal charges are the first to have been brought in Britain against a bank for actions taken in the financial crisis. The former executives are among the most senior bank managers to be charged anywhere in a crisis-era case.

Gunmen kill 8 guards

KABUL, Afghanistan — Suspected Taliban gunmen ambushed Afghan guards whowere in a vehicle headed towork at the U.S.-run Bagramair base, killing at least eight people as part of a surge of attacks by militants around the country, officials said Tuesday.

ATaliban spokesman said thegroup carried out the late Monday assault and described the victims as spies for the U.S. military.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces opened fire on demonstrators armed with sticks, killing one, as they cleared away a protest camp inthe early hours of Tuesday that had occupied a busy avenue for the last three weeks.

Two ministers quit

Twoof Emmanuel Macron’s ministers, both early backers of his bid for the presidency, resigned from his Cabinet, underlining the challenge of maintaining a government without a hint of scandal and increasing pressureon Justice Minister Francois Bayrou.

Richard Ferrand, who helped Mr. Macron set up his politicalparty, said Monday hewould step down as regional development minister. Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard handed in her resignation Tuesday, saying in a statements he didn’t feel she could stay in the government while investigators are looking into whether she and other European deputies fromthe centrist MoDem party mis used allowances to pay for party activities.

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The United States has failed to muster regional suppor tfor condemnation of Venezuela despite basic agreements that the government of President Nicolas Maduro has overstepped democratic bounds.