the Informer

Arraignment begins in beard cutting case Four members of an Amish group charged with hate crimes are set for arraignment in Youngstown, Ohio on Wednesday. The sect leader, Samuel Mullet Sr., along with two of his sons and his son-in-law, will be in court after being accused of shaving the beards of individuals who refused to support the sect. In the Amish religion, a man’s beard and head hair are sacred. They are accused of restraining multiple Amish men and cutting their beards and head hair. Nigeria passes anti-gay bill The Nigerian senate has passed a bill banning same-sex marriages while also defying a threat from Britain to withhold aid from nations violating gay rights. The bill not only bans marriage, but also calls for a 14-year sentence for anyone convicted of homosexuality. The bill is set to go to the Nigerian House of Representatives for a vote before the President can sign it into law. British actions angered many nations in Africa that interpreted it as a “colonial” display of power. Britain evacuates embassy Following an attack on the British embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, Britain has decided to close its embassy. Iran has also been ordered to close its embassy in London. The attack included protesters, which stormed the embassy, further straining relations between Britain and Iran. The countries were already having issues including a debate on Iran’s nuclear program. This incident has worried other nations with embassies in Tehran. Norway is also closing its embassy temporarily. Circus fined over treatment of animals The U.S. Department of Agriculture is fining the “Greatest Show on Earth” for animal rights violations. The fines could total up to $10,000 per violation of the Animal Welfare Act. The fining comes after the settlement of an earlier lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is violating the Endangered Species Act by exploiting elephants by using metal bullhooks to guide and control and also chaining their legs when they are not performing. Nine are dead after fire in Hong Kong market A popular tourist market lit aflame, killing at least nine, Wednesday morning in Hong Kong. Eight charred bodies have already been removed and 30 people are in the hospital, four of which are in critical condition. The fire began at a hawker stall close to Ladies’ Market in the Mong Kok district. Mong Kok has been a tourist magnet for exploring the traditional markets and small shops that line the narrow roads in the area.