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Newlyweds with fake papers, Nollywood legend begs for help

These are top international stories of the week.

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by BRIAN ORUTA

News24 March 2024 - 17:15
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In Summary


  • • Thousands of newlyweds in Zimbabwe have been suprised to learn that their marriage certificates are not valid.
  • • In England, the Princess of Wales this week announced that she is in the early stages of treatment after cancer was found in tests.
A couple ties the knot

Congress vote averts US government shutdown

The US Senate has agreed a $1.2tn spending package that will fund the US government through September.

Legislators narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the government with minutes to go before a midnight deadline.

While votes on a series of amendments were expected to continue for several hours, the agreement means that there will be no lapse in funding to key government departments.

Three teenagers detained in China over classmate's death

Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Handan detained three teenage boys over the brutal death of their classmate, local media reported.

The case of the 13-year-old boy, identified only by his surname Wang, has sparked anger and furious debate on juvenile crime.

Authorities found his remains buried in an abandoned vegetable garden.

The boy was bullied in school, according to his father.

Nollywood legend begs for help with kidney transplant

A social media video showing Nollywood comedy legend Amaechi Muonagor in poor health and begging for financial help shocked many Nigerians.

He can be seen in bed with a bandage on his chest, barely able to talk.

In the video, released on Monday, a clearly distressed Muonagor, rasps in the Igbo language: "Igbo people, I greet you all."

He is unable to continue and actor Kingsley Orji takes over explaining that the veteran performer is suffering from kidney-related issues and needs money to pay for a kidney transplant.

The news comes as Nigerians are still mourning the death of Nollywood star John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu, who also needed medical help.

Princess of Wales says she is undergoing cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales this week announced that she is in the early stages of treatment after cancer was found in tests.

In a video statement, Catherine said it was a "huge shock" after an "incredibly tough couple of months".

But she sent a positive message, saying: "I am well and getting stronger every day."

Details of the cancer have not been disclosed, but Kensington Palace says it is confident the princess will make a full recovery.

Zimbabwe newlyweds discover marriage papers invalid

Thousands of newlyweds in Zimbabwe have been suprised to learn that their marriage certificates are not valid.

It has emerged that, because of a clerical issue, certificates issued within the last 18 months are void - a discovery which could affect all those couples who got married within this period.

The matter came to light when the Zimbabwe Law Society issued an alert notice to lawyers across the country.

It noted that stationery being used for civil marriage certificates continues to cite a chapter from an old marriage act, which was repealed in 2022.

Man 'recovering well' after pig kidney transplant

A 62-year-old man is said to be recovering well and should leave hospital soon, after getting a new kidney from a pig that was genetically modified to reduce the risk of the organ being rejected.

US surgeons say Rick Slayman is a "real hero" for trying the pioneering operation.

The ultimate hope is to use animal organs for more transplants.

Pig kidneys have been put into brain-dead people before as a test.

Nigeria President bans foreign trips by government officials

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu will introduce a three-month ban on ministers and other government officials from going on publicly funded foreign trips.

Mr Tinubu's chief of staff said the move was prompted by the president's "concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses" by public officials.

The ban will take effect on 1 April.

President Tinubu and his administration have been criticised by some for their frequent visits abroad.

Vietnam President resigns after a year in office

Vietnam's president Vo Van Thuong has resigned after only one year in office.

After a meeting of the ruling Communist Party on Wednesday, the government said in a statement that he had broken party rules and had negatively affected its reputation.

Mr Thuong is believed to have resigned over his links to a corruption scandal in his home province.

He was appointed last year to replace another president forced to step down over corruption.

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