China Scene: West

Divorcing cousins learn 11-year marriage illegal

A court in Baihe county, Shaanxi province, refused to grant a divorce to a couple that's been married for 11 years by saying the union was invalid because they're cousins.

Cousins Liu and Bai became lovers in 1997 and registered their marriage the following year in a township government and had three children. Liu filed for divorce against her husband over disagreements.