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world news Diahuebs 5 November 2020

Mexico's conservative state of Puebla approves gay marriage

(AP) — The legislature in but current Gov. Miguel Bar-
the conservative central bosa is a member of Presi-
Mexico state of Puebla dent Andrés Manuel López
voted late Tuesday to al- Obrador’s progressive More-
low marriages between na party. Barbosa is expected
same-sex couples, as well to sign the bill into law.
as common-law marriages
for them. Gay marriage is now legal
only in a few places in the
Same-sex couples would country, such as Mexico City,
have all the legal marrriage the northern state of Coahui-
rights as others, as would la and Quintana Roo state on
common-law marriages, the Caribbean coast.
which are legally recognized
when couples live together López Obrador is religious
for more than two years or and relatively conservative
have children. on some social issues and has
shown no appetite for push-
Puebla has long been known ing the issue on a national
for religious conservativism, basis.

Retail therapy, last pints: England readies for new lockdown

(AP) — Last-minute shop- ing open, as are construction ing economic impact of caused more than 1.2 million the Sciensano government
pers in England came out sites and factories. the monthlong shutdown confirmed deaths — over health group.
in force Wednesday and prompted some lawmakers 270,000 of them in Europe,
thirsty drinkers planned With time running out to from Prime Minister Boris according to a tally by Johns Van Gucht said it was impor-
their final freshly poured get things sorted out before Johnson's Conservative Party Hopkins University. Ex- tant that people don't let their
pints in a pub for the next the lockdown takes effect, all to vote against approving the perts say the true toll, due to guard down in a country that
month as Britain pre- types of businesses extended lockdown in Parliament on missed cases and limited test- has been recording around
pared to join large swaths their hours and reported Wednesday. Still, Johnson ing, is much higher. 1,750 cases per 100,000 peo-
of Europe in a coronavi- brisk customer traffic, some- easily won the vote as most ple, triple the rates in Italy,
rus lockdown designed to times on an unprecedented opposition lawmakers backed Italy, which suffered badly Spain or the U.K.
save its health care system scale. London hairdresser the move. during the first wave of the “Let there be no doubt that
from being overwhelmed. Richard Ward said his team of pandemic, is facing new the tough rules need to be
around 100 will have worked “I don’t think any govern- curbs on freedom of move- maintained,” he said.
All non-essential venues — through 1,400 customers in ment would want to impose ment from Thursday, includ-
which in England includes the three working days since these measures lightly, or ing a nationwide overnight In the Netherlands, Prime
pubs, restaurants, hairdress- the British government an- any parliament would want curfew and high schools Minister Mark Rutte said
ers, golf courses, gyms, nounced the England-wide to impose these measures placed on full-time distance there were signs that clos-
swimming pools, entertain- lockdown, but weekly busi- lightly on the people of this learning. ing bars and restaurants was
ment places and stores sell- ness was still down around country,” Johnson said. working but that further
ing items like books, clothing 25% on an annual basis as a England’s lockdown follows The country is expected to be curbs were needed. Begin-
and sneakers — must close result of coronavirus restric- similar restrictions elsewhere carved up into three zones of ning Wednesday night, Dutch
Thursday until at least Dec. tions already in place. in the U.K., which record- contagion with correspond- cinemas, theaters, museums
2. That order came after a ed another 492 COVID-19 ing restrictions on move- and pools will be closed.
sudden change of course last “The staff are working back deaths on Wednesday, the ment, commercial activities
weekend by Britain's govern- to back, all days off have been highest daily number since and school openings. Travel “It’s not going too bad but
ment, which had for weeks canceled, all holidays have May. Overall, the U.K. has restrictions will prohibit any- certainly not good enough,"
been advocating a targeted been canceled,” Ward said. Europe's highest official vi- one from entering or leaving Rutte told the country. “The
regional response to the pan- "When you have high over- rus-related death toll: 47,742. a hard-hit region and restau- infection numbers have to go
demic instead of another na- heads like we have here, it’s rants and shops will close, down quicker.”
tional lockdown. a numbers game, and you It also follows fresh restric- except for supermarkets and
Two changes from the U.K.'s have to take a lot of money in tions across the continent pharmacies. Pope Francis also urged
spring lockdown is that this order to pay all these people amid evidence that the num- people to be “very attentive”
time schools and universi- and pay all the overheads.” ber of people hospitalized The northern region of Lom- to the measures to prevent
ties in England are remain- Fears about a devastat- with COVID-19 — and sub- bardy, which bore the brunt coronavirus infections as he
sequently dying — is increas- of the pandemic earlier this switched his weekly general
ing, The World Health Orga- year, is reeling under another audience Wednesday back
nization said European coun- surge, especially in its finan- to his private library and
tries recorded a 46% increase cial capital, Milan, and is ex- livestreamed the event. The
in virus deaths compared pected to face harsher restric- move seeks to better protect
with the previous week and tions. the 83-year-old pope after
were responsible for about someone at a recent public
half the 1.7 million cases re- Earlier restrictions appeared, audience tested positive.
ported around the world last in some locations, to be pro-
week. In recent days, many ducing results. Not all countries are going
European nations — includ- Belgium said Wednesday that down the lockdown route.
ing Belgium, Russia, France, new infections and hospital Russia has shunned a second
Italy, Poland, Slovenia and admissions have started to lockdown, insisting that its
the U.K. — have reported stabilize after measures like health care system is able to
their highest daily virus death closing pubs and restaurants cope with the recent surge.
tolls in months, and some- were introduced weeks ago. Still, Russia on Wednesday
times ever. “The high-speed train is reported 19,768 new infec-
slowing down,” said virolo- tions and 389 new deaths —
The pandemic has already gist Steven Van Gucht of both records.