.美同性婚姻合法：same sex marriage, legal, the U.S.

On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 decision held Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional. Same-sex couples are now entitled to the same marital federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. Thereafter, President Obama and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, both welcomed the decision of the Court and promised that federal benefits for same-sex, legally married couples will be implemented swiftly, smoothly, and equally as opposite-sex spouses. On January 10, 2014, Attorney General Eric Holder stated with regard to Utah’s same-sex marriage ban: “Last June, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in United States v. Windsor, holding Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law. This ruling marked a historic step towards equality for all American families.”
Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia. For those who have endured prevalent discriminatory laws in the LBGT community, this decision is not merely a progressive symbol of equality for gay rights, but it has for the first time, enabled same-sex couples to apply for immigration benefits.
Until recently, obtaining immigration benefits, such as visas and green cards through same-sex marriage, was highly unlikely. Most same-sex marriage immigration benefit applications were rejected. The effect of the Windsor decision, however, was definitive. Four days after the Supreme Court’s decision, gay couple Julian Marsh and Traian Povov received their notice for green card approval. In another case, an American citizen applied for immediate family immigration for his spouse who was illegally present in the United States. The immigration court initially began deportation proceedings against the foreign spouse, but the removal proceedings were terminated after the repeal of DOMA.
Attorney Julie Oliver-Zhang explains that gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender same-sex couples are eligible for immigration benefits even if they reside in a state that has not yet legalized same-sex marriage. If one spouse is a green card holder or a U.S. citizen, then marriage in one of the 16 states or D.C. that has legalized gay marriage will meet the requirements for the application of immigration benefits. Same-sex couples do not need to establish state residency, but merely get married in a legal gay marriage jurisdiction to be immediately eligible for green card or visa benefits for foreign spouses and their children. Depending on the circumstances, even if the foreign same-sex partner has illegally entered or resided without documentation in America for a number of years, they may still qualify for a green card.

Same-sex partners of U.S. citizens who are living abroad are eligible for fiancé or fiancée visas that will allow them to quickly travel to the United States and get married. Once the foreign spouse obtains permanent residency and become American citizens, they can apply for immigration benefits for their immediate relatives, such as parents and siblings. With the change in the new immigration laws, foreign LGBT partners can finally be reunited with their families.
The new immigration rights are a positive step towards remedying a history of discrimination against same-sex couples, allowing those in the LGBT community to achieve the American dream through swift and effective immigration processing.” 


http://oliverzhanglaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Chinese-World-Journal-Op-Ed-Julie-2014.01.29.pdf

朴謹惠密友干政：South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, apologize, scandal, influence paddling

Korean president Park Geun-hye’s has made a tearful apology for her role in a “heartbreaking” political scandal that has engulfed her administration – but it has failed to mollify opposition parties.

In a televised address on Friday, Park said she would cooperate with prosecutors in their investigation into allegations that she allowed Choi Soon-sil, a friend of 40 years, to influence government policies on everything from the economy to North Korea.

remove her hands from state affairs.”

Earlier, in a brief televised address to journalists, Park said that prosecutors should clarify what happened and that everyone involved, including herself, should be held accountable and take responsibility if found guilty.

It is not clear what action could be taken against Park, as South Korea’s constitution does not allow a sitting president to be prosecuted.

“These latest developments are all my fault and were caused by my carelessness,” she said, adding that she had “allowed my guard to drop” around Choi.

“It is hard to forgive myself and sleep at night because of the feelings of sorrow,” Park said, her voice trembling.

Choi is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs, and her lawyer has said he expects prosecutors to look into whether she inappropriately received classified documents. Choi has also been accused of using her ties to Park to benefit unlawfully from two non-profit organisations.

“It is very miserable and regrettable that a particular individual is said to have taken profits and committed several unlawful acts, while we are working on a job in hopes of helping the national economy and people’s lives,” Park said, referring to Choi.

https://www.google.com.tw/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/tearful-south-korean-president-says-scandal-of-friends-influence-is-all-my-fault

Brexit, referendum, Cameron, Farage, Johnson, leave, remain Week8

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said "fresh leadership" was needed.
The PM had urged the country to vote Remain but was defeated by 52% to 48% despite London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backing staying in.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK's "independence day", while Boris Johnson said the result would not mean "pulling up the drawbridge".
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was "absolutely determined" to keep Scotland in the EU so a second Scottish independence referendum was now "highly likely".
German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "great regret" at the outcome, and EU chiefs said they expected the UK to begin negotiations to leave "as soon as possible, however painful that process may be".
But Boris Johnson, the ex-London mayor and public face of Vote Leave who is now a front-runner to be next prime minister, said there was "no need for haste" about severing the UK's ties.
He said voters had "searched in their hearts" and the UK now had a "glorious opportunity" to pass its own laws, set its own taxes and control its own borders.
Another leading Leave campaigner, Labour's Gisela Stuart, said the UK would be a "good neighbour" when it left the EU.
The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.
The slide halted when the Bank of England said it stood ready with £250bn of extra funding to ensure market stability. But the pound remains 8% down against the dollar, and 6% lower against the euro.
Flanked by his wife Samantha, Mr Cameron announced shortly after 08:15 BST that he had informed the Queen of his decision to remain in place for the short term and to then hand over to a new prime minister by the time of the Conservative conference in October.
He would attempt to "steady the ship" over the coming weeks and months, but that it would be for the new prime minister to carry out negotiations with the EU and invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would give the UK two years to negotiate its withdrawal, he said.
"The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected," said Mr Cameron. "The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered."
Bank of England governor Mark Carney said UK banks' "substantial capital and huge liquidity" allowed them to continue to lend to businesses and households.
Chancellor George Osborne said he had briefed G7 finance ministers about the consequences of the vote.
On Twitter, he said it had been a "hard-fought campaign" and while it was not the outcome he wanted, "I will do all I can to make it work".
The referendum turnout was 71.8% - with more than 30 million people voting - the highest turnout at a UK-wide vote since 1992.
Mr Farage - who has campaigned for the past 20 years for Britain to leave the EU - told cheering supporters: "This will be a victory for ordinary people, for decent people."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called for the UK to remain in the EU but was accused of a lukewarm campaign, said poorer communities were "fed up" with cuts and felt "marginalised by successive governments".
There have been calls for him to consider his position after some of the strongest votes to leave the EU came from traditional Labour heartlands.
Senior backbencher Dame Margaret Hodge has tabled a motion of no confidence, which has the support of eight other Labour MPs, urging Mr Corbyn to resign. The motion could be debated and voted on by Labour MPs next week.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said Labour's leader had been "utterly gutless" in the way he approached the campaign.
But major unions, which fund the party, have urged Labour MPs not to create a leadership crisis.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said his party needed to "gear up" for a possible snap election and that he was "disappointed" at Dame Margaret's intervention.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028



KEYWORDS:
1. drawbridged 吊橋
2.referendum 頃示書
3.halted 終止
4.marginalised 排斥
5.backbencher 後座議員
6.utterly 徹底地

Islamic State, terror attack, behead Week 7

Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for a coordinated assault by gunmen and bombers that killed 129 people at locations across Paris, which President Francois Hollande said amounted to an act of war against France.
In the worst attack, a Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people at a rock concert at the Bataclan concert hall before anti-terrorist commandos launched an assault on the building. Dozens of survivors were rescued, and bodies were still being recovered on Saturday morning.
The assaults came as France, a founder member of the U.S.-led coalition waging air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, was on high alert for terrorist attacks.
It was the worst such attack in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, in which 191 died.
Hollande said the attacks had been organized from abroad by Islamic State "barbarians", with internal help. Sources close to the investigation said a Syrian passport had been found near the body of one of the suicide bombers.
"Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action," Hollande said after an emergency meeting of security chiefs. He also announced three days of national mourning.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy added in a statement: "The war we must wage should be total."
During a visit to Vienna, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said "we are witnessing a kind of medieval and modern fascism at the same time."
In its claim of responsibility, Islamic State said the attacks were a response to France's campaign against its fighters.
It also distributed an undated video in which a militant said France would not live peacefully as long it took part in U.S.-led bombing raids against them.
"As long as you keep bombing you will not live in peace. You will even fear traveling to the market," said a bearded Arabic-speaking militant, flanked by other fighters.
Six attackers blew themselves up and one was shot by police. There may have been an eighth attacker, but this was not confirmed.
The attacks, in which automatic weapons and explosives belts were used, lasted 40 minutes.
"The terrorists, the murderers, raked several cafe terraces with machine-gun fire before entering (the concert hall). There were many victims in terrible, atrocious conditions in several places," police prefect Michel Cadot told reporters.


KEYWORDS:

1. assault 抨擊

2. coalition 聯合

3. flanked 掩護

4. terraces 梯田

5. atrocious 令人震驚的

unmanned aerial vehicle Week6

Unmanned Aerial Online is the web’s destination for news, analysis and thought leadership about the burgeoning commercial and civil unmanned aerial vehicle sector.
As regulators build momentum toward the safe and steady integration of UAVs into our airspace, practically limitless applications for unmanned aerial systems are emerging: fire/rescue, agriculture, land surveying, wildlife management, real estate, visual arts and utility management, just to name a handful.
Unmanned Aerial Online covers these applications and the technologies, stakeholders and ideas that are driving their growth. To deliver our content, we monitor industry activity by examining product trends, reporting on policy, and collecting expert feedback, through both daily news coverage and special features. The news and analysis offered on unmanned-aerial.com and delivered via our Latest Headlines e-mail newsletter give readers access to important information that will shape how this industry develops and business decisions are made.
For more than 45 years, Zackin Publications has provided business-to-business information to industry decision-makers, enabling them to achieve higher levels of business success through education and information. Additionally, Zackin Publications offers venues that connect vendors, suppliers and distributors in vertical industries with qualified professionals.
These professionals rely on the most up-to-date information to stay ahead of the curve in their respective industries. Serving over 100,000 subscribers in the wind power, solar energy, electric utility, fleet management, loan servicing and residential mortgage banking industries, Zackin Publications holds leading positions in the markets we reach.Our client-focused philosophy on individualized, personal service is designed to help our customers maximize marketing success and reach their expressed goals. Our professionally trained staff offers more than 75 years of combined marketing expertise and industry knowledge.

http://unmanned-aerial.com/about-us/

Keywords：

   1. burgeoning 迅速發展

   2. integration 集成

   3. stakeholders 參與方

   4. venues 審判地

   5. mortgage 抵押

   6. philosophy 哲學

Paris Climate Change Conference, COP 21 Week 5

The pact is the first to commit all countries to cut carbon emissions.
The agreement is partly legally binding and partly voluntary.
Earlier, key blocs, including the G77 group of developing countries, and nations such as China and India said they supported the proposals.
President of the UN climate conference of parties (COP) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said: "I now invite the COP to adopt the decision entitled Paris Agreement outlined in the document.

"Looking out to the room I see that the reaction is positive, I see no objections. The Paris agreement is adopted."
US President Barack Obama has hailed the agreement as "ambitious" and "historic", but also warned against complacency.
"Together, we've shown what's possible when the world stands as one," he said.
And although admitting that the deal was not "perfect", he said it was "the best chance to save the one planet we have".
China's chief negotiator Xie Zhenhua said the deal was not perfect. But he added that "this does not prevent us from marching historical steps forward".
Nearly 200 countries took part in the negotiations to strike the first climate deal to commit all countries to cut emissions, which would come into being in 2020.
The chairman of the group representing some of the world's poorest countries called the deal historic, adding: "We are living in unprecedented times, which call for unprecedented measures.
"It is the best outcome we could have hoped for, not just for the Least Developed Countries, but for all citizens of the world."

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35084374

Keywords：

   1. emissions 散發

   2. ambitious 有野心的

   3. hailed 招呼

   4. complacency 自滿

   5. unprecedented 空前的

The Revenant, Leonardo Dicaprio, Oscar, best actor Week4

He was named best actor at the 88th Academy Awards, with Brie Larson named best actress for Room.
Spotlight took home the best picture Oscar with Mad Max: Fury Road picking up the most awards of the night, with six accolades.
Mark Rylance won the best supporting actor Oscar, with fellow Briton Sam Smith winning best original song.
The ceremony had been boycotted by some Hollywood figures protesting about the lack of ethnic diversity among this year's nominees, as all 20 nominees in the best acting or supporting acting categories are white.
Host Chris Rock addressed the controversy head on as he launched the ceremony, and it was a theme that was returned to several times during the night.
Rock commented he had "counted at least 15 black people" in the montage that opened the ceremony, before welcoming people to the "white People's Choice awards".
"You realise if they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job," he quipped. "Y'all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now."
Rock added: "Everyone wants to know is Hollywood racist? You have to go at it the right way. Is it burning-cross racist? Fetch-me-some-lemonade racist? No.
"It's a different kind of racist. Is Hollywood racist? You're damn right it's racist but it's sorority racist. It's like: We like you Rhonda, but you're not a Kappa.''
Among the winners for Mad Max: Fury Road - nominated for 10 Oscars including best director for George Miller - was British designer Jenny Beavan, for best costume design.
The Revenant won three of the 12 awards for which it was nominated. Alejandro Inarritu also won best director and Emmanuel Lubezki won his third Oscar for cinematography in a row, having won in 2015 for Birdman and 2014 for Gravity.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35670715

Keywords：

   1. Spotlight 突出醒目

   2. accolades 稱讚

   3. boycott 抵制

   4. nominees 候選人

   5. quipped 嘲諷

   6. racist 種族主義

   7. sorority聯誼會

   8. cinematography 電影攝影學