same sex marriage, legal, the U.S.

網址:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States

Same-sex marriage in the United States

In the United States, same-sex marriage has been legal in all states, Washington, D.C., as well as all U.S. territories except American Samoa, but not on Indian lands, since June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. The court ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples and the refusal to recognize those marriages performed in other jurisdictions violates the Due Process and the Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The ruling overturned a precedent, Baker v. Nelson.

While civil rights campaigning took place from the 1970s, the issue became prominent from around 1993, when the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in Baehr v. Lewin that the prohibition was unconstitutional. The ruling led to federal actions and actions by several states, to restrict marriage to male-female couples, in particular the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). During the period of 2003 to 2015, various lower court decisions, state legislation, and popular referendums had already legalized same-sex marriage to some degree in thirty-eight out of fifty U.S. states, in the U.S. territory Guam, and in the District of Columbia. In 2013 the Supreme Court overturned a key provision of DOMA, declaring part of it unconstitutional and in breach of the Fifth Amendment in United States v. Windsor because it "single[d] out a class of persons" for discrimination, by refusing to treat their marriages equally under federal law when state law had created them equally valid. The ruling led to the federal government's recognition of same-sex marriage, with federal benefits for married couples connected to either the state of residence or the state in which the marriage was solemnized. However the ruling focused on the provision of DOMA responsible for the federal government refusing to acknowledge State sanctioned same-sex marriages, leaving the question of state marriage laws itself to the individual States. The Supreme Court addressed that question two years later in 2015, ruling, in Obergefell, that same-sex married couples were to be constitutionally accorded the same recognition as opposite-sex couples at state/territory levels, as well as at federal level.By the time that same-sex marriage became legal nationally, public opinion on the subject had reached almost 60% approval levels according to polls by The Wall Street Journal, the Human Rights Campaign, and CNN, having been consistently over 50% since 2010 and trending consistently upward over the years prior.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: not given

WHAT: same sex marriage

WHEN:2015

WHERE:United State

WHY:not given

HOW:to pass same sex marriage

Keywords:

unconstitutional(adv.)違反憲法的

denial(n.)拒絕

jurisdiction(n.)司法權

campaigning(n.)進行競選

clauses(n.)條款

prohibition(n.)禁止

legislation(n.)立法

federal(a.)同盟的

sanctioned(n.)批准的

provision(n.)條款

referendum(n.)公民投票權

residence(n.)住處

poll(v.)投票

valid(a.)有效的

US, Cuba, relation, Obama visit

網址:http://time.com/4266394/obama-cuba-castro-meeting/

President Obama Declares a 'New Day' in U.S.-Cuba Relations After Castro Meeting

President Barack Obama hailed "a new day" in the relations between the U.S. and Cuba on Monday as he spoke alongside Cuban President Raúl Castro following a historic bilateral meeting.

"For more than half a century, the sight of a U.S. President in Havana would have been unimaginable, but this is a new day," Obama said.

The leaders' remarks followed a bilateral meeting at the Revolutionary Palace on Monday, the first major event of Obama's historic trip to the island nation. He is the first U.S. President to visit Cuba in 88 years.

Both leaders made clear that though profound differences between the two countries remain, they hope to find common ground as they improve relations.

Obama noted Monday that he brought 40 members of Congress with him on the trip, which he said was an indication "growing interest in the U.S. Congress in lifting the embargo."

Since the President announced the beginning of normalized relations between the two countries, the Obama Administration has rolled out changes including direct mail service, commercial flights and the expansion of business opportunities.

But as important as those incremental steps are, the long-standing embargo must end, Castro said on Monday.

"The blockade stands as the most important obstacle to our economic development and the well-being of the Cuban people," he said. "That's why its removal will be of the essence."

Obama said he's confident the embargo will end, but, "when, I can't be entirely sure."

The issue of human rights is the biggest disagreement between the U.S. and Cuba, given Cuba's detention of political prisoners. During a question-and-answer session, Castro was asked about political prisoners, but he denied that any were being held, and asked the reporter who asked the question to provide him with a list.

Castro also went on the attack against the U.S., criticizing Americans for "political manipulation and double standards" on human rights and calling the lack of access to health care, education and equal pay in the U.S. "inexcusable."

Obama implied that both countries have work to do to further normalize relations.

"The U.S. will continue to speak up on behalf of democracy," he said, "including the right of the Cuban people to decide their own future."

Structure of the lead:

WHO: Barack Obama

WHAT: visit Cuba

WHEN:not given

WHERE:Cuba

WHY:improve relations

HOW:have a day in Cuba

Keywords:

alongside(adv.)在旁邊

bilateral(a.)雙方的

profound(a.)雙方的

embargo(n.)貿易禁運令

incremental(a.)增加的

blockade(v.)封鎖

obstacle(n.)障礙

entirely(adv.)完全的

manipulation(n.)操縱

inexcusable(a,)不可原諒的

AlphaGo

網址:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaGo

AlphaGo

AlphaGo is a computer program developed by Alphabet Inc.'s Google DeepMind in London to play the board game Go. In October 2015, it became the first Computer Go program to beat a human professional Go player without handicaps on a full-sized 19×19 board. In March 2016, it beat Lee Sedol in a five-game match, the first time a computer Go program has beaten a 9-dan professional without handicaps.Although it lost to Lee Sedol in the fourth game, Lee resigned the final game, giving a final score of 4 games to 1 in favour of AlphaGo. In recognition of beating Lee Sedol, AlphaGo was awarded an honorary 9-dan by the Korea Baduk Association. It was chosen by Science as one of the Breakthrough of the Year runners-up on 22 December 2016.

AlphaGo's algorithm uses a Monte Carlo tree search to find its moves based on knowledge previously "learned" by machine learning, specifically by an artificial neural network (a deep learning method) by extensive training, both from human and computer play.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: not given

WHAT:a computer program

WHEN:October 2015

WHERE:London

WHY:Alphago beat  Lee Sedol 

HOW:machine learning

Keywords:

handicaps(n.)障礙

resigned(v.)放棄

honorary(a.)榮耀的

algorithm(n.)算法

artificial(a,)人工的

extensive(a.)廣大的

Aung San Suu Kyi

網址:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11685977

Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

The win came five years to the day since she was released from 15 years of house arrest.

Although the Myanmar constitution forbids her from becoming president because she has children who are foreign nationals, Ms Suu Kyi is widely seen as de facto leader.

Her official title is state counselor. The president, Htin Kyaw, is a close confidante.

The 70-year-old spent much of her time between 1989 and 2010 in some form of detention because of her efforts to bring democracy to then military-ruled Myanmar (also known as Burma) - a fact that made her an international symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.

In 1991, "The Lady" as she's known, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the committee chairman called her "an outstanding example of the power of the powerless".

However, after her release and subsequent political career, Ms Suu Kyi has come in for criticism by some rights groups for what they say has been a failure to speak up for Myanmar's minority groups during a time of ethnic violence in parts of the country.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: Aung San Suu Kyi

WHAT:award the Nobel Peace Prize

WHEN:1991

WHERE:not given

WHY: not given

HOW:not given

Keywords:

counselor(n.)顧問

confidante(n.)粉紅知己

detention(n.)監禁

committee(n.)委員會

democracy(n.)民主精神 

subsequent(a.)之後的

minority(n.)少數派

ethnic(a.)民族的

Brexit

網址:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit

Brexit

The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union is widely known as Brexit, a portmanteau of "British" and "exit".^[1] Following a referendum held on 23 June 2016 in which 52% of votes cast were in favour of leaving the EU, the UK government intends to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the formal procedure for withdrawing, by the end of March 2017. This, within the treaty terms, would put the UK on a course to leave the EU by March 2019. Prime Minister Theresa May, elected by the ruling Conservative Party in the wake of the referendum, has promised a bill to repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and to incorporate existing EU laws into UK domestic law.^[2] The terms of withdrawal have not yet been negotiated; in the meantime, the UK remains a full member of the European Union.

The UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC), a predecessor of the EU, in 1973, and confirmed its membership in a 1975 referendum by 67% of the votes. Historical opinion polls 1973–2015 tended to reveal majorities in favour of remaining in the EEC, EC or EU. In the 1970s and 1980s, withdrawal from the EEC was advocated mainly by some Labour Party and trade union figures. From the 1990s, withdrawal from the EU was advocated mainly by some Conservatives and by the newly founded UK Independence Party (UKIP).

Brexit (like its early variant, Brixit)^[3] is a portmanteau of "Britain" and "exit". It was derived by analogy from Grexit, referring to a hypothetical withdrawal of Greece from the eurozone (and possibly also the EU).^[4] The term Brexit may have first been used in reference to a possible UK withdrawal from the EU by Peter Wilding in a Euractiv blog post on 15 May 2012.^[5][6] The terms "hard Brexit" and "soft Brexit" are much used unofficially,^[7] and are understood to describe the prospective relationship between the UK and the EU after withdrawal, ranging from hard, that could involve the UK trading with the EU like any other non-EU-member country under World Trade Organisation rules but with no obligation to accept free movement of people, to soft, that might involve retaining membership of the EU single market for goods and services and at least some free movement of people, according to European Economic Area rules.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: not given

WHAT: leave EU

WHEN:15 May 2012

WHERE:not given

WHY: not given

HOW:not given

Keywords:

referendum:(n.)公民投票權

portmanteau:(n.)混成詞

predecessor:(n.)前任

advocated:(v.)提倡

derived:(v.)擷取的

analogy:(n.)相似

hypothetical:(a.)假設的

prospective:(a.)預期的

obligation:(n.)責任

variant:(a,)不同的

withdrawal:(n.)撤回

treaty:(n.)條約

white helmet

網址:https://www.whitehelmets.org/en

The MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE WORLD

When the bombs rain down, the Syrian Civil Defence rushes in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need - regardless of their religion or politics. Known as the White Helmets these volunteer rescue workers operate in the most dangerous place on earth.

As the conflict in Syria worsens, ordinary people are paying the highest price. More than 50 bombs and mortars a day land on some neighborhoods in Syria. Many are rusty barrels filled with nails and explosives, rolled out the back of government helicopters -- bakeries and markets are the most commonly hit targets. When this happens the White Helmets rush in to search for life in the rubble - fully aware that more bombs may fall on the same site. These volunteers have saved 78,529 lives - and this number is growing daily.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: White Helmets volunteers 

WHAT: they rescue victims

WHEN: nor given

WHERE:Syria

WHY: not given

HOW:rush in to search for life in the rubble

Keywords:

defence:(n,)防禦
unarmed:(a.)無武器的
mortars:(n.)破擊砲
barrel:(n.)槍管
rubble:(n,)瓦礫

Unmanned aerial vehicle

網址:http://www.theuav.com/

The UAV

The UAV is an acronym for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which is an aircraft with no pilot on board. UAVs can be remote controlled aircraft (e.g. flown by a pilot at a ground control station) or can fly autonomously based on per-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic automation systems. UAVs are currently used for a number of missions, including reconnaissance and attack roles. For the purposes of this article, and to distinguish UAVs from missiles, a UAV is defined as being capable of controlled, sustained level flight and powered by a jet or reciprocating engine. In addition, a cruise missile can be considered to be a UAV, but is treated separately on the basis that the vehicle is the weapon. The acronym UAV has been expanded in some cases to UAVS (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle System). The FAA has adopted the acronym UAS(Unmanned Aircraft System) to reflect the fact that these complex systems include ground stations and other elements besides the actual air vehicles.

Officially, the term 'Unmanned Aerial Vehicle' was changed to 'Unmanned Aircraft System' to reflect the fact that these complex systems include ground stations and other elements besides the actual air vehicles. The term UAS, however, is not widely used as the term UAV has become part of the modern lexicon.

The military role of UAV is growing at unprecedented rates. In 2005, tactical and theater level unmanned aircraft (UA) alone, had flown over 100,000 flight hours in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). Rapid advances in technology are enabling more and more capability to be placed on smaller airframes which is spurring a large increase in the number of SUAS being deployed on the battlefield. The use of SUAS in combat is so new that no formal DoD wide reporting procedures have been established to track SUAS flight hours. As the capabilities grow for all types of UAV, nations continue to subsidize their research and development leading to further advances enabling them to perform a multitude of missions. UAV no longer only perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, although this still remains their predominant type. Their roles have expanded to areas including electronic attack (EA), strike missions, suppression and/or destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD), network node or communications relay, combat search and rescue (CSAR), and derivations of these themes. These UAV range in cost from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars, and the aircraft used in these systems range in size from a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) weighing less than one pound to large aircraft weighing over 40,000 pounds.

Structure of the lead:

WHO: not given

WHAT: is an aircraft with no pilot on board

WHEN: in 2005

WHERE:not given

WHY: not given

HOW:develop leading to further advances enabling to perform a multitude of missions

Keywords:

acronym(v.)構成...

autonomously(adv.)自治的

dynamic(n.)動力

reconnaissance(n.)偵查

sustain(v.)支持

cruise (v.)漫遊

missile(v.)可發射的

lexicon(n.)詞彙

unprecedented(a,)無先例的

tactical(a.)戰術上的

subsidize(v.)補助

surveillance(n.)看守

derivation(n.)引出