第二週 South Korea's President Park Geun-hye

South Korea's parliament votes to impeach President Park Geun-hye

Seoul, South Korea (CNN)Lawmakers in South Korea's National Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal. The vote was 234-56, with six abstentions.

The country's Constitutional Court will now deliberate the impeachment motion, a process that could take up to 180 days.

Park apologized on national TV following the vote, saying she was careless and had caused a "big national chaos" -- an apparent reference to her sharing classified information with a confidante lacking security clearance.

"I solemnly accept the voices of the National Assembly and the people and sincerely hope that the current confusion will come to an end in an orderly manner," said Park, the country's first female leader.

"... I will respond to the impeachment judgment of the constitutional court and the investigation of the special prosecutors, following the procedures set by the constitution and the law with (a) calm mind-set and then will accept its decision."

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will be acting President for the duration of the court's deliberation.

He vowed to "run state affairs in a correct and transparent manner."

"I earnestly and humbly ask all of you to unite so that the voices on the streets can be sublimated into the driving force behind the effort to overcome the current national crisis," Hwang said.​

Under the South Korean Constitution, impeachment requires a two-thirds majority of the 300-member legislature to pass.

Growing South Korean protests demand President Park's resignation

Thousands took to the streets to celebrate the news. National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun made the announcement, saying lawmakers had an obligation to restore order and to execute the functions of the government.

In a phone call with Defense Minister Han Min-koo, the acting President said that North Korea possibly could use the political upheaval to stir up trouble south of the 38th parallel and that the South Korean military should maintain its readiness.

"While retaining a watertight national defense posture, the government will work closely with the international community to thoroughly respond to the North Korean nuclear problem," Hwang said.

Park has faced massive protests since it emerged that her confidante and adviser, Choi Soon-sil, had access to confidential government documents despite holding no official government position.

Choi is accused of using her relationship with Park to accumulate millions of dollars in donations to her foundations and has been detained after being charged with abuse of power, fraud and coercion.

Two of Park's former aides also face criminal charges.

The impeachment is only the country's second. In 2004, late President Roh Moo-hyun was forced out of office for two months.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/09/asia/south-korea-park-geun-hye-impeachment-vote/

Structure of the Lead：

WHAT-impeach President Park Geun-hye  

WHEN- Friday

WHY- not given
WHERE- South Korea
WHO- Park Geun-hye 
HOW- not given

Keywords:

impeach 彈劾

corruption 腐敗

abstention 棄權

deliberate 商榷

prosecutor 檢察官

upheaval 動盪

第一週 The same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States.

US Supreme Court rules gay marriage is legal nationwide

The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States.

It means the 14 states with bans on same-sex marriage will no longer be able to enforce them.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the plaintiffs asked "for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

The ruling brings to an end more than a decade of bitter legal battles.

Same-sex couples in several affected states including Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Texas rushed to wed on Friday.

However officials in other states, including Mississippi and Louisiana, said marriages had to wait until procedural issues were addressed.

President Barack Obama said the ruling was a "victory for America".

"When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free " he said.

However, Christian conservatives condemned the decision.

Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee called it "an out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny".

And Kellie Fiedorek, a lawyer for an anti-gay marriage advocacy group, said the decision "ignored the voices of thousands of Americans".

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, a state where marriages licences will now be issued to same-sex couples, said the justices "have imposed on the entire country their personal views on an issue that the Constitution and the Court's previous decisions reserve to the people of the states".

At the scene - Paul Blake, BBC News

Loud cheers erupted outside the court after the ruling was announced, and there were tears, hugs, and cheers of "USA USA USA!".

A sea of rainbow flags overwhelmed the few anti-gay marriage activists who reacted in disbelief, and the demonstration seemed to turn into a street party.

A tour bus drove past honking as hundreds cheered the decision.

One of the demonstrators, Jordan Monaghan, called his mother from his mobile phone amid the celebrations.

"Hey mom, I'm at the Supreme Court. Your son can have a husband now," Mr Monaghan said.

Minutes after the ruling, couples in one of the states that had a ban, Georgia, lined up in hope of being wed.

In Texas, Yasmin Menchaca and her partner Catherine Andrews told the BBC that they are "trying to round up our parents" in order to get married on Friday.

The two have been together for six years, and had attempted to marry in Washington state - but decided to wait because of the financial burden of flying their parents across the country.

On social media, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton merely tweeted the word "proud" and the White House changed its Twitter avatar into the rainbow colours.

The case considered by the court concerned Jim Obergefell, an Ohio resident who was not recognised as the legal widower of his late husband, John Arthur.

"It's my hope that gay marriage will soon be a thing of the past, and from this day forward it will simply be 'marriage,'" an emotional Mr Obergefell said outside the court.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33290341

Structure of the Lead：

Who-no given
What-The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States.
How-no given
Where-United States.
Why-no given
When- no given

Keywords:

 enforce 執行

plaintiffs 原告

dignity 尊嚴

 procedural  程序

condemned 譴責

advocacy 倡導