◎陳正健
A study released this week shows corruption remains a big issue in East Asia. The group Transparency International spoke with more than 20,000 people about their recent experiences with corruption in 16 Asian and Pacific countries. The study finds that about 900 million people in 16 Asia-Pacific countries have made an illegal payment to a government official to receive services.
一份本週公佈的研究顯示，貪腐在東亞地區仍是一大議題。國際透明組織訪談16個亞太國家的逾2萬名民眾，調查他們近期對貪腐的經驗。研究發現，亞太16國裡約有9億人曾非法付款給政府官員以獲取服務。
◎孫宇青
A survey conducted by Zocdoc, a U.S. medical appointment scheduling service, showed that 60 percent of workers feel uncomfortable leaving work for check-ups.
◎張沛元
Parts of the central U.S. grappled Saturday with a second day of road-glazing ice and braced for more of the treacherous, below-freezing wintry weather expected to close out the holiday weekend.
美國中部部分地區週六設法對付道路結冰的第二天，並準備在週末假期結束前面對更難逆料與零度以下的冬季天氣。
◎孫宇青
Every citizen in France has automatically become an organ donor unless they decide to opt out, due to a significant change in the law.
◎魏國金
Russian biathletes decided to sing their national anthem without any instrumental accompaniment after organizers played an outdated version in an embarrassing medal ceremony at the biathlon world championships.
俄羅斯滑雪射擊運動員在冬季兩項世界錦標賽中一場令人難堪的頒獎典禮上，因主辦單位播放舊版俄國國歌，而決定在沒有任何樂器伴奏下清唱自己的國歌。
◎陳正健
Younger people are lonelier than older people because most of their friends are made online. They have many more online friends - which doesn’t stop them feeling lonely, research has found.
研究發現，年輕人比老一輩寂寞，因為他們的朋友多數是在線上認識。他們擁有更多的線上朋友，但無法阻止他們感到孤獨。
◎ 周虹汶
Doctors and nurses are among 94 hospital workers from Naples who have been placed under investigation on suspicion of repeatedly skipping work, police said on Friday.
警方週五說，拿坡里市94名被調查的醫院員工，當中不乏醫生與護士，涉嫌反覆蹺班。
Santa Claus’ Facebook account has been reinstated after the social media company suspended his access and demanded proof of identity on Christmas Day.
在社交媒體公司「臉書」於耶誕節當天暫停他存取以及要求他提供身分證明後，聖塔．克勞斯（耶誕老人）的臉書帳號得以恢復使用。
◎孫宇青
Pope Francis has said it is better to be an atheist than a catholic who leads a hypocritical double life. It is a scandal to say one thing and do another, he said.
天主教教宗方濟各表示，當一名無神論者，好過當一名過著虛偽雙面人生活的教徒。他認為，說一套、做一套是很丟臉的事。
◎魏國金
Senator John McCain warned that suppressing the free press was "how dictators get started". The Arizona Republican, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, was responding to a tweet in which Trump accused the media of being "the enemy of the American people".
參議員麥肯警告，打壓新聞自由是「獨裁者動手的起點」。這位時常批評總統川普的亞利桑納州共和黨人，針對川普指控媒體是「美國人民公敵」的推文做出回應。
◎張沛元
Panda twins born and raised in Atlanta are struggling to adjust to their new surroundings in China, a Chinese newspaper says.
中國一家報紙報導，在（美國喬治亞州）亞特蘭大出生與養育的一對雙胞胎貓熊，正在使勁適應牠們在中國的新環境。
◎孫宇青
The Japanese Gerontological Society, a group of medical doctors and university professors, have proposed changing the threshold for "elderly" status from 65 years old to 75 given the country’s widespread longevity, NHK World reports.
日本放送協會環球廣播網報導，由於日本人普遍長壽，一群醫師和大學教授組成的日本老年學會，提議將「老年」的門檻從65歲調整至75歲。
◎魏國金
A dad’s desperate search to replace his autistic son’s beloved "little blue cup" has ended - after the manufacturer stepped in to make a lifetime’s supply.
一名父親急切尋找替代他自閉症兒子鍾愛的「小藍杯」行動已然落幕──在製造商介入，將供應其終身所需之後。
◎ 陳正健
The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan’s capital issued an order Monday that banned the celebration of Valentine’s Day across the country ’with immediate effect.’ It also directs the media not to promote or cover Valentine’s events.
巴基斯坦首都伊斯蘭城高等法院週一發佈一項命令，禁止全國慶祝情人節， 而且「立即生效」。該命令也指示媒體不要宣傳或報導情人節活動。
◎蔡子岳
A Belgian minister arrived by bike to a news conference to promote cycling on Tuesday, only to find it had been stolen when he left half an hour later.
◎張沛元
They are not going to be out arresting people or pulling you over, but make no mistake, these women make up the newest unit at the Charleston Police Department. They’re ready to hit the ground running.
她們不會出動去逮捕人或在路邊臨檢，但別搞錯了，這些女人是（西維吉尼亞州）查爾斯頓警察局最新小隊的成員。她們蓄勢待發，準備大顯身手。
◎孫宇青
Next time you raise a glass of Belgian beer, rest assured and enjoy：It’s a cultural experience. UNESCO is adding Belgian beer to the list of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
◎陳正健
First-born children are more intelligent than their siblings because they receive more mental stimulation in their early years, new research has shown. University of Edinburgh economists found that first-born children achieved higher IQ test scores.
新研究顯示，第一胎生的小孩比他們的手足更聰明，因為他們在早年接受更多的心理刺激。愛丁堡大學經濟學家發現，第一胎生的小孩在智商測驗取得較高的分數。
◎茅毅
Five doctors who took a photo with a cadaver may face serious consequences, after one posted the picture on his Instagram. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday that it is currently investigating the case and considering taking disciplinary steps against doctors.
在（其中）一位醫生於他的Instagram上貼出照片後，與一具遺體拍照的5位醫生恐面臨嚴重後果。（南韓）保健福祉部週四表示，現正調查本案，並考慮對醫師採取懲戒措施。
