每日新闻播报（February 19）

>Consumption grows during holiday
牛年春节消费数据亮眼
The consumer spending during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday surged noticeably, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).
商务部发布的最新数据显示，春节期间全国消费支出显著增长。
The combined sales of retail and catering enterprises in China rose 28.7% year-on-year to 821 billion yuan during the Spring Festival golden week, data from the MOC showed.
2021年春节七天黄金周期间，全国重点零售和餐饮企业实现销售额约8210亿元，比2020年春节黄金周增长28.7%。
China's online sales exceeded 122 billion yuan during the same period, with online catering sales surging 135% compared with the Spring Festival holiday last year as more Chinese ordered ready-to-eat meals through e-commerce or online food delivery platforms. Sales of products related to Lunar New Year's Eve dinners increased by 54.9% year-on-year during the holiday, said the MOC.
全国网络零售额超1220亿元，随着更多国人选择通过电商平台或在线餐饮平台订购即食饭餐，在线餐饮销售额、年夜饭系列商品销售额分别较去年春节同期增长135%和54.9%。

>Unis told to stagger opening dates
多所高校宣布暂不返校
The Ministry of Education has asked universities to stagger their spring semester opening dates and make preparations for online schooling. In a recent notice, the ministry said universities should make early plans for the spring semester after fully considering the COVID-19 epidemic situation and their teaching schedule.
教育部印发通知，要求各地各高校要综合考虑国内疫情形势变化和学校教育教学安排，及早制定2021年春季学期开学方案，落实错峰要求，做好线上教学各项准备。
They should prepare enough equipment, conduct emergency drills and strictly implement epidemic prevention and control measures, the ministry said, adding that all people and items entering universities must be checked. Universities should also conduct routine nucleic acid tests on key groups of people and the environment and frequently sterilize and disinfect important venues, it added.
教育部要求，开学前做好物资储备，开展应急演练，严格落实校园疫情防控措施，严把"校门关"，坚持"人""物"同防，定期开展重点人员和环境核酸检测、重点场所环境消杀。
At least 16 universities in Beijing have announced that they will postpone the start of spring semester activities on campus for several weeks and resort to online teaching in the meantime.
至少16所在京高校已宣布，2021年春季学期延迟数周返校，线上授课。

>Holiday box office 7.822b yuan
春节档票房创历史新高
The total box office earnings on the Chinese mainland during the weeklong Spring Festival holiday have reached a record high of 7.822 billion yuan, according to data released by the China Film Administration on Thursday.
国家电影局2月18日发布的数据显示，在长达一周的春节假期，全国电影总票房达78.22亿元，刷新春节档电影票房纪录。
Top contributors include action comedy "Detective Chinatown 3" and time-travel comedy "Hi, Mom."
动作喜剧电影《唐人街探案3》和时空穿越喜剧电影《你好，李焕英》贡献最多票房。
The Spring Festival is a lucrative movie season in China as moviegoing has become an increasingly prominent pastime for Chinese people during this holiday.
在中国，春节是电影市场最吸金的一个档期，走进影院看电影成为很多人在春节期间重要的休闲娱乐项目。

>US to pay over $200M to WHO
美国将向世卫补交会费
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the US intends to pay over $200 million in assessed and current obligations to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the end of this month.
美国国务卿安东尼•布林肯2月17日表示，美国将在本月底前向世界卫生组织缴纳超过2亿美元的会费，包括评定会费和现阶段应缴纳的会费。
"This is a key step forward in fulfilling our financial obligations as a WHO member," Blinken said in his remarks to a virtual UN Security Council briefing on COVID-19. "
布林肯在联合国安理会的新冠问题视频会议上说："这是我们作为世卫组织成员国履行经济义务的重要一步。"
It reflects our renewed commitment to ensuring the WHO has the support it needs to lead the global response to the pandemic," he added.
他还表示，"这体现了我们对世卫组织的最新承诺，从而保证世卫在带领全球应对新冠疫情的工作中得到应有的支持。"
Accusing the WHO of mishandling the pandemic, the previous Donald Trump administration last year announced US withdrawal from the organization, which led to criticisms at home and abroad.
去年，特朗普政府指责世卫组织应对疫情不力，宣布退出该组织，此举招致了国内外的批评。
President Joe Biden, on his first day in office, reversed his predecessor's decision of withdrawing from the WHO.
现任美国总统乔•拜登在宣誓就职当天宣布重返世卫组织。

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