Russia seizes settlement in Donetsk region, Ukraine repels Russian attacks

Russia said on Thursday that it captured another settlement in the Donetsk region, while Ukraine said on the same day that it repelled Russian attacks, according to their latest updates on the conflict.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian military gained control of the settlement of Ukrainsk in the Donetsk region.

In the past 24 hours, Russian military forces killed and injured many Ukrainian personnel, destroyed Ukrainian tanks, armored vehicles, and American-made howitzers, and destroyed 12 Ukrainian ammunition depots, the ministry said.

The Russian military also attacked the energy support facilities of Ukrainian military industrial enterprises and military airport infrastructure, with the Russian air defense forces shooting down 45 Ukrainian drones, it added.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on the same day of 106 battles. Fighting continues across multiple fronts, especially in the areas of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

In addition, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv have continued to endure bombardment from Russian troops. In the Pokrovsk region, the Ukrainian army successfully repelled 24 Russian attacks, while in the Kurakhove region, they thwarted 23 attacks, the General Staff said.

Russia seizes settlement in Donetsk region, Ukraine repels Russian attacks

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market