31,000 children affected by U.S. school shootings in 2024: report

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More than 31,000 children have been affected by shootings on K-12 campuses during school hours this year in the United States, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing its School Shooting tracker.

The Post report added that while school shootings remain relatively rare, guns are brought to school nearly every day.

A total of 13 people were killed in school shootings since the start of the year, including the teenage student and teacher who were killed at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday. Almost 50 others who were shot this year survived.

Altogether 21 states experienced school shootings this year.

There have been 426 school shootings since the Columbine High massacre of April 20, 1999, in which 12 students and one teacher were killed. Some 215 people, including children and educators, have been killed in school shootings since Columbine, and almost 500 others have been wounded.

Around 86 percent of the weapons used in school shootings originated from the homes of friends, relatives or parents in cases where the source of the gun could be determined. "More than half of school shootings in the United States were carried out by children, none of which would be possible if those children didn't have access to firearms," noted the report.

31,000 children affected by U.S. school shootings in 2024: report

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