The UN headquarters in New York city will close one of its employee entrances on the 42nd Street in Manhattan starting Monday as a cost-saving measure to cope with its funding shortfall.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday while launching the UN80 Initiative, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that some member states have failed to pay their contributions on time and in full, leading to a persistent financial strain on the United Nations and severely limiting its ability to function effectively.
As the largest contributor to the UN budget, the United States accounts for 22 percent of the regular budget and has long borne more than 25 percent of the costs related to UN peacekeeping operations.
As of this January, the U.S. accumulated unpaid contributions to the UN regular budget stood at 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. Combined with outstanding payments for peacekeeping and court budgets, the amount has reached a total of 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in arrears.
UN headquarters in New York city to shut one staff entrance to cut costs
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
