The Chinese film on the Nanjing Massacre during World War II "Dead To Rights" debuted in Australia's Melbourne on Thursday, resonating strongly with the audience.
The film centers on a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio during the Japanese invading troops' brutal occupation of Nanjing in 1937. In a desperate attempt to stay alive, they were forced to assist a Japanese military photographer in developing film -- only to discover that the negatives contain damning evidence of atrocities committed by Japanese forces across the city. They secretly kept the negatives and risked their lives to deliver them to the outside world, hoping that the truth would be revealed.
At the screening, the atmosphere was solemn and respectful as the entire audience rose for a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
"As Chinese students, we must remember the history and treasure the hard-won peace we have today. Only by keeping an untiring spirit and remaining unyielding can we prevent such tragedies from happening again," said an overseas Chinese student at the premiere.
The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over the course of six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
The film has maintained its dominance at China's summer box office, grossing more than two billion yuan (about 278.49 million U.S. dollars) as of Saturday morning, since it hit cinemas on July 25.
Film on Nanjing Massacre debuts in Australia
Germany's fragile economic recovery is at risk amid the surging energy costs linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which will potentially trigger another recession, said Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW).
Fratzscher made the comments in a recent interview with the China Media Group (CMG) following the release of the institute's spring 2026 growth forecast for Germany.
"We are cautiously optimistic of the German economy this year. We see a clear recovery in growth, with 1.0 percent of growth expected this year and 1.4 percent next year. For Germany, these are respectable growth figures. But our great concern is the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran, which could hit German industry hard through higher energy costs and rising inflation. In an extreme scenario, if the war escalates further, this could mean another recession for Germany's economy," he warned.
Fratzscher identified U.S. tariff policies and geopolitical tensions as key uncertainties for German growth, stressing that for Germany and Europe, the fate of the Strait of Hormuz matters more than the duration of the conflict.
"For the economic impact on Germany and Europe, how long the war lasts is less important than what happens with the Strait of Hormuz. Will it be reopened and remain permanently open for oil and gas exports? If that succeeds, we assume prices could fall relatively quickly, meaning we won't continue to see the high prices for oil and gas that we have now. That would be a significant relief for the European economy and also for Germany," he said.
The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have already pushed up fuel prices in Germany. As Europe's largest economy, Germany's manufacturing sector relies heavily on stable energy supplies. Persistent high energy costs risk slowing business investment and consumer spending, potentially undermining Germany's fragile economic recovery.
Germany's fragile economic recovery at risk amid Middle East tensions: senior economist
Germany's fragile economic recovery at risk amid Middle East tensions: senior economist
Germany's fragile economic recovery at risk amid Middle East tensions: senior economist
