While the trendy toy Labubu has started fading from the scene after taking the world by storm, the Labubu manufacturer seems to be drawing criticism for allegedly exploiting workers, as claimed by a labour rights organisation, China Labour Watch (CLW).

CLW accused the Chinese factory that makes the popular Labubu dolls of exploiting its workforce.

A following investigation into the matter revealed that Shunjia Toys Co Ltd, a supplier for Pop Mart, subjected employees to excessive overtime, required them to sign blank or incomplete contracts, and denied them paid leave.

For those unfamiliar, the Labubu dolls, known for their viral appeal and sales in “blind boxes,” have gained immense traction worldwide.

Responding to the allegations, Pop Mart stated that it is probing the claims and emphasised its commitment to ensuring that suppliers rectify any identified issues.

Pop Mart conducts regular audits of its suppliers, including annual independent reviews by internationally recognised inspectors. The investigation by CLW involved 51 in-person interviews with factory workers regarding recruitment, contracts, and working conditions.

The factory, located in Guangdong province, has over 4,500 workers and is the primary manufacturing facility for Pop Mart.

As outlined in CLW’s report, several labour violations were committed at Shunjia Toys, including illegal overtime, unclear contract practices, and inadequate safety training.

While no child labour was found, the factory employed 16-year-olds under the same conditions as adults, violating Chinese labour laws that mandate special protections for minors.

CLW urged Pop Mart to take immediate action to address these issues, compensate affected workers, and comply with both Chinese labour laws and international standards. 

The Minneapolis city situation has flared up after an ICE agent shot a man in the leg who tried to flee a targeted traffic stop, says the Department of Homeland Security.

The shooting incident occurred in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North, just 12 miles north of where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed last week.

Minneapolis ICE shooting: Here’s what actually happened

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) the officer fired the weapon after “fearing for his life and safety.”

The statement said the agents were conducting a traffic stop “of an illegal alien from Venezuela who was released into the country by Joe Biden in 2022.”

The DHS detailed the operation of what actually caused the incident to turn into a shooting, claiming, “In an attempt to evade arrest, the subject fled the scene in his vehicle and crashed into a parked car. The subject then fled on foot.”

The department claimed that after the agent caught up with the man, he “began to resist and violently assault the officer.”

That resulted in an ambush by two other people appearing from a nearby apartment building who “also attacked the law enforcement officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.”

The DHS claimed it was a defensive shot by the federal agent, adding, “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life. The initial subject was hit in the leg.”

After one man received a shot, they fled from the scene back to the apartment and locked themselves inside but were apprehended by authorities, as reported by the Independent.

Both the detained officer and the Venezuelan man are being treated in the hospital, while the other two individuals are in detention.

On the other hand, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called a protest that erupted in response to the shooting tonight unlawful and asked the protesters to disperse immediately.

The city police chief said, “It is well past the line, and people need to leave,” adding, “This is already a very tense situation, we do not need this to escalate any further.”

After the incident, there have been over 2,000 federal agents deployed in the city, as reported by NBC News.

The outlet also reported that, since the news broke, the situation has flared up in the city.

The DHS is claiming the operation in Minnesota is its biggest to date, with more than 2,400 people having been arrested since it began on November 29, 2025.

Chase Infiniti looked every bit the star as one of the ongoing awards season’s breakout stars, appropriately on hand to accept the Breakthrough Performance prize at the 2026 National Board of Review gala.

Held on January 13, the evening saw a number of stars arrive in New York City to honour the past year’s best releases and their cast members.

While the 25-year-old rising star sealed her award for her highly acclaimed turn in One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderon and also starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, among others.

To receive her honour, Chase donned a figure-hugging midi dress, woven to perfection and sourced from Oscar de la Renta’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection.

The young actress finished things with matching cream-coloured heels to go with her dress of the same shade.

Whereas at a closer glance, the ensemble further included intricate pearl work, with the tiny gems adorning the dress’s body and shoulder straps.

Meanwhile, some of the other films to be recognised at the latest National Board of Review event were Sinners, Train Dreams, and more.

Furthermore, Chase Infiniti was just one among her film’s cast to bag an award during the gala, with Leonardo DiCaprio also walking away with the best actor prize, while Benicio del Toro and Paul Thomas Anderson secured supporting actor and best director wins respectively.