Originating in Asia, the Labubu—a white-fanged, furry character from Chinese toy maker Pop Mart—has become a global sensation, selling 10 million units each month and attracting celebrity fans like Rihanna and Dua Lipa.

The Labubu toy, a half-monster, half-rabbit doll sold in blind boxes, has become a global sensation, attracting buyers and celebrities alike. Its limited availability has led to long queues and prize draws in major cities, enhancing its exclusivity and desirability. 

However, the popularity of Labubu has also sparked a rise in counterfeit versions called Lafufu, with millions sold each month at lower prices in unofficial shops and street markets. Authorities have responded by tightening customs controls and seizing large shipments of fake dolls, which have been found to violate safety standards and pose potential risks to children.

Labubu craze sparks shadow market as counterfeit Lafufu emerges

This furry, half-monster, half-rabbit doll has gotten buyers across the world into a frenzy. The Le Boo Boo is sold in blind boxes, with customers not knowing which doll model they will get. The toy has quickly gone viral over social media, even celebrities have succumbed to the trend. Rihanna, tennis star Naomi Osaka and Madonna even made it her birthday cake. But Le Boo Boo is released in limited quantities. In Berlin, people queue for seven hours to purchase one. And in Paris, customers take part in a prize draw for the chance to collect their Le Boo Boo. It creates a certain rarity and also exclusivity. So once we have one, we're happy. But a counterfeit cousin is on the rise, the Le Fou Fou. With 10 million sold per month, the number of fakes keeps multiplying. Accessible on the internet, in unofficial shops and at street markets, Le Fou Fou stalls are drawing a lot of customers. Priced at 10 euros each, these Le Fou Fous are half the price of the official Le Boo Boo, a bargain for street vendors who are importing them from abroad. Alerted to the counterfeit craze, customs officers have tightened controls on fake Le Boo Boo imports. This summer alone, at least three major shipments were seized in France. This warehouse stores some 91 boxes containing over 20,000 Le Fou Fous, which do not comply with the European safety standards. We realised they were counterfeit based on the packaging alone. They are transported in bulk, which is not the case for real Le Boo Boo. And then there's the quality of the product. You can see that it's actually a product that can be dangerous. It breaks easily. And then it can become a danger to children if they use it. While customers face the risks of fakes, the battle for the market between Le Boo Boo and Le Fou Fous is far from over.

The U.S. military struck a drug-carrying boat hailing from Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as tensions spike between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government. Charlie D'Agata has more.

Caracas

U.S. military strikes drug-carrying boat from Venezuela, Rubio says

The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released over 33,000 pages of documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Washington

33,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein documents released by House panel

Belgium joins the ranks of Australia, France, Canada and the UK, all who have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state at the UNGA next week in a bid to ramp up pressure on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza.

Brussels

Middle East Conflict

Belgium to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 1,400 people, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Thousands more were  injured.

Kunar

At least 1,400 killed in powerful Afghanistan earthquake

The death toll from Afghanistan's worst earthquake in years jumped to over 1,100 with thousands more injured, as difficult terrain hindered rescue efforts in isolated villages of the country's mountainous eastern region.

Taliban appeals for aid after quake kills over 1100 in Afghanistan

The leaders of Russia, China and India showcased a renewed commitment to co-operation on the second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Analysts says the friendliness is designed to project an unified alternative to the West.

Tianjin

Russia, China, India tout renewed co-operation

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted by jamming that authorities suspect was the result of Russian interference in Bulgaria.

Plovdiv

Von der Leyen's plane affected by alleged Russian GPS jamming

The world's leading genocide scholars' association has passed a resolution saying that the legal criteria have been met to establish Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, its president said on Monday (September 1).

Jerusalem

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, scholars' association says

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a new global security and economic order at a regional summit on Monday (September 1), as India and Russia continued to express strong ties between their nations.

China's Xi, Russia's Putin share vision for new global order

A devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing more than 800 people and injuring hundreds more, officials said. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports.

Kabul

Powerful earthquake in Afghanistan kills hundreds, destroys villages

Iran-backed Houthis raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children's agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining several UN employees, officials said. The rebels tightened security across Sanaa following the Israeli killing of their prime minister and several Cabinet members.

Sana'a

Houthis raid UN offices in Yemen, detain 11 employees

A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the United States asking: is the move aimed at combating drug cartels, as the Trump administration has suggested, or is it for something else entirely?

U.S. builds up forces in Caribbean as officials, experts concerned

Officials from the Trump administration spent the weekend pushing back against a U.S. appeals court ruling that most tariffs against Canada were illegal. Economic adviser Peter Navarro called the decision politically motivated.

Global Tariffs

Trump officials push back after court rules tariffs illegal

Israel's security cabinet is considering a plan to seize Gaza City with attacks ramping up over the weekend. The Israeli military has now ended a temporary pause of military action around aid delivery locations ahead of an expected 'full-scale assault'.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel intensifying attacks ahead of planned seizure of Gaza City

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he's making every effort to stop President Trump from using the military to "invade states." But the White House claims the National Guard is needed to stop violent crime in Chicago.

Chicago

Trump threatens to send military to Chicago over crime

A young boy who had wandered away from his parents ended up on a closed monorail at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania this weekend. A bystander helped rescue the boy as a gathering crowd cheered. It's not clear how he made his way onto the monorail.

Hershey

Boy rescued from monorail track at Pennsylvania amusement park

A flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, has set sail from Barcelona. On board are organisers from 44 countries, who say they're trying to break Israel's siege on the Strip.

Barcelona

Greta Thunberg onboard second aid flotilla heading for Gaza Strip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi was committed to improving ties with China in a key meeting with President Xi Jinping, as the two leaders discussed the need to expand trade and investment ties against the backdrop of U.S. tariffs.

Beijing

Modi meets with Xi, vows to improve China ties

Pakistan's eastern Punjab province is facing one of the worst flood emergencies in recent history. Authorities say raging waters have affected the lives of more than 2 million people.

Punjab

Pakistan's Punjab province battered by historic flood

China’s Xi Jinping has welcomed Russia’s Vladimir Putin, India’s Narendra Modi and leaders from around 20 countries to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a high-security gathering aimed at boosting Beijing’s influence and promoting "a multipolar world order."

Xi aims to show global south unity with Modi and Putin

Russia's Vladimir Putin is among a dozen leaders attending the regional security summit, which comes at a crunch moment in talks over his war on Ukraine, and for a summit that's demonstrating a strong show of unity among Global South leaders.

Putin arrives in China for key regional security summit

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson detailed his plan Saturday to resist President Trump's threatened immigration crackdown in his city. CBS News has learned the Trump administration plans to intensify immigration enforcement in the city as early as next week.

Chicago mayor pushes back on Trump's immigration crackdown

Russian strikes shook the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine overnight Friday, hitting a five-story apartment building, killing at least one person and injuring dozens more.

Zaporizhzhia

Russia continues assault on Ukrainian cities

For the first time since this week's deadly mass shooting at a Minneapolis church, which killed two young students and wounded more than a dozen people, a devastated community gathered Saturday at the site to attend Mass.

Minneapolis

Mass held at site of Minneapolis church shooting

The United States says it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several U.S. allies are set to recognise Palestine as a state.

New York

U.S bars Palestinian leadership from attending UN

The Department of Homeland Security is preparing for an immigration crackdown in Chicago as early as next week, sources told CBS News. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted the Trump administration's plans.

Chicago immigration crackdown could happen next week, sources say

The Israeli military on Friday declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone” before a new offensive in the Palestinian enclave's largest city. Israel is moving forward with plans to seize Gaza City despite growing international pressure to end the nearly two-year conflict.

Israel declares Gaza City a 'dangerous combat zone'

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been blocked from attending the UN General Assembly in New York next month. That's as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cancelled visas for the Palestinian delegation.

U.S. blocks Palestinian officials from attending UN general assembly

The death toll of a devastating Russian air assault in Kyiv earlier this week has been revised upward to 25. Now European allies suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing U.S. President Donald Trump if he runs out the clock on Washington's peace efforts.

Breakdown