At least 70 missing and two bodies recovered after migrant boat capsizes in the Mediterranean
At least 70 people are missing and two bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying migrants capsi...
Pop Mart has posted stunning interim results for the first half of 2025, riding on the explosive popularity of its breakout character Labubu.
The Chinese toymaker reported revenue of US $1.93 billion , a staggering 204% year-on-year increase, while net profit surged almost 400% to US $636 million. Much of this growth was driven by Labubu and the “Monsters” series, which alone brought in about US $670 million - 668% jump compared with the previous year.
Labubu has quickly evolved from a niche collectible into a global sensation, now accounting for more than a third of Pop Mart’s sales. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Lisa of Blackpink, and David Beckham have been spotted carrying Labubu dolls, boosting its profile as both a toy and fashion accessory. This surge has helped Pop Mart’s market value climb past US $46 billion, surpassing industry giants like Mattel and Sanrio.
The company is aggressively expanding its global footprint to meet soaring demand. International sales now make up nearly 40% of total revenue, with North America and Asia-Pacific expected to rival China’s sales by year’s end. Pop Mart currently operates 571 retail stores and almost 2,600 automated “roboshops” worldwide, and it plans to open at least 100 more outlets overseas in 2025. To broaden its reach beyond blind-box collectors, the firm has also launched new products such as mini Labubu phone charms.
Looking ahead, CEO Wang Ning has forecast that full-year revenue could hit RMB US $2.78 billion, and possibly as high as US $4.18 billion if the craze continues. Yet analysts caution that the company’s fortunes are heavily tied to a single character, and long-term growth will depend on whether Pop Mart can replicate Labubu’s success with fresh intellectual property.
For now, the Labubu phenomenon shows no sign of slowing, cementing the quirky character as both a cultural icon and a business powerhouse driving one of China’s most remarkable consumer success stories in recent years.
One U.S. crew member has been rescued after two American warplanes were downed over Iran and the Gulf, as the search continues for a missing pilot, while President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to agree to a deal to end the war.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect commercial shipping, diplomats said on Friday, amid opposition from China to any authorisation of force.
The U.S. rescued an airman missing from one of two warplanes downed in Iran, two U.S. officials said, as President Donald Trump and Israel stepped up pressure on Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on energy facilities.
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United States.
Senegal has taken steps to curb government spending by banning non-essential foreign travel for ministers, as rising global oil prices place increasing pressure on the country’s finances.
Major automakers showcased new electric vehicles at the New York Auto Show this week, under the slogan “electrification is the future." However, weakening demand in the United States and intense competition with China are raising questions for markets across the globe, including the South Caucasus.
The U.S. national average retail price of petrol rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in over three years on Monday (30 March), according to GasBuddy data, as the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran continued to roil global energy markets.
Japan and Indonesia will deepen coordination on energy security, Tokyo said, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts vital oil and gas flows to Asia.
China's three largest state-owned airlines have issued warnings regarding their financial outlook for the current year, acknowledging that the eruption of war involving Iran has driven jet fuel prices to unsustainable highs.
Stock markets across Asia fell on Monday as escalating conflict involving Iran drove oil prices sharply higher, fuelling fears of inflation and a potential global recession, with investors reacting to disruption risks in the Strait of Hormuz and prolonged hostilities.
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