Latest news with #Pontypridd
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
I'm losing my mind over Labubu dolls – and the fake Lafufu
'Can I have a Labubu – pleassssse, mum?' This is all I hear day in, day out from my young children. Call these gremlin keychain dolls that adults actually hang off their Miu Miu and Birkin bags ugly or cute – even demonic, as is claimed by conspiracy theorists on TikTok – I don't care. All I know is I can't get my hands on one. That's because they are a global sensation – and demand is so high they sell out in seconds. Pop Mart, the Chinese company behind the Labubu doll, reported this week that it expects at least a 350 per cent increase in profit for the first six months of 2025, as revenues more than tripled, no doubt helped by the fact Labubus became a popular fashion accessory earlier this year among celebrities including Dua Lipa and Rihanna – before trickling down to the rest of us. But now, as the Labubu craze sweeps through primary schools, misguided mums like me are blindly rushing to buy these toys with furry bodies, wide prominent eyes and a toothy grin. I unknowingly bought two fake ones – otherwise known as a Lafufu – at my local mini supermarket for £10 each. But they fell apart, a common issue apparently, according to local authorities across the UK and Europe, who are warning against it due to choking hazards and toxic chemicals – and confiscating counterfeit products in bulk. This week's haul includes 32 keyrings and 95 boxes of counterfeit Labubus seized from the Pontypridd area in Wales. And according to the BBC, more than 370 of the dolls were confiscated in North Ayrshire, Scotland recently due to safety concerns. Rochdale Borough Council sent a toy safety alert on Facebook this month alongside a photo of a fake Labubu doll. In my case, we bought the Monsters Big into Energy Vinyl Plush Blind Box – albeit fake. But a day later the eye fell out of my seven-year-old Liberty's purple 'Labubu' known as Luck, and then the red one that Lola, nine, got, called Love, had 10 teeth not nine, and she was teased at school for having the wrong one. But it turns out these problems are the tip of the iceberg. I'm now losing my mind over Labubu dolls – and Lafufus. A dad friend replaced our fraggled Lafufus at a hardware store in London's North End Road – naively believing they were the real thing. But they also disintegrated. As I fell deeper into the Labubu universe, I worked out how to tell the difference between a real and a fake. Mainly, it's the presence of a QR code on the back of the packaging, which should take you to the official Pop Mart website. So traumatised were the kids by now that I googled how to buy them real ones from Pop Mart – the only place to buy them direct, or on Amazon from their online shop. But it's near impossible to get one. Demand for Labubus is so high, rare dolls are being resold for £1,500 each – some online cost from about £54.99 to £99, but you can't be sure they are real. Next, I ended up marching the kids to a Pop Mart store in a Westfield shopping centre, but to our absolute horror, there was not one plush toy Labubu to be seen on any shelf. Pop Mart temporarily halted in-store sales of Labubu dolls in its UK stores earlier this year to address safety concerns arising from the high demand and resulting pandemonium by obsessed customers during restock. Clearly this situation has not changed. I walked up to the cash till, with both my children, who I have to embarrassingly admit were now sobbing, and asked how on earth this could be possible. No Labubus? I was then told the only way to buy a Labubu was to enter a live launch draw for free. It felt like applying for a mortgage as I signed up for a chance to purchase one for £17.50 from the Monsters Big into Energy Series - Vinyl Plush Pendant Blind Box by manically adding in tons of details before the cut off in a few hours. I was advised to request more than one Labubu to increase the likelihood of winning it. I could always cancel extra ones at the point of purchase – I requested the maximum total of six dolls. We waited until Monday morning for the results, but we didn't make it through. My children, by this point, were floored by not having a Labubu. On every street corner, Labubus started to haunt us. As we went to a children's ballet with Lola's class four friends in Piccadilly Circus, they ran over to street vendors selling gruesome fakes for £15 begging me to buy them. 'They are real, mum, look!' Other mums would call me from near Selfridges claiming to have found originals for around £60 – but I wanted to be sure I got the real deal. The silver lining is that – according to Pop Mart – I'll have a better chance of winning next time. 'You missed out this time, so your EQLizer has increased,' I'm told. God alone knows when the next live launch is. It's now an obsession – logging in and checking twice daily so I can apply. Every day, my children ask me if I'm getting anywhere. I feel a sense of failure. Their friend got one in Finland – can we go there? A Labubu feels so near, yet so far away. I have lost all perspective. I don't even get why people like them. It's taking over my waking day. It's ironic that the Labubus my children want are called Love, Happiness, Loyalty, Serenity, Hope and Luck – since getting one is such a horror show. But I hope we get a rare one, and I hit the jackpot. Then I can sell it for a fortune on eBay.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Troubling warning to parents over fake Labubu dolls in UK as thousands of toys risk ‘chemical exposure'
PARENTS have been warned about fake Labubu dolls hitting the UK shore as they could pose a serious harm. A Welsh council has issued a warning after discovering counterfeit toys in Pontypridd. 2 2 After mammoth success overseas, the Labubu craze has now made its way to the UK. A single Labubu, a plushie designed by Hong Kong -born artist Kasing Lung, can cost anywhere from £13.50 to £211, depending on the rarity of the design. A blind box of six from Pop Mart will set you back a whopping £105. Meanwhile, the counterfeit Labubus were being sold for as little as £2.99 and £3.99. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has seized more than 32 keyrings and 95 boxes of these fake dolls. Safety risk It was discovered that the toys lacked essential safety testing that guarantees they adhere to regulations. Rhian Hope, Head of Public Protection and Regulatory Services at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, told Wales Online: "Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant. "These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous. "Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards. "These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they've purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice." I snagged one of the viral Labubu dolls in Dublin store and unboxing was a huge success The council has warned parents that unauthorised electrical toys can result in fires or electrocution while toxic materials can cause burns and serious injury. Bargain hunters should also be aware that phoney and cheap toys can shatter and create injuries or choking risks. Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, said: "These counterfeiters are cashing in on the latest craze and prioritising profit over safety. "As well as infringing the genuine product's trademark, they are not carrying out the required testing to ensure the product is safe." How to spot a fake Labubu Packaging: Real Labubu's come in a box with a matte finish and smooth feel. QR code: Newer Labubu's have a QR code that takes you to Pop Mart's website and confirm if they're real or fake Features: Real Labubu's have ears that point slightly inward, nine teeth, bright and lively eyes (not closed) and pale, peachy faces. Quality: Real Labubu's have soft fur and seamless stitching. Foot stamp: Labubu's have a Pop Mart logo on their right foot UKCA/CE Mark: MOST IMPORTANT - there should be UKCA/CE mark on the product itself (unless too small - in which case must be supplied with the item, e.g. on box) and there needs to be a name of importer into the UK (i.e. a UK on the label). Source: Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Businesses face legal action The council's Trading Standards division has already confiscated the counterfeit goods and will destroy them. Firms found selling the fake Labubus risk facing legal action if they don't stop immediately. Harris continued: "Enforcement is always a last resort, that is only undertaken when we believe a law has been broken that would cause harm to the public. "But the message is clear: if you are found selling these items, we will take action!" Parents have been advised to buy only from trusted, verified merchants to avoid risks to health. The Sun has reached out to Pop Mart for a comment. Where to buy Labubu? Labubu dolls are sold on Amazon, the Pop Mart website, as well as in the toy retailer's various UK outlets. Among these are London's famous Oxford Street, as well as Westfield shopping centres and Manchester's Chinatown district. Pop Mart is a Chinese toy retailer, known for its collectible designer models that are often sold in a blind box format, meaning you don't know what you've got until you've opened it.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Stuart Burrows obituary
The apparently inauspicious thoroughfare of William Street, in the village of Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd in the south Wales valleys, was the birthplace not only of Lord Merlyn-Rees, the former Labour home secretary, but of two singers of worldwide fame: the bass-baritone Geraint Evans and the tenor Stuart Burrows. Burrows, who has died aged 92, had a mellifluous, highly expressive voice that made him first choice for many opera houses, especially in Mozartian roles, and also with the viewing public. For eight years (1978-86) he had his own hugely popular television show on the BBC, Stuart Burrows Sings, on which he presented Victorian ballads, and folk songs from Wales and elsewhere, as well as classical favourites. For 22 years, between 1967 and 1989, he supplied Mozartian staples such as Tamino, Titus, Idomeneo and Ottavio at Covent Garden, interspersed with the occasional Fenton in Falstaff, Lensky in Onegin, Ernesto in Don Pasquale and Alfredo in La Traviata. Over the same period he was a regular visitor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and was said to be the first UK singer to appear in 12 consecutive seasons. There he sang Pinkerton opposite Leontyne Price and Alfredo opposite Beverly Sills' Violetta, and appeared in Die Entführung aus dem Serail conducted by James Levine, alongside Edda Moser, Kathleen Battle and Martti Talvela. He appeared at the San Francisco Opera first in 1967, as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte – also his first role at the Vienna State Opera in 1970 – and as Don Ottavio at the 1970 Salzburg festival, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. The son of Albert Burrows, a coalminer, and Gladys (nee Powell), who also worked for a mining company as an administrator, Stuart excelled at rugby as a boy and initially aspired to become a professional player – but he turned down the offer of a contract to play with Leeds Rugby League Club. Instead he took employment as a schoolteacher until he won the tenor solo prize at the Royal National Eisteddfod in 1959 – despite only having voice training as a child until the age of 12 – and went on to study at Trinity College, Carmarthen. He made his stage debut in 1963 with the Welsh National Opera in the comprimario role of Ismaele in Nabucco, also at that time essaying heavier roles such as Rodolfo in La Bohème and the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, which were not to feature in his repertoire as his career developed. In 1965 he was invited to sing the title role in Oedipus Rex in Athens under the baton of Igor Stravinsky himself. His long run at Covent Garden began with the role of the First Prisoner in Fidelio (1967). The following year he was kept busy there: in January he sang Tamino, in April Jack in The Midsummer Marriage, in May Fenton in Falstaff, in October Tamino again and in November Edmondo in Manon Lescaut. In roles such as Tamino, Titus and Idomeneo, he displayed an ideal combination of an appealingly honeyed tone, aristocratic command and heroic address. He deployed a similar mode of delivery in Bach and Handel (the latter's oratorios were particular favourites) and his performances of this repertory were winning even if they showed little affinity with the historically informed style by then gaining momentum. It stood him in good stead, however, in bel canto opera, as heard, for example, in a privately recorded Covent Garden performance as Elvino in La Sonnambula with Renata Scotto, or on a commercial recording of him singing Leicester in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, with Sills and Eileen Farrell as the rival queens. Here his aptitude for a natural legato fuses with a plaintive quality of timbre, under immaculate control, to produce a stylish and highly affecting account of the role that makes one wish he had devoted more time to the repertory. A second (privately recorded) taping of Burrows in that role, at San Francisco in 1971, also exists, with Joan Sutherland and Huguette Tourangeau as the two queens. He excelled, too, in lyric tenor roles of French operas. His recordings included The Damnation of Faust with Seiji Ozawa, Mahler's Das Klagende Lied with Pierre Boulez and The Midsummer Marriage with Colin Davis. On the concert platform he appeared with conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim and Eugene Ormandy. He also gave solo recitals (often with the pianist John Constable), specialising in songs by Beethoven, Schubert and English composers, as well as ballads and folk songs. In later years Burrows acted as an adjudicator at prestigious song competitions, including Cardiff Singer of the World. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and honorary fellowships from Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities, and Trinity College, Carmarthen. He was particularly proud to have a LeShuttle locomotive named after him. He married Enid Lewis in 1957. She died in 1985; he is survived by their two children, Mark and Meryl, and two grandchildren. James Stuart Burrows, tenor, born 7 February 1933; died 29 June 2025
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the BBC: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her," he said. "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake." 2
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Newborn baby died after mother was left to give birth alone on NHS hospital ward by midwives and doctors, inquest told
A newborn baby died after the mother was left to give birth alone by midwives and doctors, an inquest told. Liliwen Iris Thomas was born at the University of Wales Hospital but died just hours later after her mother's cries for help were ignored during labour. An inquest into the death of Liliwen was held at Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Tuesday. The assistant coroner for South Wales Central, Rachel Knight, explained that Emily Brazier was admitted to hospital for an induced labour on October 8, 2022, at '40+1 weeks'. Ms Brazier was given pethidine and codeine for pain relief, however she was 'not attended to or subjected to physical checks regularly enough', the inquest heard. The mother was not attended to by anyone from the midwifery team for almost an hour during the early hours of October 10, which is when she cried for help, and 'the fact she had moved to active labour was missed'. Staff eventually came to find that Liliwen had been delivered unattended. The newborn was described as being in a 'very poor condition' and died later that same day. The heartbroken mother previously said how she was 'angry' at being left completely alone during childbirth. She said she remembered 'being in a cycle of puffing gas and air, passing out, and repeating'. She added: 'So many happy memories and special family moments are tinged with sadness. I dread family events and Christmas as Liliwen will never be there, she will always be the missing piece, her death should never have happened and that's hard to live with.' The inquest heard that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board admitted that when Ms Brazier was admitted to hospital there not enough midwives on duty, with only 17 present when the required number was 24. Two on-call midwives then arrived for duty to take the number up to 19. Liliwen's father Rhodri was not present during his daughter's birth because partners were not allowed on the ward during that time due to the hospital having strict rules about visitors overnight between 9pm and 9am. Summing up at the hearing, Ms Knight said: 'Liliwen died from a hypoxic brain injury following an unattended delivery in hospital'. She added that the death was a culmination of the mother 'not being attended to as frequently as she should have been', 'the absence of resuscitation at birth', and 'a bacterial infection of the placenta'. The official cause of death, as recorded by Dr Andrew Bamber following an investigation, was given aa a lack of oxygen at birth, known medically as perinatal asphyxia. Abigail Holmes, director of midwifery and neonatal services at the University of Wales Hospital, told the hearing that Liliwen's death represented 'the most tragic case I've ever been involved with'. She said new policies had been put into practice and that investment had been made into staff and training. Dr Rachel Liebling, a consultant obstetrician and specialist in fetal and maternal medicine, said failings by the health board 'more than minimally' contributed to the death of Liliwen. Ms Knight concluded the inquest by offering her condolences to Liliwen's family and said that, having read extensive evidence, she had decided not to issue a Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report. She said that Liliwen's death had a 'seismic impact on the largest hospital in Wales' and was 'satisfied that protocols and guidance have been thoroughly reviewed and that staff within the health board have been significantly retrained'. However, Ms Knight added that she 'remains concerned' that the learning from this case might not have reached other health boards across England and Wales. Therefore a report will be rafted to target the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence so that it can consider the findings made following Liliwen's death. Following the conclusion of the inquest, Lara Bennett, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, a Cardiff law firm representing the baby's family, said: 'This case is truly shocking and Emily, Rhodri and their family have been left absolutely devastated by Liliwen's death. 'To have to relive the trauma again at the inquest, and to hear how their beloved baby was failed, has been hugely distressing. Liliwen and Emily were abandoned at a time when their care should have been the hospital's top priority. 'While it is claimed that lessons have been learned, and changes have been implemented, this tragic case highlights concerns regarding understaffing on maternity wards and the absence of basic care and monitoring for mothers and babies at their most vulnerable. 'Had this been provided, Liliwen would not have suffered as she did and would be with her family today.' 'Liliwen's death must not be in vain and the maternity care standards across Wales must be improved to ensure no mother or baby ever suffers in this way again.' On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: 'Our sincere thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with Liliwen's family during this incredibly difficult time.'
