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US: Long Lines and Chaos Hit Swatch Stores Over Royal Pop Launch 2

Long lines formed outside Swatch stores across the globe ahead of Saturday's launch of the Royal Pop, a $400–420 pocket watch collaboration with high-end Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet. At least 19 U.S. locations were affected, including the SoHo store in New York City. New York emerged as one of the worst flashpoints: at Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, cops appeared to break out pepper spray to push back surging crowds, while hundreds of shoppers stormed Times Square and SoHo locations, leading to at least one arrest, according to the NYPD. Swatch eventually shut the stores down over public safety concerns.

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US: Long Lines and Chaos Hit Swatch Stores Over Royal Pop Launch

Long lines formed outside Swatch stores across the world ahead of launch of the Royal Pop, a collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet on Saturday, May 16. At least 19 US locations, including the SoHo store in New York City, were forced to close after crowds became unruly, but crowds lined up outside stores again.

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Large thermometer in one of Japan's hottest cities

A large thermometer is set up in front of a department store in Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on May 14, 2026, as a summer symbol for one of the hottest cities in Japan.

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Large thermometer in one of Japan's hottest cities

A 4-meter thermometer is set up in front of a Yagihashi department store on May 14, 2026, in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, known as one of the hottest cities in Japan. The mercury hit 41.1 C in the eastern Japan city in July 2018, the highest temperature on record at that time, before it was surpassed by the nearby city of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, at 41.8 C in the summer of 2025.

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Large thermometer in one of Japan's hottest cities

A 4-meter thermometer is set up in front of a Yagihashi department store on May 14, 2026, in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, known as one of the hottest cities in Japan. The mercury hit 41.1 C in the eastern Japan city in July 2018, the highest temperature on record at that time, before it was surpassed by the nearby city of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, at 41.8 C in the summer of 2025.

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US: Shoppers Camp Out for Audemars Piguet x Swatch “Royal Pop” Drop in New York

Dozens of people are camped out outside of the Times Square Swatch store ahead of the May 16 in-store-only release of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch "Royal Pop." Lines started to form on Sunday, six days ahead of the watch’s official release.

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Japan: Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Hits Tohoku, Tsunami Warning Issued 4

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Sanriku Coast in the Tohoku region Monday afternoon, April 20, triggering a tsunami warning of up to three meters for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate.

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"Chiikawa" goods shop opens in Hong Kong

A store selling goods of popular Japanese manga character "Chiikawa" opens in Hong Kong's Kowloon area on April 18, 2026.

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Seven & i Holdings to delay listing of U.S. unit

Seven & i Holdings Co. President Stephen Dacus holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2026, after the company decided to postpone the listing of its U.S. 7-Eleven convenience store business unit from its planned schedule in calendar 2026 to fiscal 2027.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (far R) and her daughter Princess Kako (2nd from R) arrive at the venue of an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (R) and her daughter Princess Kako (C) visit an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) and her daughter Princess Kako visit an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) and her daughter Princess Kako visit an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Princess Kiko (L) and her daughter Princess Kako arrive at the venue of an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Princess Kiko (C) and her daughter Princess Kako visit an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Princesses at flower arrangement exhibition

Japanese Princess Kiko (C) and her daughter Princess Kako visit an "ikebana" flower arrangement exhibition at a department store in Tokyo on April 8, 2026.

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Lawson ceremony for new employees

An AI robot version of convenience store chain Lawson Inc.'s mascot character Ponta chats with new employees (L) during a ceremony to welcome them in Tokyo on April 1, 2026. The robot was trained to learn the thinking of President Sadanobu Takemasu (R), according to Lawson.

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Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya to close

Photo taken March 25, 2026, shows the Seibu department store logo on its storefront in Tokyo's Shibuya shopping district. Its operator Sogo & Seibu Co. said the same day it will close the Seibu department store near Shibuya's iconic scramble crossing at the end of September.

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Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya to close

Photo taken March 25, 2026, shows a Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya shopping district. Its operator Sogo & Seibu Co. said the same day it will close the store near the area's iconic scramble crossing at the end of September.

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Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya to close

Photo taken March 25, 2026, shows a Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya shopping district. Its operator Sogo & Seibu Co. said the same day it will close the store near the area's iconic scramble crossing at the end of September.

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300th anniv. of Daimaru department store in Osaka

Staff at Daimaru department store's Shinsaibashi outlet in Osaka, western Japan, hang the store curtain at its main entrance on March 6, 2026, to commemorate the 300th anniversary since its opening as kimono store Matsuya on Nov. 1, 1726.

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300th anniv. of Daimaru department store in Osaka

Photo taken on March 6, 2026, shows a booth replicating kimono store Matsuya at Daimaru department store's Shinsaibashi outlet in Osaka, western Japan. The booth was set up to commemorate the 300th anniversary since the Shinsaibashi store's opening as Matsuya on Nov. 1, 1726.

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Princess Aiko at calligraphy exhibition

Japanese Princess Aiko (L) visits an exhibition of works by female calligraphers at a Tokyo department store on March 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko at calligraphy exhibition

Japanese Princess Aiko visits an exhibition of works by female calligraphers at a Tokyo department store on March 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko at calligraphy exhibition

Japanese Princess Aiko (L) visits an exhibition of works by female calligraphers at a Tokyo department store on March 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko at calligraphy exhibition

Japanese Princess Aiko arrives at the venue of an exhibition of works by female calligraphers at a Tokyo department store on March 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Colorful ornaments in Japan

Colorful hanging ornaments called Sagemon are displayed at a doll store in Yanagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 17, 2026, ahead of the March 3 Girls' Day celebration.

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US: Blockchain Platform Polymarket Opens “The Polymarket” Free Grocery Pop-Up in NYC

Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform, opened a five-day pop-up store called "The Polymarket" in New York City’s West Village on Thursday, February 12. Hundreds of residents lined up to fill tote bags with free groceries.

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China: CCTV Captures Shop Owner Fleeing During 5.5 Quake

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake violently shook Gansu, northwestern China, on January 26, 2026. Surveillance footage shows a shop owner fleeing as shelves rattle and goods crash to the floor inside a small store in Diebu County. Authorities reported no immediate casualties, and emergency teams were deployed.

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China return for Ueno zoo pandas

A farewell message for male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei of Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens is posted on a building of department store Matsuzakaya Ueno in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, ahead of their departure to China.

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China: Monkey Walks Into Convenience Store and Steals Bread in Guiyang

On Wednesday, January 14, a monkey walked into a convenience store in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, and helped itself to a packaged bun from the bread section. Appearing familiar with the layout, the monkey was captured on footage eating inside the shop while an employee watched helplessly, seemingly unsure how to deal with the unexpected customer.

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US: Panic Buying as People Rush to Stock Up Ahead of Winter Storm 2

As a potentially historic winter storm dubbed “Fern” approaches the United States, residents from Texas to the Northeast are stockpiling essential goods. Fears of being trapped indoors by heavy snow, ice and extreme cold have triggered widespread panic buying, leaving grocery store shelves bare across many areas. This video was shot at Walmart in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

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US: Panic Buying as People Rush to Stock Up Ahead of Winter Storm

As a potentially historic winter storm dubbed “Fern” approaches the United States, residents from Texas to the Northeast are stockpiling essential goods. Fears of being trapped indoors by heavy snow, ice and extreme cold have triggered widespread panic buying, leaving grocery store shelves bare across many areas.

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