Latest news with #Quartz
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Amazon slashes £16 off Crocs sandals that shoppers ‘can walk in for miles'
Amazon has slashed the price of Crocs' platform sandals by 36% in a limited time deal and shoppers have been praising their comfortability and lightweight feel Love them or hate them, there's no denying the Croc resurgence we've been seeing over the past few and heeled Crocs were spotted all over Simone Rocha's SS24 catwalk show, while new styles including flip flop Crocs and chunky platform Crocs have emerged, lending them a fashionable edge. And if you've not quite been convinced by the classic clog, you'll be pleased to hear that there's a slightly more fashion-forward and summer-appropriate style currently reduced on Amazon. The exact style we're talking about is the Getaway Platform H-Strap Sandal, which have been discounted from its usual £44.99 to £27 - £30 (depending on size). There are various colours available, however, it's is just the Quartz colour that has the limited-time 36% discount. These chunky sandals are a part of the Crocs' most comfortable collection yet, thanks to their Free Feel Technology that makes it feel like you're not even wearing anything on your feet. The straps are smooth and flexible, which ensures no rubbing or digging in and makes them perfect for long, hot days out. Not to mention the subtle platform is perfect if you want to add a little extra height without having to wear an uncomfortable heel or wedge. It's worth noting, however, these sandals have a wide, roomy fit so if you've got narrow feet, they may feel a little too loose. Shoppers can't seem to get enough of these chunky shoes, with hundreds of glowing reviews. One customer wrote: "I am a big Crocs fan and have had this style before but with a thinner platform. Well I am not disappointed, Crocs are really upping their game when it comes to comfort. I can walk in these for miles! Love them to bits, true to size and super quick dispatch" A seconded added: "I love these!!!. Comfortable, true to size and lightweight. Not had a blister yet and worn them a lot. Great price at £27 though they were more purple than they looked in the picture I still love them." The main criticism from shoppers was about sizing issues. A few claim that these run smaller, so we suggest sizing up from your usual to ensure ultimate comfortability. If the Quartz colourway is not your style, Crocs is also running a sale on this style at the moment with the black ones available for £31.49. In other sale news, Fitflop has kicked off its massive summer sale, which sees up to 40% off best-selling styles. Our top picks include the GEN-FF Leather Fisherman Sandals, now £98 down from £130, and the GEN-FF Leather Back-Strap Toe-Post Sandals, now £88 down from £125. Happy Crocing!
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Blue Mountain limited edition watches: An Indian micro watch originated from The Nilgiris pays an ode to the Nilgiri Mountain Railways
The iconic Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) — one of the world's last-remaining steam-powered railways that chugs up the hills from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam — is the muse of Coromandel Watch Co., based in The Nilgiris. Last week, the brand launched Blue Mountain Edition, limited to 300 timepieces, as an ode to the 125-year journey of the train that covers 16 tunnels, over 200 steep curves and 257 bridges, using the rack-and-pinion system. 'Personally, it's a tribute to the NMR, which I hopped on to during my stint in the hospitality industry with the Taj group,' says Shibin VS, co-founder of Coromandel Watch Co., which forayed into the microbrand watch industry in 2022. Originally known as Watch Projects, a vintage and pre-owned online watch store, the company sold vintage watches sourced from across the world. Then, as Madras Watch Works, thebrand's journey in watchmaking started in September 2023 with the launch of the Marina Edition, before rebranding the company as Coromandel Watch Co. He adds that he often took the train for his journey back home while working on shifts between Coonoor and Ooty. 'A ride on NMR is a throwback to a time when life was slower. The scenery brings an instant calm and I reached home feeling refreshed,' he recalls. The Blue Mountain Edition, a collector's item, takes inspiration from Heuer's camero variant, a 1960s model that is no longer in production. Tag acquired Heuer in the 1980s. 'This model of the iconic brand paid tribute to a racing car. We took the design inspiration from there but crafted it as a tribute to the train steeped in history', he explains, adding that the watch has mechanical movement adapted from pocket watches created in the 17th Century. A watch enthusiast, Shibin shares that there is something special about mechanical watches, powered by a mainspring, a coiled metal spring that stores energy. 'As the mainspring unwinds, it transfers energy through a series of gears and springs, powering the watch and its functions. This intricate system of moving parts sets mechanical watches apart from their quartz watch counterparts, which are powered by batteries,' he describes. The limited-edition watch currently comes in a single variant with silver sunburst dial. 'We have used 'To in class crystal' called sapphire crystal for the built, highly resistant to scratches, often used in high-end watches like Tissot, Rolex and Omega. The case is a 316 surgical-grade stainless steel; the leather strap comes from Crazy Horse, a line of pull-up premium leather, that eventually creates a patina, vintage look,' explains Shibin. The Blue Mountain Edition uses Miyots OS21 Chronograph Quartz movement, made by Citizen in Japan, and has a chronograph function too. ' Apart from keeping time, it measures the elapsed time while indicating the current time. Though chronograph watches have nothing to do with the railways, but every second counts when the chronograph function is activated on your watch, much like the synchronised working of the train's rack-and-pinion mechanism. As NMR that enjoys UNESCO's World Heritage Site status, climbs the blue mountains with power and precision, the watch mirrors its spirit. We chose a quartz chronograph because it reflects the same reliability, accuracy and functionality that the NMR stands for,' says Shibin adding that his motive is to create awareness about the charm of mechanical watches. 'Our first two launches, Marina Edition 2.0 and the Tanjore Edition, are automatic watches with Seiko NH35 and Seiko NH35A movements that are mechanical. There is growing craze for such innovations among the Gen Z. A swing back to the 1990s, when brands like HMTs and Seikos ruled because of the characteristic mechanism. For example, some of these watches work with hand movement. As your hand moves, the watch works.' Shibin started Coromandel Watch Co. along with his friend Amit Sudevan. 'We wanted to put together mechanical watches that people can relate to. Especially, for Indians settled abroad, names like Tanjore, Marina or The Blue Mountain evoke sentimental value. It is nostalgic and brings an emotional connection with their homeland,' says Shibin adding that he imports spare parts from vendors across the country. As he is also part of forums like Madras Watch Collectors, which he calls 'humble watch groups' in small towns and cities, Shibin networks with collectors from horology clubs like Delhi Watch Collectors Group, or Chronoholics. He has been collecting watches for over a decade. 'One of the first watches I bought with my first salary was a Casio Edifice. My father gifted me a Casio when I was young. It was handed to him by my grandfather. I started with collecting Casios, and added HMT's rare collectibles, Citizen Orca (diver's watch), Citizen Sciko and as many as 26 vintage watches which I collected from thrift stores and online market places. I keep wearing them on rotation for different occasions. My Sunday mornings are spent with coffee and my treasured collection.' In the last one year, the company has sold hundreds of watches across India besides the US, UK and Gulf countries. 'There's so much of mechanism on your wrist with the wheels and springs to keep the time. The watches use the same mechanism of the 17th Century, the good old way of keeping time,' he says, adding, 'It's like wearing history on your wrist.' The Blue Mountain Edition by Coromandel Watch Co. starts at ₹8,000 on
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
America's housing market is cracking
A version of this article originally appeared in Quartz's members-only Weekend Brief newsletter. Quartz members get access to exclusive newsletters and more. Sign up here. The American housing market, a post-pandemic juggernaut that seemed unstoppable, is finally showing signs of fatigue. After more than two years of relentless price increases, the fundamentals are shifting. Home prices are starting to fall, unsold inventory is piling up to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, and buyers — from first-time purchasers to luxury shoppers — are walking away from deals or demanding steep discounts. The combination of mortgage rates hovering around 7% and mounting economic uncertainty around tariffs has created a host of reasons for a buyer to hesitate. What's emerging is a market where sellers are making concessions and buyers hold the cards — a dramatic reversal from the bidding wars and cash offers that defined the market. Home prices in the 20 biggest U.S. metropolitan areas fell 0.12% in March from the previous month, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index. It's a small dip, sure, but it marks the end of a relentless upward march that has defined the housing market since January 2023. The bigger shift is happening in supply. Unsold completed new single-family homes hit 117,000 in April — the highest level since July 2009, according to Census Bureau data analyzed by housing researcher Lance Lambert. That's a 31% jump from the previous year, and it's happening at a time when homebuilders are getting increasingly nervous about demand. Even luxury buyers are backing away. Luxury home sales fell 10% in April from a year earlier, marking the steepest decline since 2023, according to Redfin data. This isn't just about mortgage rates — these are cash buyers and jumbo loan borrowers who theoretically have more financial flexibility. But the retreat among wealthy buyers reflects a broader pattern of anxiety spreading even among the top 5% of U.S. households, with some $7 trillion sitting in money-market funds rather than being deployed into assets like real estate and stocks. For buyers, the landscape is becoming more half of sellers are already offering concessions, according to Redfin, and inventory levels are at the highest point since September 2020. Real estate agents are witnessing the shift in real time. Oregon agent Meme Loggins recently worked with a buyer who successfully negotiated $50,000 off a home's asking price, only to walk away entirely, citing economic uncertainty. 'Everybody wants a deal,' Loggins told Marketplace. 'Everybody's asking for a concession of some sort, either for closing costs, or a fair-sized price reduction, or both.' The geographic picture tells its own story. Texas is leading the correction, with listings hitting 123,000 in April 2025 — 53% higher than normal — making it the fourth most oversupplied housing market in the U.S., according to real estate analyst Nick Gerli. Austin alone has seen a 20.4% fall in home values from pandemic highs, according to Gerli, representing the biggest metro-level correction in America. Florida markets are similarly strained, with metro areas such as Tampa and Jacksonville showing up repeatedly on lists of markets with the most price cuts. Even the Bay Area in California, long considered recession-proof, is showing cracks. In March, about 1,300 new homes hit the market in the San Francisco metropolitan area, but only 780 homes changed status to 'pending' — the largest March gap since at least 2012, according to Redfin. What makes this moment particularly interesting is that it's not just about affordability, though 7% mortgage rates certainly aren't helping. There's a confidence problem brewing, and it's affecting buyers across income levels. Analysts at Citi Research warned that housing activity looks set to contract, potentially signaling a recession ahead, noting that residential investment is 'the most interest rate sensitive sector in the economy.' Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte has taken notice, urging Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. 'The housing market would be in much better shape' if rates were lowered, Pulte posted on social media. Most analysts expect the trends to continue. Redfin estimates that home prices will fall 1% in the fourth quarter — which would mark the first annual price decrease since 2012. Zillow also expects home values to fall by 1.4% this year. But don't expect a flood of bargains just yet. Many buyers remain priced out by mortgage rates, while homeowners locked into low-rate mortgages from the pandemic era are reluctant to sell and give up their favorable financing. The result is a market caught between hesitant buyers and reluctant sellers — creating the kind of standoff that could keep transaction volumes depressed even as prices moderate only slightly. What's emerging looks less like the frenzied seller's market of recent years and more like a traditional housing market where buyers can negotiate and sellers have to compete. The question now is whether this represents a return to normal — or the early stages of something more severe. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Alongside China's, Which Social Credit Systems Are Developing?
By the late 2010s, China's 'social credit system' (SCS) was increasingly viewed as a notorious government effort to monitor personal behavior, shape public conduct, and control access to services. While the system traces back to the 2000s, it was officially expanded and formalized in 2014. For example, in 2019, mixed martial arts fighter Xu Xiaodong made headlines when his social credit score was lowered 'for insulting tai chi grandmaster Chen Xiaowang,' according to Quartz, which also led to him facing travel restrictions. In contrast, citizens in Rongcheng who earned the highest ratings of 'AAA' through acts of charity and civic duty enjoyed perks like discounted energy bills. Personal reputation and risk scoring tools have also spread globally, particularly in the private sector. These systems go well beyond customer loyalty programs or service prioritization. Their growing social, legal, and economic consequences make it urgent to understand how these systems work and how automation will make them faster, less transparent, and more consequential. In the U.S., tenant verification companies like RentGrow have mistakenly blacklisted renters for years, prompting a 2024 consumer protection lawsuit. Insurers are increasingly using non-financial data such as shopping habits and social media activity to build behavioral profiles and alter their services, pushing legal boundaries. Ensuring trust, accountability, and good behavior in citizens and consumers is not inherently harmful when done by governments and companies, respectively. But when this exercise is powered by vast datasets and opaque surveillance tools, often involving scoring, these real-time behavior monitoring systems are prone to misuse. China China's government-run SCS is the world's most advanced, though it is yet to be completely implemented. Instead of isolated blacklists or points systems, it aims to collect and analyze a wide range of data, including finances, social behavior, and government records, to score citizens and implore them to follow state-approved norms. The concept emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with local pilot programs starting in 2009. Rongcheng became an early test case by 2013, giving around 700,000 residents a baseline score of 1,000. Scores improved through actions like donating blood or volunteering, unlocking advantages like free medical checkups. Meanwhile, deductions were made for offences like tax evasion, which could cut off government benefits (though for many, the impact was minimal). After Chinese authorities announced a national six-year development program in 2014, dozens of other 'demonstration cities' emerged. Local governments often used small companies to help build the infrastructure and tech giants to scale it. In Hebei province, Tencent and WeChat help promote the nickname 'Deadbeat Map' for an app that alerts users when someone with unpaid debt is nearby and encourages users to report them. Millions of other Chinese citizens have been blacklisted from flights and high-speed rail, or investing in real estate or other products due to low social credit scores, according to a 2019 Guardian article. While Chinese companies helped build the state-run SCS, some were entrusted to create their own. Giants like Alibaba and Tencent, whose apps are deeply woven into daily life through e-commerce, media, banking, insurance, transportation, and other services, use reputation profiles to expand their influence over users further. Alibaba's Zhima Credit, launched in 2015, scores users on financial history, education and career, social connections, and charitable acts. Higher scores offered deposit-free rental apartments and expedited visas, yet its role shrank after 2018 when the government declined to renew private credit licenses. Tencent started its own social credit feature within its WeChat app in 2018 but suspended it within a day after public backlash, before rolling out another version in 2019. Chinese public reaction to the individual SCS has been mixed. Criticism grew in several cities where programs penalized minor infractions, like missing dinner reservations. Central authorities called for the enforcement of penalties only through formal legal channels in 2019, and some cities switched to reward-only models. Despite its image as a centralized system, China's SCS remains incomplete. The government is wary of empowering private firms too much or provoking public retaliation, and a national rollout planned for 2020 was delayed by the pandemic and infrastructure gaps. Still, draft social credit laws were introduced in 2020 to unify standards, followed by another in 2022. In March 2025, new national guidelines called for fully integrating social credit into economic and social life, reflecting Beijing's long-term efforts to bring the system fully online. United States While China's government-run SCS is unique, American companies have quietly built a sprawling and mostly unregulated personal scoring counterpart. Less centralized than China's, it is in some ways more sophisticated, as profit-driven firms have experimented with minimal oversight. What began in the 1950s as a way to assess creditworthiness has grown into a massive industry tracking and scoring individual citizens' behavior. Companies collect data from online records and digital footprints to assign scores or create blacklists. Some keep these ratings secret, while others sell or share them. Together, they have created profiling systems that increasingly determine access to jobs, homes, services, and more. Insurance companies led the way in using non-financial data for risk scoring. Car insurers, for example, regularly purchase speed, braking, and location patterns from automakers to set premiums. Meanwhile, education platforms like EAB's Navigate generate student risk scores based on dropout likelihood, engagement, and future success, shaping their lives long before graduation. An investigation by nonprofit publication the Markup found 'that the software, Navigate… used by more than 500 schools across the country, was disproportionately labeling Black and other minority students 'high risk'—a practice experts said ends up pushing Black kids out of math and science into 'easier' majors.' In public settings, tools like Alessa alert casinos when a visitor's behavior triggers its proprietary 'risk score.' Patronscan, the largest ID scanning firm in the U.S. (and active in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand), allows a person to 'either be flagged at a particular venue for up to five years, or flagged across the company's entire network for up to one year,' according to a 2024 article in the Markup. The company faced a 2023 lawsuit for allegedly violating Illinois's biometric privacy laws, but denied wrongdoing and settled the case in 2024. It also flags high spenders as 'VIPs,' prompting venues to offer them preferential treatment. Data analytics company LexisNexis, meanwhile, builds extensive risk profiles for landlords, employers, and insurers using public records, court filings, and third-party data, with limited avenues for individuals to dispute errors. Trulioo offers global identity and fraud risk assessments, with especially deep coverage in the U.S. due to the expansive datasets and permissive privacy laws in the country. American citizens have been drawn into the scoring economy as both subjects and participants. Platforms like Uber and Airbnb rely on user ratings to determine who gets rides, accommodation, and work. Yelp and Google reviews offer public feedback, but can also be weaponized by review bombing, which has harmed innocent businesses and creators. While not as advanced as Chinese government efforts, U.S. government scoring systems include the Automated Targeting System (ATS), used by the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, to assign individual risk scores based on travel data, visa status, and airline records. Additionally, police departments in Chicago and Los Angeles began trialing threat scores for citizens in the early 2010s, incorporating social networks, past police interactions, and location. These scores influenced policing strategies, including the use of force and proactive interventions. Despite officially ending the use of this system in Chicago and Los Angeles in 2019, predictive policing returned under new names and methods in both cities, often with the aid of private companies. The Federal Bureau of Prisons' PATTERN Risk score, rolled out in 2022, meanwhile, assesses re-offense risk for prisoners. The U.S. public reaction has grown increasingly wary of more open scoring systems. Backlash to personal ESG (environmental, social, and governance) scores and corporate reputation metrics led to their diminished use. In 2023, Utah's House Business and Labor Committee approved HB281, a bill to prevent the state from creating or using systems that employ social credit scores to reward or punish citizens. Though the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974 offers some federal protection for financial credit scoring, no comparable safeguards exist for behavioral scoring or digital blacklists. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants basic data access and deletion rights to individuals, but opaque scoring systems have largely sidestepped it, and automated decisions do not need to be explained. The true number of such systems, both commercial and government-run, remains unknown, making them difficult to monitor or challenge. Other Global Practices Europe has attempted a more substantial regulatory approach to using personal data in scoring systems. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented in 2016, provides a comparatively stronger legal foundation, requiring companies to disclose why personal scores may change, for example. However, enforcement is uneven, and loopholes remain. Alongside private scoring tools, European governments have introduced their own social credit systems under more benign branding. In Italy, Rome and Bologna launched the smart citizen wallet in 2022, a pilot project rewarding citizens for eco-friendly behavior like recycling or using public transport. In the UK, 'loyalty points' schemes in supermarkets monitor spending habits (as well as physical activity) for use in pilot health programs, an initiative introduced during Boris Johnson's tenure as prime minister. Social credit systems are more widely accepted in parts of East and Southeast Asia, where stronger state capacity, centralized digital infrastructure, and cultural norms make behavioral tracking less contested. In South Korea, a state-led 'Green Credit,' encouraging sustainable living by rewarding eco-friendly actions, has been in place since 2011. Private initiatives have also emerged in Asia, notably through super apps that combine multiple services, building consumer profiles to control access and perks. Japan's all-in-one app Line, widely used for communications, payments, and other utilities, raised eyebrows in 2019 after announcing plans to implement an AI-driven social scoring system to reward and restrict users based on their online and offline behavior. Given Line's ubiquity, its experiment is a major step toward privately governed social credit structures. Though promoted as tools to encourage good behavior and deter bad conduct, these systems amplify social pressure and push societies toward a digital panopticon—a state of constant surveillance driven by government and commercial incentives. These models will continue to mature and become more dangerous in the U.S. and other countries that lack adequate data protection. Without strict limits on surveillance by both governments and corporations, fears of AI misuse, algorithmic bias, false correlations, and harmful feedback loops will only grow as these scoring systems govern more of everyday life. By John P. Ruehl Author Bio: John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications, and his book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas', was published in December 2022.
Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
SZA brings free Not Beauty pop-up to Phoenix before Grand National Tour show
SZA is bringing her exclusive Not Beauty pop-up to Phoenix on Tuesday, May 27, ahead of her Grand National Tour stop with Kendrick Lamar. The event will be held at WaterDance Plaza in the Westgate Entertainment District from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., just before her concert at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The pop-up experience is free to attend, though standard event parking rates apply. While SZA is expected to appear at the event, the exact time of her visit has not been announced. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., suggesting her appearance will occur prior to showtime. Not Beauty is SZA's new vegan, cruelty-free lip gloss line inspired by nature. The brand features three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz, each priced at $23. These products are available exclusively at tour stop pop-ups, adding an element of exclusivity for fans. The pop-up not only offers fans a chance to purchase limited-edition beauty products but also provides an opportunity to potentially meet SZA in person. With Kendrick Lamar co-headlining the tour, the Grand National Tour has generated major buzz, making this pop-up an added highlight for Arizona fans. For attendees, arriving early is recommended due to expected crowds and traffic around the venue. The event merges music, culture, and beauty, creating a unique fan experience tied to one of 2025's most anticipated tours.
