Latest news with #Castles
New York Times
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Five European Castles That Court Travelers With Kids
Castles, with their mix of history, glamour and culture, can be a highlight of any European vacation. But take heed, young families! Trips to castles might sound inherently kid-friendly, especially for little people in the Disney Princesses stage, but they can easily break a cardinal rule of traveling with children: Thou shalt maximize the time kids can spend rambunctiously doing things, and minimize the time they must spend quietly looking at things. As the mother of two, I have learned the hard way that visits to castles can easily descend into just 'looking at things': spectacular historic architecture and long hallways of priceless objects to be viewed quietly, from a respectful distance. Even my older daughter, who has a longstanding fascination with the Tudors, has limited patience for exploring their residences. Luckily, a number of castles offer children's activities that are exciting enough to be attractions all their own — and to serve as a bribe for bearing with the tapestries and throne rooms. Here are five castles that offer delights for boisterous children and history-loving parents alike. For Pint-Size Dragon Slayers Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII, runs family-friendly events, including arts and food festivals and demonstrations of historic cookery in the palace kitchens. This summer, there will be a Peter Rabbit-themed trail in the extensive gardens, which older visitors may recognize as a filming location for shows such as 'Bridgerton.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chargers waive former Vol ahead of preseason game against Saints
Week 1 of the NFL preseason will begin Thursday. The Chargers kicked off their preseason in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31. Los Angeles defeated Detroit, 34-7, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Former Vol tight end McCallan Castles was on the Chargers' roster for the matchup and did not record any statistics. On Wednesday, he was waived by Los Angeles. Castles played at Tennessee in 2023. He appeared in 13 games during his only season with the Vols, recording 22 receptions for 283 yards and five touchdowns. Castles transferred to Tennessee from UC Davis ahead of the 2023 campaign. He played at UC Davis from 2021-22, starting 28 contests, and recorded 68 receptions, 928 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. The former Vol also played at California for two seasons (2018-19). More: Former Vols in Lions' backfield for Hall of Fame Game against Chargers The Chargers will return to action for their second contest Aug. 10 versus New Orleans. Kickoff between Los Angeles and the Saints is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT and will be televised by NFL Network. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
New Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Valerayy debunks fairytale illusions in debut single
Your browser does not support the audio element. SINGER-SONGWRITER Valerayy, whose real name is Rachel V. Anthony, has released her debut single, "Castles and Carriages". This dreamy yet heart-wrenching track preludes her upcoming EP, "Castles". Known for her ethereal vocals and emotionally transparent lyrics, Valerayy describes her songwriting as surreal. "It does get lonely, and self-doubt creeps in sometimes, but I'm learning that it's okay". "Castles and Carriages" critiques fairytale illusions. "I felt tricked into believing in 'prince charmings' and 'happily ever afters. Words like 'castles' or 'carriages' paint hopeful visuals, but beneath them is a story of pain." The 'Castles' EP, completed swiftly after a period of writer's block, served as a cathartic release for Valerayy. "I was bottling up a lot. I was still processing and, I'll admit it now, running away from the pain." She views the EP as a shared healing space, likening its release to "one big sleepover where we get to cry, vent, and feel seen". 'Castles and Carriages' is available on streaming platforms.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Study reveals which sunscreens don't meet SPF claims
A new study has found more than half of sunscreens tested didn't reach their SPF claims, including one marked SPF50+ that only clocks an SPF of 4. Australian consumer group Choice took a close look at household sunscreens, including many available in New Zealand, and found that 16 out of the 20 tested didn't meet the mark. While most still provided moderate or high SPF protection, one product – Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen – only returned an SPF of 4. Choice tested the sunscreen again at a second lab to confirm this result and got a similar low SPF of 5. This sunscreen is sold in New Zealand for $58. After testing, Choice contacted manufacturers of the sunscreens with their results. Ultra Violette suggested that "human error" or a "mix-up of samples" was a "highly probable scenario", Choice reported on their website. The manufacturer also said that, given the levels of zinc oxide in its Lean Screen sunscreen, an SPF of 4 was scientifically impossible. "We are deeply committed to the health and safety of our customers, rigorously retesting our entire SPF range every two years," Ultra Violette said in a statement to Choice. "Lean Screen has been on the market for five years in 29 countries and we have not received a single substantiated claim of sunburn during use – reinforcing our confidence in the testing we have. If the Choice results were at all feasible, we would have had hundreds of cases of reported sunburn and skin damage while using this product in real life situations." Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles says the results are worrying given these companies' lack of transparency about when and where their products are tested. 'Sunscreens sold in New Zealand are now regulated under the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act 2022 and must meet the Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard, which has requirements for independent testing," Castles said in a statement releasing the new data on Thursday. "However, when we updated our sunscreens database last year, the companies that market Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Neutrogena, Nivea and Sun Bum refused to provide this information.' Consumer NZ ran a sunscreen testing programme until 2022. Castles says they had been campaigning for companies to regularly test products to ensure they continue to meet their label claims. 'Our sunscreen research found some companies were relying on test results that are several years old. The latest Choice tests back our call.' Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+ tested at 38 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer NZ this product was last tested in 2017. Woolworths Sunscreen SPF50+ Everyday Lotion tested at 27 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer this product was last tested in 2018. The latest Choice test found Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lock SPF50+ and Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ both tested at SPF40. Consumer's 2021 tests of both these sunscreens also got SPF results in the 40s. SPF is a measure of how effective sunscreen is at protecting your skin from UVB rays. If it takes five minutes of sun exposure for your skin to start burning, applying an SPF 50 sunscreen protects you for 50 times that amount of time – in this case 250 minutes. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 would protect you – ideally – for 180 minutes. Products tested available in New Zealand SPF results in 50+ La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at 72 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 56 Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen – tested at 51 SPF results in the 40s Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 41 Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen – tested at 40 Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ – tested at 40 SPF results in the 30s Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 35 Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen – tested at 32 Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – tested at 38 SPF results in the 20s Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 28 Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion – tested at 26 Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 24 Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ – tested at 27 SPF results <10 Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen – tested at 4
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
11 Sunscreens Sold In New Zealand Didn't Meet SPF Claims, As Revealed By An Australian Test
Press Release – Consumer NZ Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles says consumers expect sunscreens to protect them. But Castles isnt surprised the protection falls short of whats claimed on the bottle. Australian consumer group Choice's test of household sunscreens has shown 16 out of 20 tested sunscreens didn't meet their SPF claims. These include products sold in New Zealand, including Banana Boat, Nivea and Neutrogena sunscreens. Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles says consumers expect sunscreens to protect them. But Castles isn't surprised the protection falls short of what's claimed on the bottle. 'Consumer NZ ran a sunscreen testing programme until 2022, and the results found by Choice are consistent with what we've found previously,' she says. The Choice test found: Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lock SPF50+ tested at SPF40 Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ tested at SPF40. Consumer's 2021 tests of both these sunscreens also got SPF results in the 40s. Banana Boat, Bondi Sands and Neutrogena sunscreens also failed to meet their SPF label claims in both Choice and earlier Consumer testing. While most of the products in the Australian tests still provide moderate or high SPF protection, one product – Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen – only returned an SPF of 4. Choice tested the sunscreen again at a second lab to confirm this result and got a similar low SPF of5. This sunscreen is also sold in New Zealand. Castles says the test results for the big sunscreen brands is particularly concerning, given these companies' lack of transparency about when and where their products are tested. 'Sunscreens sold in New Zealand are now regulated under the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act 2022 and must meet the Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard, which has requirements for independent testing. However, when we updated our sunscreens database last year, the companies that market Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Neutrogena, Nivea and Sun Bum refused to provide this information.' Consumer has also been campaigning for companies to be required to test their sunscreens regularly to ensure the products continue to meet their label claims. 'Our sunscreen research found some companies were relying on test results that are several years old. The latest Choice tests back our call.' Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+ tested at 38 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer this product was last tested in 2017. Woolworths Sunscreen SPF50+ Everyday Lotion tested at 27 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer this product was last tested in 2018. Choice is calling on Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration to urgently carry out its own sunscreen compliance testing. Choice has also asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate if any SPF claims are misleading. Consumer will be raising the same issues with New Zealand regulators and the Commerce Commission. Products tested available in New Zealand SPF results in 50+ La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at 72 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 56 Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen – tested at 51 SPF results in the 40s Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 41 Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen – tested at 40 Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ – tested at 40 SPF results in the 30s Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 35 Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen – tested at 32 Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – tested at 38 SPF results in the 20s Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 28 Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion – tested at 26 Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 24 Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ – tested at 27 SPF results <10 <>10 <> Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen – tested at 4 For the full test results, visit CHOICE sunscreen results: In partnership with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, Consumer NZ's sunscreen database allows users to filter sunscreens by factors such as price, water resistance, SPF protection and the last time a sunscreen was tested. For more information about sunscreens, including information about the 150+ sunscreens in our database, visit: Sunscreens | Overview – Consumer NZ: Content Sourced from Original url
