List of All Articles with Tag 'f'

Festival season is in full swing, and thousands of music lovers will soon be flocking to Glastonbury, ready to revel and soak up the sounds. But can all those loud songs and thumping sound effects be detrimental to our hearing? “Attending a concert may give you more than you bargained for,” says Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy. “A recent 2022 BMJ study showed one billion people around the world aged 12-34 are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. With 24% of young people found to have unsafe listening practices with personal music devices.” She adds that 48% were attending noisy venues, such as nightclubs and concerts, at least once a month without noise protection. Dr Adam Hill, associate professor of electroacoustics, University of Derby, says: “While festivals are, for many, one of the most enjoyable features of the summer, care must be taken to avoid over-exposing yourself to high sound levels, as this could result in long-term negative social and health impacts. You need to ‘enjoy responsibly’,” Hill adds. How does noise exposure damage hearing? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Our hearing depends on the function of tiny hairs inside the cochlea – a snail-shaped organ in your middle ear, explains Dr Lee: “Sound waves cause the fluid in the cochlea to reverberate, resulting in the movement of these very fine hairs. This generates electrical impulses, which lead to the perception of sound in the brain.” She says there are around 15,000 of these specialised hair cells in each cochlea. Once they have been damaged, they cannot regenerate. “We are all exposed to noise every day, but it’s loud noises above 85 dB that are likely to cause hearing loss,” notes Lee. “This could be a sudden explosion, or continuous exposure to loud noise, such as attending a concert, working in a noisy factory or listening to a personal music device at high volumes.” What are the signs you’ve been exposed to too much noise? There are a few tell-tale signs you’ve been exposed to too much noise at a festival. One of them is tinnitus. “If you have ringing in your ears after attending a festival. This could persist for one or two days after the event – and may become permanent after repeated exposures over many years,” says Dr Hill. Decreased sensitivity to sound is another thing you might notice. “Things sound quieter/muffled,” says Hill. “This usually takes one to two days to return to normal, but may become permanent after repeated exposure over many years.” He says you may also have difficulty understanding what someone is saying to you, especially in a noisy environment, and difficulty telling different sounds apart, like identifying multiple instruments when a band is playing. What can you do to protect your hearing at festivals? “Use earplugs. Ideally custom-made earplugs, which is what musicians use,” says Lee. “Cotton wool or foam rubber earplugs are ineffective. High-fidelity earplugs are a good option. These filter the sound without reducing the quality and provide ear protection.” This is especially important for babies and children at festivals – ear defenders are available to help protect their sensitive ears. Lee adds: “Take regular breaks away from the noise. For every 3 dB above 80 dB, the time you can spend exposed to the noise without it damaging your hearing is halved. “It’s safe to listen to noise at 80 dB for up to eight hours, so at 83 dB this time frame is reduced to four hours. If you do the maths, at the average concert, hearing damage could set in after just five minutes!” She suggests taking breaks such as going to the loo, getting a drink, or taking a walk away from the main body of the noise at regular intervals. And lastly: “Don’t stand within three metres of a loudspeaker.” What can you do if you’re already concerned? Regular festival goers may already have hearing concerns on their radar. “The best thing you can do is to go get your hearing tested,” advises Dr Hill. “This will give you an indication of whether you have any issues already.” If you enjoy going to festivals and other live music events on a regular basis, he says it would be wise to invest in some suitable reusable earplugs: “High quality earplugs will reduce the effect of the musical content equally, so it sounds the same but at a lower level.” If you are involved in the music industry in any way (even if you are a student), Hill suggests making use of the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme. He adds: “You can get a hearing test and high-quality bespoke earplugs for a significant discounted rate.”

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised to give some “very blunt views” on the Premier League charges facing the club in due course. City were charged in February with more than 100 breaches of the competition’s financial fair play regulations dating back to 2009. The club could face a points deduction or even expulsion from the competition if found guilty but City have vociferously denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight their case. It is unclear how long this process will take with some suggestions proceedings could run for several more years. Speaking in his annual end-of-season interview with the club’s media channels, Khaldoon said: “So obviously I can’t talk about them (the charges), unfortunately, for legal reasons. “What I would typically always do is comment after, so I think we’re going to go through the legal process. “These are proceedings that take whatever time they take and when we’re done, we’ll have a conversation. I’ll give you my very blunt views, I promise you that. “I have very strong views on that, but I am going to be unfortunately very restrained today.” These are proceedings that take whatever time they take and when we’re done, we’ll have a conversation. I’ll give you my very blunt views, I promise you that. Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak City went on to win the treble last season. They overhauled Arsenal to claim a fifth Premier League title in six years, followed up by winning the FA Cup and then beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Off the field the club have also grown, recording record revenue last year. To many critics of the club, which is supported by the vast wealth of owner Sheikh Mansour, the Premier League charges cast a shadow over their success. Khaldoon feels these people are judging the club too quickly without checking all the facts. He said: “It’s very frustrating because it takes so much from the great work that’s happening at this club and it’s happening not just on the football pitch. “What these players have achieved this year, the treble, is incredible. I hope people focus and judge them for their football and what they’re achieving on the pitch and what they’re achieving in every competition they’re in. “The club as a whole is very well run. Today, the value of this group is over six billion dollars. We’ve created so much value – we’ve brought in world-class investors. Why? Because we have a commercial machine here that is one of the best in the world. “We’re the number one football brand in the world. The club generates a tremendous revenue. “People will throw at us ‘the biggest spenders’, ‘you have the biggest squad’. I wish people can just pause and ask the question, and get the facts and then comment.” In terms of on-field achievements, winning the Champions League for the first time this year fulfilled a long-held ambition. Khaldoon said: “With the Champions League, we’ve tried so hard for so many years. Then to finally, finally do it – it’s relief, it’s happiness, but it’s really more relief. We finally have that trophy right here.” Khaldoon added that City’s consistency in the Premier League was the record of which he is “most proud” and the club are targeting more trophies. “You always can top it,” he said. “I can see how it does get better. It always can get better.” Khaldoon also paid tribute to captain Ilkay Gundogan and hopes the German stays at the club. Gundogan played a key role in the run-in but is out of contract this summer. Khaldoon said: “When you need him in the big games, he’s always there, and I hope there’s more chapters to that legacy. Obviously, Ilkay has to make big life decisions for him.”

Real Madrid have completed the loan signing of veteran Spanish striker Joselu, a week after Karim Benzema’s equally surprising departure. Formerly a youngster in the Real Madrid B team who played just twice for the senior side over a decade ago under Jose Mourinho, the Stuttgart-born 33-year-old has since gone on to play for the likes of Hoffenheim and Alaves, while also spending three years in England. Joselu signed for Stoke City in 2015 but played just one season there before a loan back in Spain, thereafter signing for Newcastle in 2017 and spending two seasons in the north east. A return to Spain saw him show his most consistent form as he approached 30 years of age, however, with three seasons at Alaves returning a double-figures goal tally each season. That all led to a career-best season last year after signing for Espanyol. Joselu finished as LaLiga’s third-highest goalscorer with 16 to his name, culminating in winning four caps for the Spanish national team - scoring three times - including an appearance in Sunday’s Uefa Nations League shootout triumph over Croatia where he netted his nation’s first penalty. Despite his efforts in front of goal, Espanyol were relegated from the top flight - but Joselu will be staying put, after now sealing a season-long loan to the Santiago Bernabeu club, who finished second. Real also have a reported option to buy him at the end of the season, with Joselu’s contract at Espanyol running until 2025. Los Blancos had been linked with a move for PSG star Kylian Mbappe, who has informed his club he will not sign a contract extension. But Real club president Florentino Perez was recorded signing autographs for supporters over the weekend when one asked about Joselu’s arrival and any more potential signings, with Perez suggesting there would be no further incomings across the summer. That follows the big-money signing of Jude Bellingham last week, bolstering Real’s midfield for the immediate- and long-term. In related news, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to take over as Brazil’s national team manager when his contract expires next month, with multiple reports claiming he’ll sign a contract to do so once he enters the final six months of his Real Madrid deal, per Fifa rules. Read More On this day in 2003: Man Utd accept £25m bid from Real Madrid for David Beckham Transfer rumours: Tottenham make £50m double bid for Leicester pair Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr chosen to lead new Fifa anti-racism committee

Shoppers were treated to deep discounts, new products and payment plans as online merchants sought to revive their sluggish appetite for spending during China’s first major online shopping festival after the end of zero-COVID policies

The Bank of England faces “one of the trickiest sets of policy challenges” among major central banks, El-Erian

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has added to its holdings in Japan's five biggest trading houses, likely underpinning strong momentum propelling the nation's stock market to multi-year highs.

Real Madrid have confirmed the loan signing of Joselu from Espanyol.

By Tim Hepher and Joanna Plucinska PARIS The Paris Airshow opened on Monday with last-minute jet order negotiations

Wales Under-21 coach Matty Jones has hailed Luton hero Joe Taylor’s “fight and determination” to rise from the ninth tier of English football to the Premier League. Taylor was sent out on loan by King’s Lynn to Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Wroxham at the start of the 2021-22 season. It proved plain sailing as Taylor scored 21 goals in 13 games for the ninth-tier Yachtsmen, sparking Peterborough’s interest and a move to the English Football League in November 2021. Taylor made just a dozen league appearances for Posh before signing for Luton in January and his season ended in the most dramatic fashion. The 20-year-old forward, on as a substitute, converted a penalty in the Hatters’ Wembley shoot-out victory over Coventry that secured Premier League football next season. “To see Joe come on at Wembley was special,” said Jones, who has included Taylor in the squad for Wales’ opening 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Denmark on Tuesday. “I spoke to him before the game and he didn’t expect to be on the bench. Just to be part of it and experience the day was his main goal. “One thing he’s got is fight and determination, not to prove people wrong but to prove to himself that he’s good enough. “It could have gone either way for him at Peterborough, in terms of not getting a huge amount of game time and dropping into the 21s. “He showed frustration at times for that, but then his move to Luton came out of the blue.” Taylor made only one start and four substitute appearances before making the Hatters’ bench at Wembley. Just moments before his sweetly-struck penalty in the shoot-out, Taylor thought he had scored an extra-time winner only for his effort to be ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build-up. “To come off the bench and score the winner would have been a dream come true,” Jones said. “But we couldn’t be happier to see Joe score a penalty which was pivotal to Luton’s success. “Those experiences for lads are gold dust. The pressure he was under with that penalty will only bode well for us. “He will get similar scenarios for his country, how to manage his emotions under extreme pressure.” King’s Lynn-born Taylor, who qualifies for the Dragons through his Welsh grandmother, made his U21 debut in September. Jones said: “Joe’s had a great journey – it’s such a positive story – and he’s come into camp now with both performance and physical momentum.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live England expect Ollie Lawrence and Jack Walker to be fit for World Cup selection On this day in 2016: Andy Murray wins record fifth Queen’s Club title The sporting weekend in pictures

By Allison Lampert, Tim Hepher and Valerie Insinna PARIS For dealmakers, this week’s Paris Air Show will showcase

An overview of the media in the Netherlands, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.

Provides an overview of the Netherlands, including key dates and facts about this European country.