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Buckingham Palace in ‘total lockdown’ due to 'loud explosion'

<p>Buckingham Palace has been placed under lockdown after a man reportedly threw shotgun cartridges at the royal residence.</p> <p>International and British media surrounding the palace grounds were evacuated from the area amid the security scare, and a man has since been arrested – with <em>BBC news</em> reporting a controlled explosion was executed by specialists as a precautionary measure.</p> <p>Initial reports suggested King Charles was in residence during the incident, however, the <em>Washington Post</em> has confirmed he was just nearby with Queen Consort Camilla at Clarence House.</p> <p>According to the Metropolitan Police, the man was found to be in possession of a suspicious bag and was arrested on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>news.com.au</em> workers on the grounds said they heard a “loud bang” around 8pm. They also said the palace was not evacuated but surrounding media outside were cleared from the premises.</p> <p>The Mall, the street which lines from the palace to Trafalgar Square, is cordoned off from the public. Police are telling people in the area that the road is blocked off for a scheduled coronation rehearsal.</p> <p>British politician Jacob Rees-Mogg was in the area when the incident occurred and told <em>GB News</em> he was waiting to go on-air to discuss the upcoming coronation.</p> <p>“People came to us using yellow tabards to say there was an incident and we all had to go. Just an element, of I fear, not ‘keep calm and carry on’ [but] ‘let’s hustle and bustle’.”</p> <p>Ben Briscoe, <em>GB News’</em> Head of Programming, also told the program, “There was definitely a very, very loud explosion … As it stands the Palace and the surrounding areas are in total lockdown and it doesn’t look like it is going to be lifted anytime soon.”</p> <p>The royal standard, which signifies when the monarch is in residence, was not seen above the palace the following day but has since been erected on the roof.</p> <p>The incident comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was one of the first dignitaries to meet the King ahead of the coronation, with his arrival at the palace on May 2.</p> <p>It is believed the lockdown has since been lifted as investigations proceed.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

News

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"It was a loud wake-up call": Aaron Sorkin's serious health scare

<p dir="ltr">Award-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin has revealed he suffered a stroke last November.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with <em>The New York Times</em>, the 61-year-old, who holds three Golden Globes and five Emmys, said the experience was so intense it made him think he might never work again.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There was a minute when I was concerned that I was never going to be able to write again," Sorkin said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin revealed that the stroke occurred two months before rehearsals for his upcoming musical – a re-written version of <em>Camelot</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>West Wing</em> creator said that the symptoms showed up in the middle of the night when he realised that he kept crashing into walls on his way to the kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The symptoms carried on the next day, when he found himself continually spilling a glass of orange juice in his home office.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he went to the doctors they said his blood pressure was so high, he was "supposed to be dead".</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin also shared that he’s still suffering from the side effects as he hasn’t been able to taste food properly since the stroke.</p> <p dir="ltr">A month after the stroke, Sorkin struggled to type and was slurring his words, it’s only recently that he finally built up the coordination to be able to sign his name again.</p> <p dir="ltr">The director shared that the stroke has led him to make some major lifestyle changes.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Mostly it was a loud wake-up call," he said. "I thought I was one of those people who could eat whatever he wanted, smoke as much as he wanted, and it's not going to affect me. Boy, was I wrong," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin has since given up smoking, works out twice a day and has incorporated a healthier diet. "I take a lot of medicine. You can hear the pills rattling around in me," he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The screenwriter is currently preparing for the opening of his new musical, <em>Camelot</em>, which is his fourth Broadway production.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Pumping loud music is putting more than 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss

<p>Music is an integral part of human life. It’s all around us, just like sunshine, lifting our mood. We enjoy it so much that many of us take it with us everywhere on our phones or we spend weekends hitting the club scene, live-music venues or concerts.</p> <p>Meanwhile, many of us may have felt annoyed by loud sound from music venues or remarked on sound emanating from someone else’s headphones. We’re probably aware we should prevent hearing loss from loud industrial noise at work or from using power tools at home. </p> <p>A systematic review released today in <a href="https://globalhealth.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010501">BMJ Global Health</a> reports unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults from using personal listening devices (such as phones or digital music players) and going to loud clubs and gigs are common, and could be a major factor contributing to hearing loss. </p> <p>In fact, the authors estimate the pumping tunes could be placing up to 1.35 billion young people at risk of hearing loss worldwide.</p> <h2>What the study looked at</h2> <p>Systematic analysis involves looking across multiple studies to identify consistent findings. In this study, the authors included 33 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2021, involving over 19,000 people, aged 12–34. </p> <p>In the study, unsafe listening was identified as listening at levels above 80 decibels for over 40 hours per week. For context, this is the level above which most Australian states <a href="https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/noise/overview#:%7E:text=Workers%20must%20not%20be%20exposed,on%20decibels%20and%20time%20exposed.">require industry</a> to implement noise protection processes such as use of hearing protectors.</p> <p>The study confirms the rate of unsafe listening practices is high in adolescents and young adults: 23.81% of them were listening to music on personal devices at unsafe levels and 48.2% at loud entertainment venues (though this rate is less certain). Based on global estimates of population, this translates to up to 1.35 billion young people at risk of hearing loss globally. The World Health Organization <a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss#tab=tab_1">estimates</a> over 430 million people worldwide already have a disabling hearing loss and prevalence could double if hearing loss prevention is not prioritised.</p> <p>The results tally with our previous studies conducted by Australia’s National Acoustic Laboratories and HEARing Cooperative Research Centre. </p> <p>More than a decade ago we <a href="https://acc.hearingservices.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/hso/f1f6299d-96f3-408e-be4b-0775af6d7f41/Lifetime_profile_exposure_sound_what_safe_HLPP2.pdf?MOD=AJPERES">reported</a> a high potential for hearing loss from attendance at nightclubs, pubs and live concerts in young Australians aged between 18–35 years. </p> <p>Back then, we found 13% of young Australians (aged 18–35) were getting a yearly noise dose from nightclubs, concerts and sporting activities that exceeded the maximum acceptable dose in industry. In 2015, the WHO launched the <a href="https://www.who.int/activities/making-listening-safe">Make listening Safe</a>initiative to encourage young people to protect their hearing.</p> <h2>Why it’s bad for your hearing</h2> <p>So what’s the problem with loud music? Like sunshine, overexposure can lead to harm. </p> <p>Loud noise, including music, can <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/how_does_loud_noise_cause_hearing_loss.html">kill off hair cells and membranes</a> in the inner ear (the cochlea). Once hearing is lost, a person mightn’t be able to hear or understand speech or sounds around them. </p> <p><a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss">Research</a> shows hearing loss results from a combination of sound being too loud (and it doesn’t need to be painful to cause hearing damage), listening to loud sound too long (and the louder the sound, the less time you can listen before your hearing is at risk) and how often you are exposed (and hearing damage is cumulative over time). </p> <p>A good “rule of ear” is that if you hear ringing in your ears at or after listening, you are at risk of damaging your hearing. This type of hearing loss is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/how_does_loud_noise_cause_hearing_loss.html">permanent</a> and may require use of hearing aids or cochlear implants.</p> <h2>Wait, so no loud music at all?</h2> <p>So what can we do, short of throwing away our headphones and avoiding clubbing and live music?</p> <p>First, just like with the sun and skin, we need to be aware of the risks to our hearing and take the necessary steps to protect ourselves. We need to be aware of how loud sound is around us and how to keep our exposure within safe levels. We can do this by using personal hearing protection in clubs (such as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-earplugs-for-concerts/">ear muffs or ear plugs</a> that are fit for purpose), or limiting how often we visit noisy music venues or how long we stay at really loud ones.</p> <p>In Australia, people can access a free <a href="https://knowyournoise.nal.gov.au/">noise risk calculator</a> to calculate their personal risk using an online sound level meter, and to explore how changes in lifestyle could protect their hearing while still allowing them to enjoy music.</p> <p>Most phones now come with software that can <a href="https://www.headphonesty.com/2022/03/iphone-headphone-safety/#:%7E:text=Key%20features%20of%20the%20iPhone%20Headphone%20Safety%20feature&amp;text=According%20to%20the%20WHO%20standard,risk%20of%20sustaining%20hearing%20damage.">monitor safe listening levels</a> and limit exposure.</p> <p>Hearing protection at the venue level is more challenging and may require regulatory and industry-based approaches. Our <a href="https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/64/4/342/5811673">2020 research</a> identified hazard controls for entertainment venues, such alternating volume between louder and softer levels, rotating staff, providing quiet rooms, and raising speaker locations above head height. We also showed DJs and venues were open to initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of hearing loss for their patrons and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19338244.2020.1828241?journalCode=vaeh20">staff</a>. </p> <p>Compromises are possible and they could enable enjoyment of music at live-music venues, while still protecting hearing. That way everyone will be able keep enjoying music for longer.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/pumping-loud-music-is-putting-more-than-1-billion-young-people-at-risk-of-hearing-loss-194537" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Music

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“The screaming was so loud”: Young woman struck by roller coaster

<p dir="ltr">A young woman has been taken to hospital after being struck by a roller coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show.</p> <p dir="ltr">Several witnesses reported hearing screams just before the ride was abruptly shut down at around 5.45pm on Sunday</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency services found the woman, in her 20s, with serious facial injuries at the show’s Rebel Coaster ride before she was taken to hospital in critical condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police believe the woman walked onto the track while attempting to retrieve her phone.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Police are currently on scene at the Melbourne Royal Show following reports a young woman has been injured,” Victoria Police said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Officers are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and a crime scene has been established.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It appears at this early stage the woman, believed to be aged in her 20s, may have walked on and entered the track to try to retrieve a dropped phone before she was hit by a roller coaster carriage, about 5.45pm.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-71cde708-7fff-9292-984a-cabe26e8e789"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Sadly the woman was then found injured on the ground. Detectives from the Yarra Crime Investigation Unit are attending the scene and will work with WorkSafe to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/melb-ride-injury1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Showgoers who were on the ride during the incident were reportedly stuck on it for several hours. Image: 7News</em></p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement, the Melbourne Royal Show confirmed a “reported injury on the Rebel Coaster ride” and that no one fell from the ride.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are working closely with the ride operator, WorkSafe Victoria and Victoria Police to investigate the issue further, however we can confirm that no one has fallen from the ride,” the event said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ride in question will be closed for the foreseeable future and updates will be made as information comes to hand.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A stall owner told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/woman-injured-on-ride-at-the-melbourne-royal-show/news-story/6152e44b860642bca1e80b25d90e1516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em> she heard loud screams after the ride suddenly stopped.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everyone was stuck in the ride for one to two hours … but the screaming was so loud – I think everyone must have been really scared,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ride went up like normal, then there were screams, then it stopped and stayed that way for ages.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Those on the Rebel Coaster when it stopped were reportedly stuck on the ride for over an hour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Witnesses were moved away from the ride, which has been shut down, and the area was cordoned off.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c60079c-7fff-d680-ce5e-e1df17ffe8e4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

News

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10 restaurant signs that will make you laugh out loud

<p>The restaurant game is a notoriously competitive subset of the hospitality industry, and if you’re an owner sometimes it pays to have a good sense of humour. </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Good Housekeeping</strong></span></a></em> has scoured the web and found 10 of the funniest restaurant signs from around the world. From those that are so-bad-they’re-good, to others that are genuinely witty, these signs are a great way to stand out from the crowd.</p> <p>To see them all, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>Which was your favourite? If you’ve seen a restaurant sign you found hilarious, leave it in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/07/14-of-the-most-hilarious-supermarket-sign-errors/">14 of the most hilarious supermarket sign errors</a></em></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2016/06/14-of-the-most-hilarious-english-translation-errors/">14 of the most hilarious English translation errors</a></em></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/02/understanding-supermarket-sales-tricks/">Understanding supermarket sales tricks</a></em></span></strong></p>

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Tips you need to know to protect your ears in loud places

<p>While age is a factor in many people’s hearing loss, exposure to loud noise can also cause problems with hearing. The difference between the two is that getting older can’t be avoided, but protecting your ears from excessive noise is possible.</p> <p>When you are exposed to loud noises for a prolonged period (concerts, noisy machinery at work, screaming children) it can destroy the nerve endings in your ears. Once the damage occurs it is irreversible.</p> <p>Everyone has a different sensitivity to noise. But if a sound is causing you pain, making your ears ring, or affecting your hearing after exposure, chances are this is having an impact on your ears. You may also end up suffering from tinnitus, which usually occurs after being exposed to loud noise.</p> <p>If you know you are going to be exposed to noise, such as in the workplace, or when using power tools, always wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your ears. These are available at most chemists. Hearing protectors can actually help you understand speech in noisy environments, so there is no need to worry that you won’t be able to hear anyone. Many earmuffs also allow you to wear hearing aids at the same time.</p> <p>Some people don’t notice that they have hearing loss, as it can develop gradually over many years. It might not be until you have ringing in the ears or have trouble hearing the television that you know you need to be tested. You will then know if you have hearing issues, or whether it is something else such as an ear infection or impacted wax, which can be fixed.</p> <p>Have you had experience with pain or hearing problems caused by loud noises? We would love to hear your story in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/hearing/2016/05/how-to-protect-your-ears-from-the-cold/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to protect your ears from the cold</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/hearing/2016/05/problems-that-arise-from-untreated-hearing-loss/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>4 problems that arise from untreated hearing loss</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/hearing/2016/05/quotes-about-hearing-for-first-time/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Quotes about hearing for first time</strong></em></span></a></p>

Hearing