A three-year-old boy from the United Kingdom’s town of Redhill dressed up as Prince Harry for World Book Day and even posed with a poster of the cover of the latter’s autobiography ‘Spare’. The image which was initially posted on social media has since gone viral and even been featured on the UK chat show Loose Women on ITV. His mother, Melissa speaking about her three-year-old son named Ellis Wright, said that Spare was the only book he wanted to portray, reported BBC.&nbsp;

“He is obsessed with being a prince and he doesn't have a favourite book character because he can't read,” said Melissa. She added, “We've always gone all out for World Book Day, it's one of our favourite days, apart from Halloween. His photo was on Loose Women so he'll be ecstatic he was on the TV,” as per BBC. According to Wales Online, Melissa is a make-up artist and hair stylist and was able to dress Ellis as the Duke of Sussex by using hair spray and face paint to create ginger hair and a beard.&nbsp;

“He wore his own clothes and had a presentation board. He’s slightly strawberry blonde, so it was a bit of hairspray and face paint,” said Melissa as per BBC. After the make-up, Ellis repeatedly looked at himself in the mirror and said “My beard, I’m Prince Harry”, said his mother. &nbsp;

While World Book and Copyright Day is still a month away, the event the three-year-old was dressed up for is celebrated a month prior and is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Book Day is a UK-based charity which is held on March 2 to promote reading for pleasure for young people, as per their website.&nbsp;

It also said how reading for pleasure is “the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success” despite their family circumstances and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to reports, Prince Harry’s memoir Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since the records began over two decades ago, a week after it was released on January 10. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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A three-year-old boy from the United Kingdom’s town of Redhill dressed up as Prince Harry for World Book Day and even posed with a poster of the cover of the latter’s autobiography ‘Spare’.

A three-year-old boy from the United Kingdom’s town of Redhill dressed up as Prince Harry for World Book Day and even posed with a poster of the cover of the latter’s autobiography ‘Spare’. The image which was initially posted on social media has since gone viral and even been featured on the UK chat show Loose Women on ITV. His mother, Melissa speaking about her three-year-old son named Ellis Wright, said that Spare was the only book he wanted to portray, reported BBC. “He is obsessed with being a prince and he doesn't have a favourite book character because he can't read,” said Melissa. She added, “We've always gone all out for World Book Day, it's one of our favourite days, apart from Halloween. His photo was on Loose Women so he'll be ecstatic he was on the TV,” as per BBC. According to Wales Online, Melissa is a make-up artist and hair stylist and was able to dress Ellis as the Duke of Sussex by using hair spray and face paint to create ginger hair and a beard. “He wore his own clothes and had a presentation board. He’s slightly strawberry blonde, so it was a bit of hairspray and face paint,” said Melissa as per BBC. After the make-up, Ellis repeatedly looked at himself in the mirror and said “My beard, I’m Prince Harry”, said his mother. While World Book and Copyright Day is still a month away, the event the three-year-old was dressed up for is celebrated a month prior and is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Book Day is a UK-based charity which is held on March 2 to promote reading for pleasure for young people, as per their website. It also said how reading for pleasure is “the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success” despite their family circumstances and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to reports, Prince Harry’s memoir Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since the records began over two decades ago, a week after it was released on January 10. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Three-year-old UK boy dresses up as Prince Harry for World Book Day

According to messages obtained by the Telegraph, Hancock and Simon Case joked about travellers being "shut up" in "shoe box" hotel rooms. Matt Hancock also advises that police be told to enforce the restrictions more strictly.

UK spy chief sorry for failing to stop Manchester concert bombing

On Monday, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak struck a new deal with the European Union to ease trade restrictions in Northern Ireland. Now, breaking silence former prime minister Boris Johnson has said that he would struggle to back the Brexit deal.

New Brexit Deal: Boris Johnson Vs Rishi Sunak

Leaked texts purport to reveal that the former health secretary Matt Hancock and a senior assistant made fun of those who were quarantined during lockdown. Hancock and Simon Case appear to be making fun of travellers being "shut up" in "shoe box" hotel rooms in messages that were released by the Telegraph. Also, Matt Hancock proposes telling police to enforce the law more firmly.

Former UK health secretary Matt Hancock's leaked texts

Ex-PM Johnson: I'd struggle to back new Brexit deal

Advocates are celebrating news British Columbia will become the first in Canada to make prescription contraception free to all residents starting April 1. The announcement first promised by the B.C. New Democrats ahead of the 2020 election was part of Finance Minister Katrine Conroy's budget speech Tuesday.

British Columbia first in Canada to provide free contraception

UK MPs have urged Formula 1 to set up an independent inquiry into the links between grands prix and human rights violations. Watch the video to know more.

MP and Human Rights Campaigners Call for F1 drivers to use their platforms "For Change"

Hundreds of victims of human trafficking have gone missing after they were referred to UK government scheme designed to protect them, reported The Guardian. The news outlet said that it obtained the data under UK's Freedom of Information Act. The data says that 566 potential or confirmed victims of human trafficking, who were referred to National Referral Mechanism (NRM), were reported missing between 2020 to 2022.

The NRM is designed with the aim of providing support and safety to victims of human trafficking.

The data reportedly says that the maximum number of missing people were reported in the year 2022. The number was 258. In the year 2021, 232 people were reported missing. Seventy-six people were missing in the year 2020. Guardian reported that maximum number of children who were missing were Albanian boys, while a majority of the adults who were missing were Vietnamese.

“It is incredibly worrying that such significant numbers of victims are slipping through systems of support,” said Maya Esslemont, the director of After Exploitation, as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;

“This data shows a real risk of re-trafficking in the UK, even amongst people who report modern slavery and make steps towards recovery.”

“The role of control in modern slavery cannot be overstated, and many victims will fear repercussions from their traffickers for many months or years after exploitation as they are afraid of harm to themselves or loved ones if they do not remain in contact with their traffickers.”

“The government must urgently investigate these cases in order to understand what factors left survivors vulnerable to falling out of the process. It is vital that the NRM itself is fully funded and that every single survivor who needs safe housing, psychological and financial support to avoid re-trafficking is able to access it.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Hundreds of victims of human trafficking have gone missing after they were referred to UK government scheme designed to protect them, reported The Guardian. The news outlet said that it obtained the data under UK's Freedom of Information Act.

Hundreds of victims of human trafficking have gone missing after they were referred to UK government scheme designed to protect them, reported The Guardian. The news outlet said that it obtained the data under UK's Freedom of Information Act. The data says that 566 potential or confirmed victims of human trafficking, who were referred to National Referral Mechanism (NRM), were reported missing between 2020 to 2022. The NRM is designed with the aim of providing support and safety to victims of human trafficking. The data reportedly says that the maximum number of missing people were reported in the year 2022. The number was 258. In the year 2021, 232 people were reported missing. Seventy-six people were missing in the year 2020. Guardian reported that maximum number of children who were missing were Albanian boys, while a majority of the adults who were missing were Vietnamese. “It is incredibly worrying that such significant numbers of victims are slipping through systems of support,” said Maya Esslemont, the director of After Exploitation, as quoted by The Guardian. “This data shows a real risk of re-trafficking in the UK, even amongst people who report modern slavery and make steps towards recovery.” “The role of control in modern slavery cannot be overstated, and many victims will fear repercussions from their traffickers for many months or years after exploitation as they are afraid of harm to themselves or loved ones if they do not remain in contact with their traffickers.” “The government must urgently investigate these cases in order to understand what factors left survivors vulnerable to falling out of the process. It is vital that the NRM itself is fully funded and that every single survivor who needs safe housing, psychological and financial support to avoid re-trafficking is able to access it.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK: Hundreds of trafficking victims reported missing after referral to govt scheme, says report

The United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned against Islamist extremism and cautioned that 'political correctness' in the larger scheme of things for British national security has created a blind spot for such extremism to flourish.

UK Home Secy Suella Braverman: Political correctness created a blind spot for Islamist extremists

The rift has further strained the tied between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family after the release of his tell-all memoir 'Spare'. Prince Harry and Meghan have been asked to vacate the Frogmore Cottage that was gifted to them by late Queen Elizabeth II.

UK: Prince Harry and Meghan asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage

What is the India-UK 'Young Professionals Scheme'? Who is eligible for the Visa? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas | Explained: India-UK 'Young Professionals Scheme'

UK food-price inflation has soared to a record peak as Britons suffer from a cost-of-living crisis, a survey showed Tuesday. Prices accelerated 17.1 per cent in the four weeks to February 19 compared with a year earlier, data provider Kantar said after tracking the cost of more than 75,000 products.

UK food inflation hits record high: Survey

The Royal Mail issued the final set of stamps featuring the late British Queen Elizabeth II's silhouette. They were released on Tuesday (February 28) to commemorate 100 years of the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive. This comes as the future commemorative stamps will soon appear with a silhouette of King Charles III, whose coronation is on May 6, marking the end of an era.&nbsp;

The recently released set of 12 stamps is called the 'Centenary of the Flying Scotsman', in which the famous train is shown crossing various locations across the UK including North Yorkshire and Victoria Station in London. The steam locomotive was built in 1923 and ran between London and Edinburgh.&nbsp;

Such special sets of stamps are planned years before their release including this one. The Royal Mail stuck to the publication plans made before the late monarch’s death, last September, reported BBC. This will be the last set of stamps to show the Queen's silhouette, said the Royal Mail.&nbsp;

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All aboard 🚂 
Today we unveil our special stamps &amp; collectibles to celebrate Flying Scotsman at 100 👉 <a href="https://t.co/s4FCpqmZQH">https://t.co/s4FCpqmZQH</a> 
 
The stamp release will be the last to feature the silhouette of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyingScotsman100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyingScotsman100</a> <a href="https://t.co/8DJ6VTFyjY">pic.twitter.com/8DJ6VTFyjY</a>
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As per media reports, the Centenary of the Flying Scotsman set will also include four small stamps which will feature images of the steam locomotive as well as the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster artwork from the 1920s and 1930s which was also when it first began running in Britain. According to Royal Mail spokesman David Gold, the stamps evoke “the golden age of steam travel” and called the Flying Scotsman a “national treasure of engineering”.&nbsp;

He added, “We are honoured to mark this landmark milestone with a set of special stamps.” The stamp illustrator, David Gentleman designed the stamps which were adapted from Mary Gillick’s 1952 effigy of the late monarch.

It has been appearing on stamps since 1968, which at the time celebrated British bridges.

The new King Charles stamps will be released in the upcoming months and were revealed by the Royal Mail, earlier this month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The Royal Mail issued the final set of stamps featuring the late British Queen Elizabeth II's silhouette. They were released on Tuesday (February 28) to commemorate 100 years of the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive.

The Royal Mail issued the final set of stamps featuring the late British Queen Elizabeth II's silhouette. They were released on Tuesday (February 28) to commemorate 100 years of the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive. This comes as the future commemorative stamps will soon appear with a silhouette of King Charles III, whose coronation is on May 6, marking the end of an era. The recently released set of 12 stamps is called the 'Centenary of the Flying Scotsman', in which the famous train is shown crossing various locations across the UK including North Yorkshire and Victoria Station in London. The steam locomotive was built in 1923 and ran between London and Edinburgh. Such special sets of stamps are planned years before their release including this one. The Royal Mail stuck to the publication plans made before the late monarch’s death, last September, reported BBC. This will be the last set of stamps to show the Queen's silhouette, said the Royal Mail. All aboard 🚂 Today we unveil our special stamps & collectibles to celebrate Flying Scotsman at 100 👉 https://t.co/s4FCpqmZQH The stamp release will be the last to feature the silhouette of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II#FlyingScotsman100 pic.twitter.com/8DJ6VTFyjY — Royal Mail (@RoyalMail) February 28, 2023 × As per media reports, the Centenary of the Flying Scotsman set will also include four small stamps which will feature images of the steam locomotive as well as the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster artwork from the 1920s and 1930s which was also when it first began running in Britain. According to Royal Mail spokesman David Gold, the stamps evoke “the golden age of steam travel” and called the Flying Scotsman a “national treasure of engineering”. He added, “We are honoured to mark this landmark milestone with a set of special stamps.” The stamp illustrator, David Gentleman designed the stamps which were adapted from Mary Gillick’s 1952 effigy of the late monarch. It has been appearing on stamps since 1968, which at the time celebrated British bridges. The new King Charles stamps will be released in the upcoming months and were revealed by the Royal Mail, earlier this month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Royal Mail unveils final stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s silhouette

The United Kingdom and the European Union on Monday agreed to a revised 'Northern Ireland Protocol' governing trade between the region and Ireland. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen for talks in London. Molly Gambhir explains.

Gravitas: U.K, E.U agree to new trade rules between Northern Ireland, Ireland

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hailed his deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland as a "decisive breakthrough". Sunak also said that the deal would pave the way for a new chapter in London's relationship with the bloc.

UK PM Rishi Sunak bats for new Northern Ireland Brexit deal with EU

The agreement reached by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over trade rules for Northern Ireland after Brexit has been hailed as a "decisive breakthrough." The accord received support from a sizable number of Tory MPs, including some who favoured Brexit.

UK and EU seal deal over post-Brexit Northern Ireland

On Monday, the leaders of Britain and the European Union will meet in London to finalise a fresh agreement to address the trade disruption and political unrest brought on by Brexit in Northern Ireland.

UK PM Sunak to meet EU chief for NI talks

Following the successful trial&nbsp;run of the four-day work week in the UK, more companies are now being urged to implement the practice permanently to improve productivity and ensure a better work-life balance.

The “4 Day Week Campaign”, which saw the participation of 61 companies, ended this month after the six-month trial. Of those, 56 firms have extended the four-day-week policy, including 18 of them who have made it permanent, reports the Guardian newspaper.

&nbsp;“The huge response we’ve seen to the pilot results just shows that the world is ready for a four-day working week. We’ve had 100 years of the 9-5, five-day working week and it’s time for a change. Moving to a four-day week would give us all the time to be able to live happier and more fulfilled lives,” Joe Ryle, the director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said.

The trial attracted widespread attention from media and commentators worldwide, including prominent left-wing US senator Bernie Sanders, who gave a massive thumbs up, tweeting, “Workers must benefit from technology, not just corporate CEOs.”

<h2>A three-day weekend, anyone? A four-day work week could be the future</h2>

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Despite witnessing enthusiasm among corporates to implement the four-day work week system, the idea is yet to receive backing from the UK government. Martin Callanan, a business minister, told parliament in September that the government had not assessed the costs and benefits of a four-day week, reports Guardian.

Another Conservative member, Howard Leigh, has said the policy would have a “devastating effect” because it would be “difficult for colleagues to work effectively if some are just not available for 20 per cent of the time”.

Nevertheless, some large companies have started experimenting with new approaches to ensure employee well-being.

Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest supermarket, has, on a trial basis, allowed some employees the chance to work four days a week. However, it has not cut down the working hours, rather workers would have to complete their work within the same hours within four days.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Following the successful trial run of the four-day work week in the UK, more companies are now being urged to implement the practice permanently to improve productivity and ensure a better work-life balance.

Following the successful trial run of the four-day work week in the UK, more companies are now being urged to implement the practice permanently to improve productivity and ensure a better work-life balance. The “4 Day Week Campaign”, which saw the participation of 61 companies, ended this month after the six-month trial. Of those, 56 firms have extended the four-day-week policy, including 18 of them who have made it permanent, reports the Guardian newspaper. “The huge response we’ve seen to the pilot results just shows that the world is ready for a four-day working week. We’ve had 100 years of the 9-5, five-day working week and it’s time for a change. Moving to a four-day week would give us all the time to be able to live happier and more fulfilled lives,” Joe Ryle, the director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said. The trial attracted widespread attention from media and commentators worldwide, including prominent left-wing US senator Bernie Sanders, who gave a massive thumbs up, tweeting, “Workers must benefit from technology, not just corporate CEOs.” A three-day weekend, anyone? A four-day work week could be the future Despite witnessing enthusiasm among corporates to implement the four-day work week system, the idea is yet to receive backing from the UK government. Martin Callanan, a business minister, told parliament in September that the government had not assessed the costs and benefits of a four-day week, reports Guardian. Another Conservative member, Howard Leigh, has said the policy would have a “devastating effect” because it would be “difficult for colleagues to work effectively if some are just not available for 20 per cent of the time”. Nevertheless, some large companies have started experimenting with new approaches to ensure employee well-being. Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest supermarket, has, on a trial basis, allowed some employees the chance to work four days a week. However, it has not cut down the working hours, rather workers would have to complete their work within the same hours within four days. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After successful trial, more companies in UK urged to implement 4-day work week permanently  

British supermarkets have been hit with a shortage of fruits and vegetables due to poor weather reducing the harvest in Europe and North Africa, Brexit rules and lower supplies from UK and Dutch producers hit by the jump in energy bills to heat glasshouses.

UK food supply crisis: Fruits and vegetables missing from Britain's supermarkets

Stargazers are left in awe as Northern Lights brighten up skies across England, Ireland and Scotland.

In Pics | Stargazers awestruck as captivating Northern Lights gleam across Scotland, Ireland and England

If they don't pursue "high-value" degrees, the UK will forbid international students from bringing relatives. Unless they pursue "high-value" degrees, international students won't be allowed to bring their spouses and children to the UK.

UK govt to take call on policy decision, to restrict families of foreign students

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that he is giving everything he can to strike a new post-Brexit deal with the European Union. Talking about the Northern Ireland's trade and events, Prime Minister Sunak called it vital to 'ensure a return to power sharing in the province'.

PM Sunak: Brexit is an unfinished business

Northern Ireland Protocol: What does the UK want to change?

Earthquake is back in the headlines, and it’s UK which has felt the tremors this time. An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 (as indicated by Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System) hit the country Friday night and had people shaking from South Wales to the West Midlands. Some said the walls of their homes were shaking, others said it felt like a bomb going off.&nbsp;Others who weren’t sleeping heard a loud bang.

<h2>A shallow earthquake hit the UK</h2>

First of all, what’s a shallow earthquake? An earthquake whose origin is very close to the earth’s surface is called a shallow earthquake. One that hit UK originated a mere two kilometres down the earth's surface north of Rhondda. They are generally felt stronger by the affected population, than the deeper ones.

<h2>What parts of UK are most prone to earthquakes?</h2>

Earthquakes are a natural occurrence that can happen anywhere in the world. However, in the British Isles, they are mostly concentrated on the western side of the mainland. Meanwhile, eastern Scotland and northeast England are relatively free of seismic activity. Additionally, Ireland also experiences very few earthquakes.

The North Sea, on the other hand, is relatively more active than the mainland. This may be due to the tectonic plates in the area. The North Sea is situated on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which are slowly moving away from each other. This movement can cause stress to build up and eventually result in earthquakes.

<h2>Strongest earthquakes that UK has ever faced</h2>

In 1931, the biggest earthquake ever was recorded in the UK near the Dogger Bank, and had a magnitude of 6.1. This event, luckily, occurred 60 miles offshore, but still caused some minor damages to structures along the east coast of England. The earthquake that caused the most significant harm in the UK was in 1884 around Colchester. This earthquake led to over 1200 buildings requiring repairs, chimneys collapsing, and walls cracking.

Earthquake is back in the headlines, and it’s UK which has felt the tremors this time. An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 (as indicated by Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System) hit the country Friday night and had people shaking from South Wales to the West Midlands.

Earthquake is back in the headlines, and it’s UK which has felt the tremors this time. An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 (as indicated by Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System) hit the country Friday night and had people shaking from South Wales to the West Midlands. Some said the walls of their homes were shaking, others said it felt like a bomb going off. Others who weren’t sleeping heard a loud bang. A shallow earthquake hit the UK First of all, what’s a shallow earthquake? An earthquake whose origin is very close to the earth’s surface is called a shallow earthquake. One that hit UK originated a mere two kilometres down the earth's surface north of Rhondda. They are generally felt stronger by the affected population, than the deeper ones. What parts of UK are most prone to earthquakes? Earthquakes are a natural occurrence that can happen anywhere in the world. However, in the British Isles, they are mostly concentrated on the western side of the mainland. Meanwhile, eastern Scotland and northeast England are relatively free of seismic activity. Additionally, Ireland also experiences very few earthquakes. The North Sea, on the other hand, is relatively more active than the mainland. This may be due to the tectonic plates in the area. The North Sea is situated on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which are slowly moving away from each other. This movement can cause stress to build up and eventually result in earthquakes. Strongest earthquakes that UK has ever faced In 1931, the biggest earthquake ever was recorded in the UK near the Dogger Bank, and had a magnitude of 6.1. This event, luckily, occurred 60 miles offshore, but still caused some minor damages to structures along the east coast of England. The earthquake that caused the most significant harm in the UK was in 1884 around Colchester. This earthquake led to over 1200 buildings requiring repairs, chimneys collapsing, and walls cracking.

A shallow earthquake just hit UK, what are they? Which parts of UK are most prone to tremors?

David Bowie fans will get to witness a vast collection of personal items that have been donated to the museum by the late rock artists estate in UK's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Singer David Bowie's rich and powerful archive to be made public

#GRAVITAS | Three of the UK’s largest supermarket chains have introduced limits for shoppers on several fresh produce lines, including tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, as they try to prevent gaps from appearing on shelves. So what is going on and are the shortages going to spread to other retailers and foodstuffs? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Why are shelves empty in the UK?

A first-of-its-kind mapping in Europe has revealed that pollutants known as “forever chemicals” have been found at high levels at thousands of sites across the UK and Europe.&nbsp;These "forever chemicals” which are also known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have a property of not breaking down in the environment and may cause potential harm when accumulated in the body.&nbsp;

The map demonstrates a family of about 10,000 chemicals which have permeated into water, soils and sediments finding their way through consumer products, waste, firefighting foams, and industrial processes. The project data also brings to light that these PFAS chemicals have been detected in high levels at over 17,000 sites across Europe and the UK.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-time-in-52-years-worlds-longest-skating-rink-to-close-due-to-global-warming-565094">First time in 52 years! World’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming</a>

Two of these pollutants, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), have been connected to a slew of health issues. While PFOA has been linked to causing kidney and testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis and high cholesterol, PFOS, on the other hand, has been linked with thyroid disease, reproductive, developmental, liver and&nbsp;kidney ailments.

“These sorts of concentrations raise concerns with me,” said Prof Crispin Halsall, an environmental chemist at Lancaster University.&nbsp;

“You have the risk of livestock gaining access to those waters and (then PFAS is) in the human food web.” Halsall says there are also risks involving people “accessing wildlife as food sources like fishing and wildfowl”.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-three-news-outlets-fined-for-their-earthquake-coverage-565075">Turkey: Three news outlets fined for critical coverage of govt’s earthquake response</a>

Belgium was found to be home to the highest levels of pollution. The country was detected to have PFAS in groundwater at concentrations up to 73m ng/l. In the UK, the highest levels of PFAS were found in a discharge from a chemicals plant on the River Wyre, above Blackpool.&nbsp;

Earlier, a report published by Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggested&nbsp;that pollution from the “forever chemicals" has contaminated over 330 other species of wildlife around the world, some endangered or threatened. The report added that the pollutant has contaminated polar bears, tigers, monkeys, pandas, dolphins and fish. EWG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation dedicated to helping you live your healthiest life.

The organisation created a map that, for the first time, consolidates over 100 recent studies of PFAS contamination. It revealed where species have been tested and detectable amounts of forever chemicals have been documented.&nbsp;

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It added that from country to country, and even across continents, PFAS pollution is everywhere.&nbsp;

"No matter the location, no matter the species, nearly every time that testing is done we find contamination from these toxic chemicals. And the EWG map reflects just what we know now – given the extent of PFAS pollution, wildlife in many other locations around the world are likely contaminated," the report said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A first-of-its-kind mapping in Europe has revealed that pollutants known as “forever chemicals” have been found at high levels at thousands of sites across the UK and Europe.

A first-of-its-kind mapping in Europe has revealed that pollutants known as “forever chemicals” have been found at high levels at thousands of sites across the UK and Europe. These "forever chemicals” which are also known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have a property of not breaking down in the environment and may cause potential harm when accumulated in the body. The map demonstrates a family of about 10,000 chemicals which have permeated into water, soils and sediments finding their way through consumer products, waste, firefighting foams, and industrial processes. The project data also brings to light that these PFAS chemicals have been detected in high levels at over 17,000 sites across Europe and the UK. Also Read | First time in 52 years! World’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming Two of these pollutants, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), have been connected to a slew of health issues. While PFOA has been linked to causing kidney and testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis and high cholesterol, PFOS, on the other hand, has been linked with thyroid disease, reproductive, developmental, liver and kidney ailments. “These sorts of concentrations raise concerns with me,” said Prof Crispin Halsall, an environmental chemist at Lancaster University. “You have the risk of livestock gaining access to those waters and (then PFAS is) in the human food web.” Halsall says there are also risks involving people “accessing wildlife as food sources like fishing and wildfowl”. Also Read | Turkey: Three news outlets fined for critical coverage of govt’s earthquake response Belgium was found to be home to the highest levels of pollution. The country was detected to have PFAS in groundwater at concentrations up to 73m ng/l. In the UK, the highest levels of PFAS were found in a discharge from a chemicals plant on the River Wyre, above Blackpool. Earlier, a report published by Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggested that pollution from the “forever chemicals" has contaminated over 330 other species of wildlife around the world, some endangered or threatened. The report added that the pollutant has contaminated polar bears, tigers, monkeys, pandas, dolphins and fish. EWG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation dedicated to helping you live your healthiest life. The organisation created a map that, for the first time, consolidates over 100 recent studies of PFAS contamination. It revealed where species have been tested and detectable amounts of forever chemicals have been documented. Watch | Russia Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin talks of boosting nuclear forces It added that from country to country, and even across continents, PFAS pollution is everywhere. "No matter the location, no matter the species, nearly every time that testing is done we find contamination from these toxic chemicals. And the EWG map reflects just what we know now – given the extent of PFAS pollution, wildlife in many other locations around the world are likely contaminated," the report said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found at 17,000 sites across UK and Europe: Report

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