Tribunal over nurse's changing room row with trans doctor to resume

56 minutes ago Share Save James Cook • @BBCJamesCook Scotland editor Share Save

PA Media Sandie Peggie complained about sharing changing facilities with a transgender doctor

Cara Berkley BBC News

An employment tribunal involving a female nurse and a transgender doctor, which has become the latest front in the battle over gender policy, is resuming in Dundee. Sandie Peggie was suspended from her role as a nurse with NHS Fife last year after she objected to Dr Beth Upton, who is a transgender woman, using a female changing room. Ms Peggie claims her treatment was unlawful under the 2010 Equality Act and has brought a case against the health board and Dr Upton. NHS Fife and the doctor are defending their actions – at a cost to the public purse so far of at least £220,000 – arguing that they complied with NHS policy.

Ms Peggie, who has worked at NHS Fife for more than 30 years, told the tribunal she had felt uncomfortable around Dr Upton in a changing room at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital on three occasions between August and December 2023. She said the issue came to a head on Christmas Eve when Dr Upton started to undress in front of her. Ms Peggie told the tribunal she had felt "embarrassed and intimidated". The pair then exchanged words - although the details of their conversation are disputed.

Dr Beth Upton made a bullying and harassment complaint to NHS Fife

After the exchange, Dr Upton complained to NHS Fife about Ms Peggie's behaviour and the nurse was suspended on 3 January 2024. In her evidence, Ms Peggie said she had "felt more shocked than anything" when she learned there was a complaint against her. The board has described Ms Peggie's case as "unnecessary and vexatious" while Dr Upton has accused the nurse of bullying and harassment. "I'm not interested in vengeance and I'm not interested in retribution – I'm interested in justice," the doctor told the tribunal. "Trans people are not predators by nature of being themselves."

PA Media Sandie Peggie raised issues with the changing room facilities at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy

The tribunal sat for 10 days in February and was then adjourned until now. A separate disciplinary hearing, which had also been scheduled for February, was postponed at the request of Ms Peggie's legal team. In that case, the nurse is facing allegations – which she denies – of misconduct, failures of patient care and misgendering Dr Upton. It is now reported to have taken place although the outcome has not been made public.

Supreme court ruling

More than 150 farms in England caught using local water illegally

7 hours ago Share Save Malcolm Prior • @NewsMPrior Rural affairs producer Share Save

Getty Images Farmers often need high volumes of water abstracted from nearby rivers to keep their crops irrigated

More than 150 farms in England have been caught illegally taking too much water from rivers, lakes and underground sources, a BBC analysis reveals. Since mid-2022 there have been nearly 200 breaches of permits allowing farmers to use water from local sources, according to Environment Agency data obtained through a freedom of information request. Of these incidents, 141 threatened environmental damage - but just one farmer has been prosecuted. The Environment Agency said in response that it carried out 3,000 licence inspections each year, with prosecution a "last option for persistent offenders".

Getty Images England's internationally important chalk streams are particularly vulnerable if too much water is taken from them

River campaigners said the breaches of so-called abstraction licenses were "the tip of the iceberg" and England's current enforcement system had "no deterrent effect". The violations date from the beginning of the record-breaking hot spell of 2022, which put pressure on water supply, to this spring, which has been the UK's sixth driest spring since records began in 1836. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has been approached for comment by the BBC. In England, water is abstracted by water companies for public supply, by industry and for use in electricity generation, such as power station cooling. But agriculture often needs large volumes from local sources for irrigation, particularly for water-intensive crops like potatoes in prolonged dry spells. Over-abstraction of water, particularly during a drought, can severely impact river levels and adversely affect fish and other wildlife and their habitats as well as intensify pollution levels. Under the Water Resources Act 1991, the licensing system is in place to control how much water is taken and a licence is needed by anyone taking more than 20,000 litres a day.

'No deterrent effect'

The Environment Agency inspects and monitors farms for any licence breach, which can be a prosecutable offence. Using a request under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), BBC News found that, of the 199 breaches committed by 154 farms between 2022 and June this year, 141 incidents were category one, two or three breaches, all classed as having a foreseeable impact on "human health, quality of life or the environment". But only one farmer was prosecuted and one was given a fine as a civil sanction while 137 were simply given warnings or advice and no action was taken against three. There are currently 12 ongoing investigations. Ten farms breached their licences during the first five months of this year. A further four farms were found to be abstracting water without the necessary licence at all. The figures come after a report last week by green watchdog The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) found that some licence-holders would only be inspected once in 20 years and, in 2023/24, 84% of licences were not being inspected. Dr Justin Neal, from the river campaign group Wildfish, said the number of farm over-abstractors uncovered was "the tip of the iceberg". "With a minimal risk of being caught and few prosecutions, there is absolutely no deterrent effect. "That means taking too much water is now an acceptable occupational risk," he explained. He added that the exemption that allows farmers to take up to 20,000 litres a day without a licence meant no-one could be sure how much water was being abstracted by farms across England. Wildfish is now calling for more inspections and a new enforcement strategy with less focus on advice and greater use of "suitable sanctions" for those who break the law.

'Proportionate approach'

Driver held for hit-and-run death of world's 'oldest' marathon runner

Fauja Singh was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner

Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100. He began running at 89 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.

The incident took place in the northern state of Punjab on Monday, where Singh was out on his afternoon walk.

According to the police, the accused, Amritpal Singh Dhillon was driving a speeding SUV when he struck the 114-year-old British-Indian runner. Singh sustained critical injuries and died shortly after being taken to hospital.

Police in India have arrested a man in connection with the death of Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner , in a hit-and-run case.

According to Indian media reports citing the police complaint , the runner's life might have been saved had the 26-year-old driver immediately taken Singh to the hospital.

Police said Singh was crossing a road when he was struck by a vehicle. Locals rushed him to hospital, where he later died.

The hit and run occurred near Fauja Singh's birth village of Beas Pind, close to Jalandhar city.

A white-coloured SUV, allegedly used in the incident, has also been recovered by the police.

BBC Punjabi met Singh in June at his ancestral home in Beas village in Punjab state

Singh had many records to his name.

In 2011, he reportedly became the first person over 100 to finish a full marathon, in Toronto. He also carried the Olympic torch at the 2012 London Olympics.

Despite his achievements, Guinness World Records could not recognise him as the oldest marathon runner because he did not have a birth certificate from 1911.

The BBC earlier reported that Singh's British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

Guinness said they wanted to give him the record but could only accept official documents from the year of birth.

His marathon trainer had earlier said that birth certificates were not issued in India at the time.

His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.

As a young boy, Singh was often teased in his village in Punjab because his legs were weak. He couldn't walk properly until the age of five.

"But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history," he told BBC Punjabi in June.

Singh never went to school and didn't play any sports growing up. He worked as a farmer and lived through both World Wars and the turbulent partition of India.

"In my youth, I didn't even know the word 'marathon' existed," he said.

He started running much later in life, after going through deep personal loss.

In the early 1990s, after his wife died, Singh moved to London to live with his eldest son. But during a visit to India, he witnessed his younger son Kuldeep's death in an accident, which left him devastated.

Back in the UK, Singh was overtaken by grief. One day, during a visit to the local gurdwara in Ilford, he met a group of older men who went on regular runs. That's where he also met Harmander Singh, who later became his coach and his journey as a runner began.

Singh shot to international fame when Adidas signed him for their 2004 Impossible is Nothing advertising campaign, which also featured legends such as Muhammad Ali.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Labubu firm sees profit soaring by at least 350%

2 hours ago Share Save Osmond Chia Business reporter, BBC News Reporting from Singapore Share Save

Getty Images

Pop Mart, the Chinese toy firm behind the hugely popular Labubu dolls, has said its profits are set to soar for the first six months of this year. The Beijing-based company said it expects profits for the period to jump by at least 350% as revenues more than tripled. Pop Mart, which has a stock market value of more than $40bn (£31.6bn), also said profitability had been boosted by increased recognition of the brand globally and cost controls. Collectors have been obsessed with the viral Labubu dolls - fictional elf-like creatures with a row of jagged teeth - which have flown off shelves and sparked long queues in shops worldwide.

Pop Mart is best known for selling toys in "blind boxes" - a type of packaging that hides its contents until it is opened. The marketing tactic has faced criticism for encouraging gambling-like behaviour and compulsive buying. Launched in 2019, Labubu dolls have helped the company become a major retailer, operating more than 2,000 vending machines and stores around the world. Pop Mart began selling its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020. The company's stock market valuation has jumped by almost 600% in the last year. Sales from outside mainland China contributed to nearly 40% of its total revenue in 2024. Many shops around the world had to pause sales of Labubu dolls due to overwhelming demand. Labubu has taken off, especially in the US, thanks to celebrity endorsements by including celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink.

EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc Labubu dolls have helped Pop Mart become a major retailer

When he set his own record, Evans remembers feeling the nerves as he reached the 18th needing a par to eclipse the then standard set by future three-time major winner and Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington.

In contrast, as the pressure ramped up, O'Callaghan sensed McIlroy relished the attention.

The 36-year-old made headlines at Augusta this year for not addressing his final-round playing partner Bryson DeChambeau, but O'Callaghan saw the same singular focus even then.

"The more people that were there, you could see his focus go to the next level, he was now in his element," he said.

"It wasn't that he was showing off, but like he was going to entertain and really put on a show.

"He got into that zone or flow that people talk about and you could probably throw an orange at his head and he wouldn't blink."

If Evans felt McIlroy looked like a tour player that day, O'Callaghan remembers him celebrating one like too.

Five consecutive birdies to finish his round gave the watching crowd what they had hoped for with a monster putt on the 18th providing the exclamation point to the piece of history.

"It was one of those kind of moments that we were watching on TV at the time with Tiger Woods where as soon as the putt left the blade, you could just see this thing like a magnet to the hole, roll after roll after roll," he said.

"Rory, you could see it in his eyes. He knows that he's making it right off the bat, and he's got the putter up and he's ready to go with the fist pump, giving it the whole lot.

"It didn't even touch the sides of the hole. Electric."

British tennis player Tara Moore has been banned for four years for a doping offence, despite being cleared by an independent tribunal 18 months ago.

An appeal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The four-year ban starts immediately, but will be reduced by the 19 months Moore was provisionally suspended when the case first came to light.

The 32-year-old was Britain's top ranked women's doubles player when she was provisionally banned in May 2022 having tested positive for nandrolone and boldenone at a tournament in the Colombian capital Bogota the previous month.

But in December 2023 an independent tribunal ruled contaminated meat was the source of the positive test, and that Moore "bore no fault or negligence".

Driver held for hit-and-run death of world's 'oldest' marathon runner

Fauja Singh was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner

Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100. He began running at 89 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.

The incident took place in the northern state of Punjab on Monday, where Singh was out on his afternoon walk.

According to the police, the accused, Amritpal Singh Dhillon was driving a speeding SUV when he struck the 114-year-old British-Indian runner. Singh sustained critical injuries and died shortly after being taken to hospital.

Police in India have arrested a man in connection with the death of Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner , in a hit-and-run case.

According to Indian media reports citing the police complaint , the runner's life might have been saved had the 26-year-old driver immediately taken Singh to the hospital.

Police said Singh was crossing a road when he was struck by a vehicle. Locals rushed him to hospital, where he later died.

The hit and run occurred near Fauja Singh's birth village of Beas Pind, close to Jalandhar city.

A white-coloured SUV, allegedly used in the incident, has also been recovered by the police.

BBC Punjabi met Singh in June at his ancestral home in Beas village in Punjab state

Singh had many records to his name.

In 2011, he reportedly became the first person over 100 to finish a full marathon, in Toronto. He also carried the Olympic torch at the 2012 London Olympics.

Despite his achievements, Guinness World Records could not recognise him as the oldest marathon runner because he did not have a birth certificate from 1911.

The BBC earlier reported that Singh's British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

Guinness said they wanted to give him the record but could only accept official documents from the year of birth.

His marathon trainer had earlier said that birth certificates were not issued in India at the time.

His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.

As a young boy, Singh was often teased in his village in Punjab because his legs were weak. He couldn't walk properly until the age of five.

"But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history," he told BBC Punjabi in June.

Singh never went to school and didn't play any sports growing up. He worked as a farmer and lived through both World Wars and the turbulent partition of India.

"In my youth, I didn't even know the word 'marathon' existed," he said.

He started running much later in life, after going through deep personal loss.

In the early 1990s, after his wife died, Singh moved to London to live with his eldest son. But during a visit to India, he witnessed his younger son Kuldeep's death in an accident, which left him devastated.

Back in the UK, Singh was overtaken by grief. One day, during a visit to the local gurdwara in Ilford, he met a group of older men who went on regular runs. That's where he also met Harmander Singh, who later became his coach and his journey as a runner began.

Singh shot to international fame when Adidas signed him for their 2004 Impossible is Nothing advertising campaign, which also featured legends such as Muhammad Ali.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

England enjoyed themselves in their 6-1 win over Wales on Sunday as six players got their names on the scoresheet.

Among them were substitutes Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones and their celebrations caught the eye as they ran over to the bench, ran along the substitutes who were lined up on the touchline and clicked their fingers in the air.

Keira Walsh, who started in midfield and won the player of the match award, was left in the dark as to what it meant - but forward Kelly later had an explanation.

"We have a little group of us in a [WhatsApp] group chat - 'the finishers' as you call it - and [they were] 'positive clicks'," said the Arsenal winger.

"You probably saw we were all clicking, thinking 'what are they doing?' But it was just a positive click. We said: 'If one of us comes on and scores, let's do that'.

"It's just about sticking together and being at our best when called upon, making sure we're prepared to go on the pitch to do a great job."

Kelly said Walsh would be "kept in the loop" from now on, but the group chat was created by Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier for the substitutes.

England's super-subs made a big impact at Euro 2022 - Kelly scored the winner in the final against Germany, after Ella Toone had lobbed goalkeeper Merle Frohms in the same match. Alessia Russo produced a memorable backheel finish in the semi-final win over Sweden.

"Some of us didn't have the pictures of the click celebration so that's where the group chat came from - to send each other the pictures," added Kelly.

"I was saying to Lotte [Wubben-Moy] that throughout the tournaments that we've been playing in, the group of 'finishers' have been incredible."

It is not the only WhatsApp group chat on the go, as Lucy Bronze revealed last week they still use the one they had at Euro 2022.

Recently retired goalkeeper Mary Earps has been among those to message the squad in Switzerland, as well as former striker Ellen White.

"It's just mostly 'good luck', 'well done' or 'we believe in you'," said Williamson when asked about the messages.

"For them to reinforce their belief in the team and want to be part of it, that speaks volumes of the group.

"That group chat was originally created for the [Euro 2022] celebrations, so every time it pops up, it's not a bad thing.

"Most group chats we archive or mute - but not that one. We're very tame though. I wish we had more banter - but that's not going to come from me."