Latest news with #Richards
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Government to review 'unlawful' trans policy
Earlier this month, it wrote to officials saying single-sex facilities in government buildings, such as female toilets and changing rooms, needed to be restricted to biological sex rather than gender identity. In a formal legal letter before action, the group called on SNP ministers to urgently rewrite "clearly unlawful' internal guidance to bring it into line with the recent judgment on biological sex from the UK's highest court. READ MORE The Scottish Government confirmed to the group that the policy is being looked at. However, it said it had not been amended and that there were complexities that need to be considered. There are 1,016 toilet facilities in the 66 sites that make up the Scottish Government's estate. Around 18% of the facilities are gender-neutral single-user "superloos", while the rest are designated as either male or female. There are also numerous smaller sites — including fisheries and field-monitoring offices — where facilities may be shared or gender-neutral. In April, the UK's highest court ruled unanimously that a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) does not alter a person's sex for the purposes of the Equality Act. The judgment clarified that the terms "man" and "woman" in the legislation refer to biological sex, not acquired gender. That ruling meant every organisation in the country needed to review their equality policies. The Supreme Court ruled that sex in the Equality Act meant biological sexWhile First Minister John Swinney initially welcomed the "clarity" provided by the judgment, the Scottish Government has previously said it is waiting for further guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission before issuing new advice to Scotland's public sector — including prisons, schools and the NHS. In her letter to Sex Matters, Nicola Richards, the Scottish Government's director of people, said they did not agree that it was "appropriate or straightforward to take immediate steps" to bring its toilets policy into line with the Supreme Court's ruling. She cited the Good Law Project's legal challenge to the Health and Safety Executive's interpretation of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as a reason for a lack of action on the policy. Dr Richards wrote: "Given these complexities, the Scottish Government does not agree that it is appropriate or straightforward to take immediate steps to either withdraw or amend the current policy. @It is my understanding that the approach of the Scottish Government in this regard, of reviewing policies and, where appropriate, seeking guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), is consistent with the position of the UK and Welsh Governments. "Appropriate changes will be made to the policy referred to in your letter, and others impacted by the ruling, as soon as the Scottish Government has further clarity. This will follow any required and appropriate consultation and engagement." Ms Richards has also offered to meet with Sex Matters. READ MORE Maya Forstater, the founder of the group, said they had accepted the offer in "the hope of gaining clarity about how the Scottish Government is currently managing its workplace facilities, and when it intends to bring them into line with the law". She added: "Tomorrow would be a good answer. It is now three months since the Supreme Court ruling and, this week, the Sandie Peggie tribunal resumes. "It is atrocious that public bodies are still dragging their feet and describing the question of whether female staff deserve privacy and dignity as complex. "Parliament makes the law and the highest court in the land has now clarified its meaning." She added: "Whether or not we pursue legal action depends entirely on what the Scottish Government does next."
The National
2 hours ago
- Health
- The National
Scottish Government agrees to meet with Sex Matters
The Government also said its trans and non-binary inclusion policy, which applies to staff, is under 'active review'. Campaign group Sex Matters has called on ministers to make a statement on its policy around access to toilets in Government properties. Sex Matters wrote to Nicola Richards, the Scottish Government's director of people, at the start of July to raise concerns about single-sex spaces. READ MORE: Russell Findlay under fire for £150k taxpayer cash given to ex-spin doctor's firms The letter followed the issue of a formal 'letter before action' in June warning of potential legal action, saying ministers are failing to implement the recent Supreme Court judgment on biological sex in equalities legislation. The campaign group was offered a meeting with Dr Richards, with the Government saying the policy on trans and non-binary equality had been put under 'active review' in light of the Supreme Court judgment. But the Government said the policy has not been amended. Dr Richards wrote that the Scottish Government does not agree with Sex Matters that it is 'appropriate or straightforward to take immediate steps' to bring its toilets policy into line with the Supreme Court's ruling on the meaning of 'man' and 'woman'. She cited the Good Law Project's legal challenge to the Health and Safety Executive's interpretation of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as a reason for a lack of action on the policy. Dr Richards wrote: 'Given these complexities, the Scottish Government does not agree that it is appropriate or straightforward to take immediate steps to either withdraw or amend the current policy. 'It is my understanding that the approach of the Scottish Government in this regard, of reviewing policies and, where appropriate, seeking guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), is consistent with the position of the UK and Welsh Governments. 'Appropriate changes will be made to the policy referred to in your letter, and others impacted by the ruling, as soon as the Scottish Government has further clarity. This will follow any required and appropriate consultation and engagement.' Later this week, the employment tribunal involving nurse Sandie Peggie and NHS Fife will resume. Veteran nurse Peggie brought the case against the health board after her complaint about sharing a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton led to her being suspended. Peggie lodged a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. A 10-day hearing was adjourned in February, shortly before the Supreme Court judgment was returned. The tribunal hearings are due to recommence in Dundee on July 16. Maya Forstater (above, right), founder of Sex Matters, said: 'We have accepted the offer of a meeting in the hope of gaining clarity about how the Scottish Government is currently managing its workplace facilities, and when it intends to bring them into line with the law. 'Tomorrow would be a good answer. It is now three months since the Supreme Court ruling and, this week, the Sandie Peggie tribunal resumes. 'It is atrocious that public bodies are still dragging their feet and describing the question of whether female staff deserve privacy and dignity as complex. 'Parliament makes the law and the highest court in the land has now clarified its meaning.' She added: 'Whether or not we pursue legal action depends entirely on what the Scottish Government does next.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for further comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Steph Curry's secret weapons in golf? A YouTuber and his college hoops teammate
STATELINE, Nev. — Stephen Curry and Jason Richards share deep personal history. They formed the starting backcourt at Davidson for two seasons, with Richards playing point guard and baby-faced Curry scurrying around off the ball. Curry and Alex Riggs share a different kind of history. Curry watched some of Riggs' golf instructional videos on YouTube four or five years ago, liked the way he explained the swing and reached out on Instagram, a digital cold call. And now Richards and Riggs both are instrumental members of the Curry golf team. Their presence was unmistakable Friday at Edgewood Tahoe in the opening round of the American Century Championship. Curry started slowly, posted three birdies on the back nine and finished with 21 points in the modified Stableford scoring system, two behind former San Jose Sharks standout Joe Pavelski. Curry will begin play Saturday tied for third in the celebrity tournament alongside Lake Tahoe, well positioned to chase the title he memorably won two years ago. 49ers' George Kittle catches passes, smacks shots, muses on season ahead Warriors' Steph Curry talks hoops ahead of his return to Tahoe celebrity golf tourney His connection to Richards traces to the 2006-07 college basketball season, when Curry arrived at Davidson amid little fanfare — long before he was world-famous Steph Curry. Richardson, two years older, was entrenched at point guard. Curry slid into the lineup alongside him. He promptly committed 13 turnovers in his debut, against Eastern Michigan, before bouncing back the next night to score 32 points against Michigan. Their bond grew over the years and ultimately stretched onto the golf course, where Richards started serving as Curry's caddie at Edgewood about five years ago. 'We know each other so well, we call ourselves 'hand and glove' from Davidson,' Curry told the Chronicle after Friday's round. 'He knows how to kind of challenge me if I'm thinking ridiculous on the course, or keep me having confidence. It's just fun.' Or, as Richards said, 'When you're college teammates, there's a special bonding experience. That carries over. You go through a lot of ups and downs on a basketball team, and we sure did in those two years.' Friday offered one example of Curry momentarily 'thinking ridiculous,' and Richards bringing him back. Curry had resurrected his round with consecutive birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, before momentum-halting bogeys on the next two holes. Then his drive on No. 18 drifted into the gallery on the right, his path to the green blocked by trees. At first Curry planned to punch the ball back onto the fairway. Then he contemplated boldly threading a shot over the tree branches in front of him. Richards suggested hitting a low shot toward the green, aggressive but safely underneath the branches. Curry listened. He followed with a spectacular third shot, a soft pitch onto the green, to set up his final birdie of the day. Curry acknowledged Richards' help in making the decision, and also the value of his own self-awareness. 'That was knowing I'm not a professional golfer, and I want to win this tournament,' he said. 'This is kind of a cool shot, let's go for it. That's kind of what happened, and it worked out.' All the while, Riggs watched closely as he walked inside the ropes. His back story is interesting: He grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada, moved to Florida to teach golf and has been based in Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates) the past 14 years, working at a club there. He's posted 129 instructional videos on YouTube, some of which caught the attention of Curry, a self-acknowledged golf geek. He sent Riggs an unsolicited direct message, which Riggs initially thought was a bot until he saw the check mark verifying the sender really was Stephen Curry. They went back and forth a few times, leading to Curry sending Riggs an eight-minute video of his swing to break down. Then they connected in person in the summer of 2022, when Riggs came to the U.S. to visit tour players, celebrities and amateurs he tutors. Curry thought Riggs explained the golf swing in a sensible, easy-to-understand way, so they started working together each summer. Not coincidentally, in Curry's mind, his golf game soon improved. 'I didn't have much time in '22, after the Finals, but I kind of grinded and the foundation from that led to the summer of '23. And then we won,' Curry said, referring to his victory at Edgewood. 'So now he's kind of part of the crew, not just because of golf but he's also just a great dude. He has a great presence about him.' Curry's crew in Tahoe flows with family and friends, most notably Friday's playing partners — his dad, Dell, and brother Seth. Some lesser-known people also make the annual trip, filling notable roles in Curry's quest to excel as a golfer.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Newborn Won't Stop Crying, Then Dad Discovers One Thing That Works
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Becoming a parent is often a journey of learning on the go—getting to know your baby; figuring out what they like and dislike; and discovering what soothes them or winds them up. Every baby is unique, and, sometimes, their preferences are as surprising as they are specific. One dad recently shared his 1-month-old daughter's unusual quirk: she will settle down only when he sings the R&B hit "Nokia" by Drake. Jeraun Richards posted this hilarious routine on Instagram (@jrichofficial), where it quickly went viral, racking up more than 885,000 views and over 91,000 likes. In the video, Richards is seen cradling his crying daughter, Zyla, with his two brothers behind him. They try singing Baby Shark first—but it doesn't work. "She doesn't like any children's songs as of yet," Richards told Newsweek. Richards and his brothers trying to soothe Zyla while singing "Baby Shark" (left); and the dad shows the camera his calm daughter. Richards and his brothers trying to soothe Zyla while singing "Baby Shark" (left); and the dad shows the camera his calm daughter. Instagram/@jrichofficial Richards added that "Nokia" has been her favorite since she was just 1 week old. Some people might say it's actually a good thing Zyla doesn't like "Baby Shark," the famously polarizing children's song by South Korean company Pinkfong, which is adored by kids but dreaded by many adults. BonusInsider says that "Baby Shark" is the first YouTube video to surpass 10 billion views—a record it still holds. Created in 2016, it went viral in 2017 and eventually overtook "Despacito" after four years to become the platform's most-viewed video. It is estimated that "Baby Shark" has earned around $22 million purely from YouTube views and ad clicks. Motivated by its success, BonusInsider analyzed the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos (as of November 20, 2022) to see how much revenue they have generated and to understand better what types of content attract the most views. One commenter posted: "Momma was definitely listening to good music the whole pregnancy!!" Richards told Newsweek: "Well, I played this song in the car a lot while she was pregnant so that is true." Indeed, research suggests that playing music for babies before they are born can have lasting effects on their developing brains. One study found that prenatal music exposure boosted babies' brain responses to that same music months after birth. Another study showed that, when babies heard certain speech sounds in the womb, their brains were better prepared to recognize them later on. So far, the clip captioned, "I think my baby just wants to be at a concert every day," has almost 2,000 comments. As one viewer put it: "I mean she did stop crying so I guess he's right." "She was just bored and needed to be entertained!" another commenter wrote.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Words Matter: Kel Richards reveals the origins of ‘back to square one'
Wordsmith and broadcaster Kel Richards discusses the meaning of 'back to square one'. Mr Richards says the expression dates back to 1952 and comes from the children's game 'Snakes and Ladders'. 'It means going back to the beginning,' Mr Richards told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
