British Sikh doctors are campaigning for a better procurement strategy by the National Health Service (NHS) for personal protective equipment required on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in hospitals after a number of them were forced away from key roles due to their beards.
The Sikh Doctors Association had reports of at least five Sikhs being moved out of their usual shift rota at the NHS hospitals for refusing to shave their beards and failing a so-called “fit test” of critical facial protective gear.
“These doctors got in touch with us in some distress for being forced out of their usual roles, which was causing tension among colleagues as they had to cover their work,” said Dr Sukhdev Singh, chairperson of the Sikh Doctors Association.
“The problem arose due to a shortage of specialist facial protective masks called Powdered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), which is a hood respirator required in critical areas such as intensive care units. The ‘fit tests’ and equipment need to be geared towards all staff needs, including orthodox Sikhs with turbans and beards,” he said.
All the individual cases of the five British Sikh doctors have since been resolved through acquisition of PAPRs, a more expensive but reusable kit costing around £1,000.
The association is now working with individual NHS Trusts and more widely with the NHS England to ensure there is greater awareness around procuring such specialist protective gear in sufficient quantities well in time. The regular cloth FFP3 masks would not work with beards, a factor that could impact other communities such as Muslims as well.
“The system of procurement cannot continue blindly. There has to be greater interaction and surveys done to ensure that specific staff requirements are taken on board so that there is sufficient stock of the right kind of PPE available in times of crisis such as a pandemic,” added Singh.
Sikh Council UK has also been liaising with the NHS England alongside the association over the issue and had written to Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive officer of NHS England, last month seeking his intervention over greater clarity on “fit tests” and taking religious sensitivities into account.
“It has come to our attention that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS Trusts around the United Kingdom will be carrying out ''fit tests'' in which certain medical staff could be asked to remove facial hair,” the council said.
“For Sikhs, their duty of care is intrinsically interlinked with their faith. Therefore, we ask that no Sikh healthcare professional is forcibly made to choose between breaking their faith or breaking their frontline NHS role,” it noted.
NHS England has since confirmed that “reasonable adjustments” would be made.
“I wholeheartedly agree that reasonable adjustments should be made by providers in this area. As such, in my weekly discussions with trust medical directors and chief nurses from NHS trusts I will state this clearly as a reminder,” Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director of the NHS England, said in response.
The short supply of PPE has been a major issue for NHS hospitals tackling the highly infectious coronavirus, with the government under considerable pressure over the lack of enough protective gear for frontline staff. Several private fundraising efforts have also been launched to raise enough funds to produce and procure required facial masks and aprons.
Smoke billows from a burning market area at Guimara in Khagrachari district of Bangladesh on September 28, 2025, after it was set ablaze during a clash between Hill and Bengali residents over the alleged rape of a female student. (Photo: Getty Images)
AT LEAST three people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday in clashes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh after protests over the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl.
Violence spread from Khagrachhari town to Guimara despite restrictions and the deployment of security forces.
Police confirmed the deaths but did not disclose the identities of the victims. Witnesses reported homes and businesses were set ablaze during the clashes between Indigenous groups and Bengali settlers.
The home ministry said 13 army personnel and three policemen were among the injured.
Protesters alleged that the army fired on demonstrators, while the military denied responsibility and blamed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a rebel faction, for the violence. The interior ministry said weapons were being smuggled into the region from outside the country.
The unrest adds to political tensions as interim leader Muhammad Yunus prepares for elections in February, the first since Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted in 2024.
Key takeaways:
Three deaths and dozens injured: Clashes broke out in Khagrachhari district following protests over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. The violence spread to Guimara, 36 km away, despite the deployment of army, police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel.
Victims not identified: Police confirmed three fatalities, but doctors at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital did not clarify whether the dead were Indigenous people or Bengalis.
Rape case triggered unrest: The alleged gang rape took place on September 23. A Bengali teenager has been arrested with army assistance and is being held on six-day remand for questioning.
Blame and counter-blame: Protesters accused the army of opening fire on demonstrators. The army denied this and instead accused the UPDF rebel faction of instigating the clashes and firing shots.
Government response: Interior ministry chief Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said arms were entering the region from abroad. The home ministry pledged legal action against those responsible and urged residents to remain calm.
Background of unrest: The Chittagong Hill Tracts saw a decades-long insurgency that ended with the 1997 peace accord. Rebel groups like the UPDF rejected the deal and continue to demand autonomy, contributing to sporadic violence in the region.
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Reeves said that while no companies had signed up yet, several business organisations support the initiative.
CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves will offer guaranteed paid work placements to young people who have been unemployed or out of education for 18 months, with those refusing the offer facing possible loss of benefits.
She is expected to outline the plan in her speech to Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, promising "nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment."
Reeves told the BBC that while no companies had signed up yet, several business organisations support the initiative. The scheme builds on a “youth guarantee” announced last November, which promised 18 to 21-year-olds access to apprenticeships, training, education opportunities, or help finding a job.
Under the new plan, every young person on Universal Credit for 18 months without "earning or learning" will be offered a paid placement. Those who decline without a reasonable excuse could face sanctions such as losing benefits.
The placements aim to help young people develop skills for full-time employment. Around one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds, roughly 948,000 people, are currently not in education, employment, or training.
The scheme will involve private companies, with government subsidies to cover some wages. Costs will be met from existing budgets outlined in this year’s spending review, with full details in the November Budget.
Reeves said, "We're not immune to any of those things," referring to global economic pressures. She also pledged to fund a library in every primary school in England.
The Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the announcement. Policy chair Tina McKenzie said, "Reprioritising spending from employment programmes which aren't working to this type of scheme is exactly the way to get much-needed bang for taxpayer cash."
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Police officers stand in front of Karur Government Medical College hospital, following a stampede incident at a election campaign rally held by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, India, September 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
Police charge three senior aides of Vijay with culpable homicide after Karur rally stampede
At least 40 people killed, including nine children, as crowd surged during the event
Witnesses cite delays, poor planning, and limited police presence as causes
Vijay announces compensation of two million rupees each for victims’ families
POLICE in southern India have charged three close aides of actor and politician Vijay with culpable homicide and negligence after a stampede at his rally killed at least 40 people, officials said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, where around 27,000 people had gathered along a public road to see Vijay. Panic broke out during the event, leading to a deadly crush.
Such stampedes are common during large gatherings in India and are often linked to weak crowd control measures.
Police said they have filed a case against three senior members of Vijay’s party: Bussy Anand, GR Nirmal Kumar and VP Mathiyazhagan.
“A case has been registered and the investigation will reveal all who are involved,” senior police officer S Davidson Devasirvatham told reporters.
All three aides face charges of “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” and negligent conduct endangering human life.
Witnesses said the chaos was triggered by long delays, limited police presence and people falling from a tree branch into the crowd.
Vijay was speaking at the rally when the crowd suddenly surged, forcing him to stop. Social media videos showed him tossing water bottles to supporters shortly before panic spread.
“I am at a loss for words to express the pain my heart endures,” the 51-year-old said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is indeed an irreparable loss for us,” he said, adding he would give two million rupees ($22,000) each to the families of those killed.
Senior district official M Thangavel confirmed the death toll had risen to 40, including nine children.
Huge crowds
State police chief G. Venkataraman said the public was told Vijay would arrive by noon, but he reached the venue at 7:40 pm.
“The crowds started coming in from 11 am. He came at 7:40 pm,” he told reporters. “The people lacked sufficient food and water under the hot sun.”
He said organisers expected 10,000 people but about 27,000 came.
Vijay launched his party in 2024 and has been drawing large crowds ahead of state elections due next year.
Survivor B. Kanishka said he was “pushed down by the crowd all of a sudden”.
“There was absolutely no space to move,” he told the Hindu newspaper. “I subsequently fainted.”
Another survivor, Karthick, told the paper the tragedy could have been avoided.
“If people were not forced to wait for hours together, it could have been prevented,” he said. “Poor planning and execution of the programme and lack of police personnel at the spot were also the reason.”
The Indian Express reported that panic spread after supporters fell from a tree onto the crowd.
Earlier this year, 30 people died in a crush at a religious fair in Uttar Pradesh, while 121 were killed in the same state last year at a Hindu prayer meeting. In June, 11 fans were crushed to death in Bengaluru during celebrations for a local cricket team’s Indian Premier League title win.
(With inputs from agencies)
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In her first speech as Home Secretary to the Labour conference, Mahmood will also say that migrants should achieve a high standard of English and that she intends to be a 'tough' minister. (Photo: Getty Images)
MIGRANTS wanting to settle in the UK will need to have a job, not claim benefits, and take part in community work under new plans to be set out by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday.
At present, people with family in the UK who have lived there for five years, or those who have legally stayed in the country for 10 years on any type of visa, can qualify for "indefinite leave to remain" — permanent residence.
Those meeting these requirements gain the right to live, work and study in the UK, apply for benefits, and later apply for British citizenship.
Under the new proposals, Mahmood will say that migrants must also make social security contributions, not claim benefits, have no criminal record, and volunteer in their community in order to remain in the UK.
She will outline the plan at the ruling Labour Party’s annual conference, with a consultation on the changes expected later this year, according to a party press release.
The announcement follows a pledge from the opposition Reform Party, which is leading in current national polls, to abolish "indefinite leave to remain". Reform said it would instead require migrants to reapply for visas every five years.
That plan would affect hundreds of thousands of people who already hold leave to remain status.
"These measures draw a clear dividing line between the Labour government and Reform, whose recent announcement... would force workers, who have been contributing to this country for decades, to leave their homes and families," the Labour Party statement said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday described Reform’s proposal as "racist" and warned it would "tear the country apart".
In her first speech as Home Secretary to the Labour conference, Mahmood will also say that migrants should achieve a high standard of English and that she intends to be a "tough" minister.
Immigration remains a key political issue in the UK. Mahmood will tell party members that if Labour fails to address it, "working people will turn away from us... and seek solace in the false promises" of Reform leader Nigel Farage.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also scheduled to address the conference on Monday. She will "vow to invest in Britain's renewal" and announce plans to boost youth employment, according to a Labour press release.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Sir Keir Starmer attends an opening 'Welcome to Liverpool' session during the first day of the Labour Party conference at ACC Liverpool on September 28, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer urged his Labour Party on Sunday (28) to stop "navel gazing" and unite against Reform UK, accusing the rising populist party of planning a "racist policy" of mass deportation if it wins power.
Labour is well behind Reform in opinion polls, and Starmer kicked off its annual conference in the city of Liverpool by exhorting members to focus their anger on that party, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, not his own leadership.
"We have got the fight of our lives ahead of us, because we've got to take on Reform. We've got to beat them, and so now is not the time for introspection or navel gazing," he told BBC News. "We need to be in that fight united."
The next national election is not due until 2029, but with Reform surging in popularity, Starmer is seeking a positive narrative after difficult weeks when his deputy leader and his ambassador to the US were forced to quit.
The conference gives him a chance to rally Labour and redirect the frustrations of critics who want him replaced, including the mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham.
Starmer and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are under pressure inside the party to increase spending, and relax self-imposed fiscal rules that aim to balance day-to-day expenditure with tax revenue by 2029. But the government is expected to raise taxes in a budget on November 26 to adhere to the rules.
"The budget is an absolutely critical point of us knowing whether direction is going to change," said Sharon Graham, head of Unite, one of Britain's biggest trade unions.
"We should stop dancing around our handbag and do that (change the fiscal rules). If that budget is essentially nothing ... I think we've got a real problem on our hands, because without the money to make the change, then nothing is going to change."
But while leftist party members criticise Starmer for failing to improve living standards as he promised at last year's election, centrists fear the markets could punish the government if it raises spending.
Reform UK's central policy is restricting immigration, one of voters' main concerns.
Starmer turned his fire on Farage's party.
"It is one thing to say we're going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. I'm up for that," he said. "It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them ... I do think that it's a racist policy, I do think it is immoral."
According to the polling firm Ipsos, only 13 per cent of voters are satisfied with Starmer while 79 per cent are dissatisfied - the worst score of any prime minister since it started collecting the data in 1977.
Starmer said he was not simply ignoring criticism and would be judged by three things: improvement in living standards, better public services, and whether people felt safe in their homes.