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Muslim schools, a threat to British unity: Education watchdog

     London: British unity is under threat, that is if education watchdog David Bell is to be believed. Bell, according to The Sun, claims that the threat is coming from the growth of Muslim-oriented schools across Britain. Substantiating his view, Bell said that till July 2003, there were only 59 independent Muslim schools, and now in January 2005, there were 118 such schools. The Ofsted boss warned that if this trend continued, it would not be a surprise if the next generationof kids were a divided lot. "I worry many young people are being educated in faith-based schools, with little appreciation for their wider responsibilities and obligations to British society. Britain's diversity has the potential to be one of its greatest strengths. But diverse does not need to mean completely different. Religious segregation in schools must not put our coherence at risk," Bell said. Bell's comments have naturally irked the Muslim community in Britain, which termed his views as irreponsible. The Muslim Council of Britain called them "highly irresponsible," adding: "Community cohesion is paramount to the whole nation."

Reliance Energy directors withdraw resignation (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Four full time directors of Reliance Energy Limited (REL), who had tendered their resignation in November last year, have withdrawn their resignations ahead of the company declaring its Quarter 3 results. The four directors who withdrew their resignations are S Seth, K H Mankad, S C Gupta and J P Chalasani. All of them are now back on the REL board. The move is seen as a reaffirmation of faith in Anil Ambani, the younger brother of Reliance Group Chairman Mukesh Ambani, with whom he has been involved in a tussle to gain partial control of the business group's affairs. However, the company has accepted the resignation of Amitabh Jhunjhunwala. The resignation withdrawal comes just three days before the Reliance companies are due to announce their Q3 results. On the eve of the meeting, the company has said its shareholders have approved a change in the Articles of Association giving powers to RIL to appoint a majority of directors on REL's board.

REL posts 155 per cent net profit (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Amidst the battle royal between the two Ambani brothers, Reliance Energy Ltd (REL) has reported a 155 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 1.35 billion for the third quarter ending December 31, 2004. It has posted Rs 1.35 billion against Rs 530 million in the corresponding period of previous fiscal. On the occasion of the announcement of the profit, the board also approved an interim dividend of Rs 1.10 per share, a REL release stated. Total income for the quarter under review was up by 26 per cent at Rs 11.35 billion as against Rs 9 billion in October-December 2003, the release added.