Nigeria: 63 Women Abducted by Boko Haram Insurgents Escape

A member of the #BringBackOurGirls Abuja campaign group raises her fist during a sit-in protest, a day ahead of the 80th day of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls, at the Unity fountain in AbujaReuters

Dozens of women who were abducted by the Nigerian militant outfit Boko Haram have escaped from their captors' clutches as the insurgents ventured out for further attacks.

Sixty-three women and girls, who were abducted from Kummabza village of Borno State two weeks ago, fled from their confinement and have reunited with their families.

"They took the bold step when their abductors moved out to carry out an operation," local vigilante Abbas Gava, who has been actively involved in the rescue operation, told AFP.

Government sources confirmed the escape, but they are yet to make an official announcement.

The Boko Haram extremists attacked Damboa town on Friday, the same day the women are said to have escaped. The raid sparked fierce clashes between security forces and the militants in which at least 50 insurgents are believed to have been killed.

Adamu Suleiman, another local vigilante, was quoted as saying in a local daily: "I have just received an alert from my colleagues in Damboa area that about 63 of the abducted women and girls had made it back home. They took to their heels when their captors left them at the camp to go for a major operation."

"We don't have the details of their escape yet, but we believe God gave them the opportunity at the time the insurgents came in their large numbers to attack Damboa on Friday."

"We believe seven women could still be in the camp or perhaps something must have happened to them."

However, none of the escaped girls are believed to be from among the hundreds of school girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram nearly three months ago.

India's Reliance Communications to Slash 37% Workforce in Major Restructuring Move

Anil Ambani, brother of India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, heads Reliance Communications.Reuters

Indian telecom major Reliance Communications is planning to slash 37% of its workforce by the end of July as part of a restructuring that would outsource the company's call centre and shared services operations.

The country's fourth-largest telecom company currently employs 15,000 people, out of which some 6,000 employees will lose their jobs, India's Economic Times reported. Nearly 4,500 of these people are in call centre operations, and the rest of the job cuts are from the shared services teams.

The move comes as the company plans to exit non-core businesses and cut costs by outsourcing its call centre and shared services operations. Reliance Communications is about to sign deals worth about 7bn (£68m, $117m, €86m) Indian rupees with two third-party service providers.

"These 6,000-odd employees will migrate to the rolls of the two third-party service providers, which will lower RCOM's employee count to well under 10,000," a top company official told Economic Times.

"The BPO and shared services businesses were highly inefficient and not adding any value to RCOM's bottom line, which is why we decided to outsource them and purely focus on core telco issues like customer acquisitions, sales, distribution, marketing and brand building to create a leaner organisation that is more cost-efficient," the official said.

With the move, the company expects to save about 2bn rupees per year in staff salaries, according to the newspaper.

It is currently facing a huge debt at 340bn rupees, after repaying about 61bn rupees raised through an offering of shares and warrants. It is looking to sell its direct-to-home TV businesses and monetise real estate holdings to pare debt.

Reliance Communications is headed by Anil Ambani, brother of India's richest man Mukesh Ambani.

George Osborne and William Hague Begin India Visit to Woo Pro-Business Modi Government

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George OsborneReuters

Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague are on a two-day visit to India to court the newly-elected government of Asia's third largest economy.

Britain is looking for investment opportunities especially in India's defence and infrastructure sectors, which the government led by Narendra Modi is planning to open for foreign direct investment (FDI). India is likely to announce the reforms in its upcoming budget this week.

At the same time, Britain will try to attract more Indian investment in a number of sectors. Osborne is expected to announce a £100m ($172m, €126m) investment by Indian pharmaceutical firm Cipla and a £20m investment by Mahindra to develop electric cars in the UK.

"It's great to be here at a time when the excitement about the Indian economy and the optimism about the prospects for future growth, are palpable," Osborne is expected to say at a meeting with business leaders in Mumbai.

"And the excitement here is matched by new confidence among international investors abroad in the future of the Indian economy."

"It is a measure of the ambition and drive and pace of the new government of prime minister Modi, that this complete turn-around in sentiment about the Indian economy has been achieved in just seven short weeks, since that stunning election victory."

The praise on Modi and his administration comes after Britain ended its boycott of Modi's regional government in Gujarat due to his alleged involvement in communal riots in the state in 2002.

The Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) thumping win in the parliamentary election has raised the prospects of far-reaching economic reforms in India.

Modi, who has been widely known for his pro-business mind-set, has revived the hopes of international investors for India's economy, and the country's stock-market indices have surged to record levels.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been trying to boost Britain's trade relations with its former colony, which has achieved significant growth over the last two decades to become a major economy.

Since Cameron came to power in 2010, British exports to India have risen 50%, but they are still lagging behind other international trading partners, including China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Hamas Vows Retaliation as Israeli Airstrikes Kill Several Militants in Gaza

Hamas' armed wing spokesman speaks during a news conference in Gaza CityReuters

The Islamic militant group Hamas has threatened to retaliate for the Israeli airstrikes which have killed several insurgents in the Gaza Strip region.

Admitting that at least seven of its members have been killed, the armed Palestine-based outfit said Israel will pay the price for the attack.

"This is a grave escalation and the enemy will pay the price," Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri wrote on Facebook.

As the aerial bombardment continues, the Israeli side has said at least 10 insurgents have been killed.

Israel is launching airstrikes on Gaza targets in response to rocket fire from the region. About two dozen rockets from Gaza, where Hamas is a powerful force, landed in Israel, mostly in open areas.

"At least 25 times today Gaza militants put Israeli lives in direct risk from their rocket attacks. This reality is unbearable and unacceptable. We will continue to act in order to debilitate and incapacitate the Hamas terror infrastructure striking its warehouses, rocket manufacturing capabilities and those that endanger the wellbeing of the Israelis in the south of the country," said Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner.

The situation remains volatile in the region following the murder of Palestine teenager Mohammed Abu Khdair in East Jerusalem, an incident which the Arabs say was revenge for the killing of three Israeli teenagers.

Israel has arrested six Jewish suspects in connection with the abduction and the slaying of the Arab teenager.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to deal with the situation "calmly and responsibly" but promised to punish the killers of the teenagers.

Despite Netanyahu's attempt to keep a cool head, the right-wing government authorities have been pushing for stronger action against Hamas.

Isis leader al-Baghdadi Mocked for Wearing 'Rolex' Whilst Preaching Jihad

Footage of al-Baghdadi's Friday speech, in which he appears to be wearing a Rolex.Twitter

On Friday Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared in public for the first time, commanding Muslims to "obey" him as the "Leader who presides over you."

But it was not al-Baghdadi's attempt to evoke the last Caliphs who ruled from Baghdad by donning a black robe and turban that most struck many about the appearance of the elusive militant.

Instead it was the expensive-looking silver wristwatch he is wearing during the 20 minute long sermon.

It is believed to be either a Rolex, Sekonda or £3,500 Omega Seamaster. The choice of such an expensive accessory clashed with al-Baghdadi's austere message and professions of humility.

He said that under the Islamic State's direction the Muslim world would be returned to "dignity, might, rights and leadership".

"I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me," he added.

"If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you."

Twitter users took to the social networking site to express their surprise at al-Baghdadi's choice of timekeeper.

Millions of Syrian are starving & The self anointed Caliph Al-Baghdadi flashes expensive wristwatch. Cd be Rolex http://t.co/RIZr9riulb

— Aman Wadud (@AmanWadud) July 6, 2014

In his speech at Ramadan prayers on Friday, al-Baghdadi calls on Muslims to join him to help establish the Caliphate, and hailed Isis' victories in Iraq.

"God gave your mujahedeen brothers victory after long years of jihad and patience . . . so they declared the caliphate and placed the caliph in charge," he said.

"This is a duty on Muslims that has been lost for centuries," he said.

Previously, he had only been pictured only twice, once by US forces when he was in captivity in 2005.

The Iraqi government, which claims it killed al-Baghdadi in an airstrike, denies the authenticity of the footage.

Benjamin Netanyahu Warns Israeli Arabs against Rioting

PM Benjamin Netanyahu warns Israeli Arabs against riotingReuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the Arab community in the country against rioting over the latest unrest.

Pledging to restore peace by acting "calmly and responsibly," the Israeli premier urged the Arabs to help contain the skirmishes.

­­At the opening ceremony of the weekly cabinet meeting he said: "You cannot enjoy social security payments and child benefit on the one hand, and violate the most basic laws of the State of Israel on the other. I call upon leaders of the Arab public to take responsibility, to face the wave of rioting and restore peace."

"Those who do not respect the law will be arrested and punished severely."

His latest remarks have come at a time when Israeli forces have bombarded at least 10 suspected militant targets in the Gaza Strip region over the murder of three Israeli teenagers.

He said: "The goal of all our actions is to restore peace and security to all Israeli citizens, especially residents of the south. Experience has proved that in moments like these it is best to act calmly and responsibly and not with bluster and rashness. We will do everything necessary to restore quiet and security to the south."

However, his comments have indicated that he is ruling out a full-fledged attack on Hamas in the immediate future.

The country is on high alert following days of rioting led by Arab groups in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The groups have taken to the streets following reports that a 16-year old Arab was murdered in a suspected reprisal attack by Israelis.

Israel Launches Airstrikes on Gaza Strip in Response to Rocket Fire

A flare is seen following an Israeli airstrike over Gaza City. Israeli warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes on different targets in the Gaza Strip, including sites belonging to Hamas.AFP

Israel launched airstrikes on 10 sites used by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Palestinian rocket launchers and a weapons manufacturing facility were among the sites targeted in the attack, which came after a rocket was intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence system in the southern city of Beersheba late on Saturday.

The military said in a statement: "Following constant rocket fire at Israeli communities in the south, Israeli aircraft targeted 10 terror sites in the central and southern Gaza Strip."

On Thursday, Israel mobilised tanks and artillery forces along the Gaza border in response to intensifying rocket fire from the enclave.

The deployment followed raids on Gaza which were launched after at least 15 rockets hit southern Israel, two of which were intercepted by Israel's anti-missile system, the army said.

The rockets hit two houses in the southern border town of Sderot, with one of the rockets causing a power cut. The Israeli army reported no injuries.

At least 11 Palestinians were wounded in the Israeli air raids on Gaza, which took place as residents prepared for the funeral of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair, who was kidnapped and killed in East Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Tensions between Israel and Palestine have increased since the murders of three Israeli teenagers on 12 June, which Israel has blamed on Hamas.

Israeli authorities arrested around 600 suspected Hamas activists as part of a wider manhunt, in what has been described as the largest ground operation in the West Bank in almost a decade.

Palestinians believe Khudair's killing was a revenge attack carried out by far-right Jews in response to death of the Israeli youths.

The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said it was clear that Khudair was killed by Jewish settlers and called on Israel to bring the killers to justice.

Israeli authorities are investigating the murder after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a swift inquiry into the "loathsome" killing. On Saturday, Palestinian attorney-general Mohammed al-A'wewy said autopsy reports revealed that Khudair was burned alive.