Sudan court overturns death sentence of rape survivor
Khartoum, June 27 : An appeals court in Sudan has overturned the death sentence of a woman who killed her husband after he allegedly raped her, her lawyer said.
Noura Hussein, 19, was instead sentenced to five years in jail, the BBC quoted lawyer Abdelaha Mohamad as saying.
In May, an Islamic court had sentenced Hussein to death by hanging, following her conviction for the premeditated murder of her husband, Abdulrahman Mohamed Hammad.
Hussein said her husband had some of his cousins over at their place who allegedly held her down as he raped her.
When he attempted to do the same the following day she lashed out at him with a knife and stabbed him to death.
Hoping for a miracle to stop her daughter being hanged, Hussein mother, Zainab Ahmed, told the BBC she was happy that her life had been spared.
International celebrities had backed an online campaign, #JusticeforNoura, to demand her release. According to a 2017 report by the UN's children's fund Unicef, one third of Sudanese girls are married before they turn 18.
Hussein too, was forced into the marriage at the age of 16. Her husband, who was also her cousin, was 16 years her senior.
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Modi urges industry to ramp up investment, prioritise research to scale up manufacturing
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged industry leaders to step up investments, embrace emerging technologies and prioritise research to help India Inc fully leverage the vast opportunities offered by free trade agreements with various nations.
"The days of cutting corners in research are over. We must now make substantial investments in research and development and ensure that our products meet global quality standards. Now we have got opportunities to move forward, so we should have only one mantra - Quality, Quality, Quality," he said while addressing a second webinar on Budget 2026-27.
Stressing that India has entered into free trade agreements with numerous countries, he said, these agreements have opened up a wide range of opportunities for the country.
"In such a situation, he said, "our responsibility is that we should never compromise on quality."
Today, the world is seeking reliable and resilient manufacturing partners, he said, adding that India has a strong opportunity to fulfil this role.
"Our direction is clear. Our resolve is clear. Build more, produce more, connect more, and now the need is to export more," he said.
Pointing out that a significant transformation is currently underway in the global economy, he said that markets are no longer focused solely on cost; sustainability has become an equally important consideration.
"The Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Mission is a key initiative driving this shift. Incorporating sustainability into core business strategies is now essential. Industries that invest early in clean technologies will gain better access to emerging markets in the years ahead," he said.
Highlighting the importance of infrastructure and logistics, he said, they serve as fundamental pillars of our growth strategy.
This year's budget proposes a record level of capital expenditure to support these priorities, he said.
As India emerges as a beacon of hope for the world thanks to its robust economy, and as global supply chains undergo transformation, the prime minister said, rapid economic development has become the cornerstone for realising the vision of Viksit Bharat.
