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Pakistani court sentences man to death in teenage TikTok influencer’s killing

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Tuesday sentenced a man to death for killing a teenage social media influencer outside her home last year when she rejected his offer of friendship.

Islamabad Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced the conviction and verdict for Umar Hayat, who was arrested in June after the killing of 17-year-old Sana Yousuf.

Police said investigators traced and arrested Hayat, 22, who also creates content on TikTok, after reviewing CCTV footage that showed him leaving the street where Yousuf lived shortly after the shooting.

The killing sparked nationwide condemnation.

Yousuf had a wide following in Pakistan. After her death, hundreds of thousands of users began following her account on TikTok, among the country’s most popular social media platforms.

Originally from the scenic northern region of Chitral, she was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress through her videos. She also advocated for girls’ education. Hours before her murder, she posted a photo celebrating her birthday with friends.

Speaking after the verdict, Yousuf’s family told journalists that justice had been served.

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
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