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A beauty queen who found herself at the centre of a citizenship row in South Africa has come second in the Miss Universe competition - representing Nigeria.Chidimma Adetshina sparked controversy earlier this year after she attempted to compete for Miss South Africa. Although she has South African citizenship, due to her father being Nigerian, her participation in the competition raised questions and she later dropped out.She was then invited to run for Miss Universe Nigeria - a beauty pageant to decide who would represent the country in the Miss Universe contest.Adetshina won that, and at the Miss Universe contest at the weekend the 23-year-old finished runner-up to Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig. It is the first time a Danish contestant has been crowned Miss Universe. ...

At least eight people have died in the northern Philippines after high winds and torrential rain from Typhoon Man-yi triggered storm surges and landslides.A family of seven, including an eight-year-old girl, died on Monday when a landslide in the town of Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya buried their home, officials said.Army troops, police and villagers were searching for three other people who were believed to have been hit by the avalanche of mud, debris and uprooted trees.A 72-year-old man was killed in Camarines Norte province when hanging cables brought down in the winds caused his vehicle to crash.Officials said rescuers were searching for a couple and their child after their home was swept away in rampaging rivers in northern Nueva Ecija province, on the island of Luzon. ...

An acclaimed Russian ballet dancer has died aged 39 after reportedly falling off a balcony while on painkillers.Vladimir Shklyarov, one of the world's top male ballet stars, died on Saturday night, according to the Mariinsky Theatre, where he was a principal dancer. The St Petersburg theatre said: "This is a huge loss for the entire staff of the Mariinsky Theatre."We express our condolences to the family, friends of the artist and all the many fans of his work and talent."A spokesperson for the theatre also told Russian media at the weekend he had fallen from the fifth floor of a building, and that he had been taking "serious painkillers" for a back injury. Image: Vladimir Shklyarov performing in London in 2009, with fellow dancer Alina Somov...

Schools have been shut in New Delhi after "hazardous" toxic smog worsened.Authorities in India's capital, which is home to more than 33 million people, have also halted construction as part of efforts to control the air pollution. Airlines have warned of delays due to visibility dropping to around 100 metres due to the worst pollution of the season so far.The air quality is many times worse than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended safety limit.Live rankings by Swiss technology company IQAir warn New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, according to Reuters. IQAir also says the air quality is "hazardous", with pollution levels which can cause diseases and cardiac problems. India's main environmental agency SAFAR has said the pollution is severe. ...

An Australian indigenous politician who heckled King Charles during his visit to the country last month has been censured.Senator Lidia Thorpe confronted the King during a reception in Parliament House in Canberra in October. "Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people," she yelled at the King."You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty!"She added: "You are not our king, you are not sovereign... you have committed genocide against our people." Security stopped her getting close and she was ushered out of the chamber. Image: Lidia Thorpe yelled at the King during his trip to Australia in October. Pic: Reuters In a symbolic gesture that reflects the disapproval of her co...