5 Things posted Dec 9, 2019 @ 07:15am by Iain Burns

5 things you need to know this morning: Dec. 9, 2019

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. South African wins Miss Universe

Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe in Atlanta on Sunday. She beat more than 90 women to first place. Puerto Rico’s candidate came second and Mexico’s third. Tunzi said people who look like her were “never considered to be beautiful.” She added: “I think that it is time that that stops today.”

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Tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it. May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine. I proudly state my name Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019!

A post shared by Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) on Dec 8, 2019 at 10:25pm PST

2. Finland to swear in world's youngest prime minister

Sanna Marin, 34, is set to become Finland's leader this week. The transport minister was chosen to take the helm by the Social Democratic Party after PM Antti Rinne quit. She leads a coalition of parties all led by women, three of whom are under 35.

Dear Kenya,

Meet Ms. Sanna Marin, 34, new Prime Minister of Finland ... Finland’s Economy is us$260B (Kenya is us$90B) ... The World’s youngest Head of Government & State. pic.twitter.com/E2ceyOKSfc
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) December 9, 2019

3. Battle of Britain pilot dies aged 101

One of the last living Battle of Britain pilots has died at the age of 101. Flight Lieutenant Maurice Mounsdon was one of the four surviving "Few" – the 3,000 pilots who defended England from Nazi bombers in 1940. During the battle itself, 544 pilots died.

We mourn the passing of Maurice Mounsdon. We should never forget that it was thanks to the bravery of this tiny band of pilots that Britain - and the rest of Europe - was safe from tyranny.https://t.co/83wDeWO3o4
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 9, 2019

4. Russia banned from world sport events over doping

Russia has been banned from all major world sporting events for four years. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made the ruling after a meeting in Switzerland today. It means Russia will not be able to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo or the 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar.

"For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport"

World Anti-Doping Agency President Sir Craig Reedie explains decision to hand Russia four-year ban from all major sporting eventshttps://t.co/GtpIovuusA pic.twitter.com/hOKSY7NSvl
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 9, 2019

5. New Zealand volcano eruption kills visitors

Dozens of people are feared dead after a volcano erupted in New Zealand. Of the 50 people thought to have been on White Island at the time of the blast, five are known to have died and 23 to have been rescued, police said. Both New Zealanders and foreign tourists were on the island during the eruption.

Tourists on sightseeing boat film clouds of ash and smoke soaring into the sky as their vessel moves away from erupting volcano on New Zealand's White Island.

At least five people were killed and many more remain missing after the eruption, officials say. https://t.co/JqD49YSVEp pic.twitter.com/jO4zbJq9bV
— ABC News (@ABC) December 9, 2019