Miss Universe 2021 is India's Harnaaz Sandhu, 70th winner

By ARIEL SCHALIT, Associated Press

EILAT, Israel (AP) — Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the 70th Miss Universe, topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.

EILAT, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 12: Harnaaz Sandhu of India is crowned Miss Universe by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico at the 70th Miss Universe Competition on December 12, 2021 in Eilat, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Sunday's ceremony was held in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

The pageant included evening gowns, swimwear and public speaking. But it also drew attention in recent weeks for a grassroots Palestinian-led boycott that urged contestants to skip the event to protest Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

EILAT, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 12: Harnaaz Sandhu of India (C) celebrates with her contestants after being crowned Miss Universe during the 70th Miss Universe Competition on December 12, 2021 in Eilat, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

In the end, only Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country with close ties to the Palestinians, did not send a representative, citing the global COVID-19 situation.

EILAT, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 12: Harnaaz Sandhu of India appears onstage at the 70th Miss Universe Competition on December 12, 2021 in Eilat, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Tornadoes Tear Through the US Midwest on December 11, 2021

Tornadoes Tear Through the US Midwest on December 11, 2021 - The twister that killed at least seventy people (dozens more are still missing) carved a swath that could be the longest in Kentucky's history. Residents are being allowed to return to their homes in most cases to try to salvage what they can.

Several tornadoes touched down on Friday, December 10, 2021 throughout the United States' lower Midwest region.

21 Photos That Make it Painfully Obvious Why You Do Not Want to Be a Boxer

Mankind has been fighting in some form or another for as long as mankind has existed. And, it probably became a game not long after it became a prerequisite for survival. Some time around 1650BC, according to a fresco which has survived since the Bronze Age, man began using gloves. Centuries later boxing became the big stakes, big money sport that it is today. And, oh yes, there is still a lot of blood. If you are thinking about taking up boxing, take a good hard look at your nose, and then these pictures.

Fox Host Failla Reaches USA from WIBX Studio in Utica

The host of Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla which airs coast to coast and on WIBX 950 and 106.9 FM weekdays from noon 'til 3, was in Utica this past weekend. Jimmy Failla sat in on the Keeler in the Morning Show on Friday morning December 3, 2021, and then did his national show on FOX News Radio from WIBX's studio.

Failla is a former New York City cab driver turned stand up comic and over the weekend, he performed 4 sell-out shows at Utica's Fat Katz Comedy Club in Washington Mills.

Check out some snap shots from the weekend.