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Dame Edna creator Barry Humphries dies in Sydney at 89

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Tony Award-winning comedian Barry Humphries, internationally renowned for his garish stage persona Dame Edna Everage, a condescending and imperfectly-veiled snob whose evolving character has delighted audiences over seven decades, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed Saturday by the Sydney hospital where he spent several days with complications following hip surgery. Humphries had lived in London for decades and returned to native Australia in December for Christmas. He told The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper last month that his physiotherapy had been “agony” following his fall and hip replacement.“It was the most ridiculous thing, like all domestic incidents are. I was reaching for a book, my foot got caught on a rug or something, and down I went,” Humphries said of his fall.Humphries has remained an active entertainer, touring Britain last year with his one-man show “The Man Behind the Mask.”The character of Dame Edna began as a dowdy Mrs. Norm ...

Explorers find WWII ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A team of explorers announced it found a sunken Japanese ship that was transporting Allied prisoners of war when it was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines in 1942, resulting in Australia’s largest maritime wartime loss with a total of 1,080 lives. The wreck of the Montevideo Maru was located after a 12-day search at a depth of over 4000 meter (13,120 feet) — deeper than the Titanic — off Luzon island in the South China Sea, using an autonomous underwater vehicle with in-built sonar.There will be no efforts to remove artifacts or human remains out of respect for the families of those who died, said a statement Saturday from the Sydney-based Silentworld Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to maritime archaeology and history. It took part in the mission together with Dutch deep-sea survey specialists Fugro and Australia’s Defense Department. “The extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks for the enduring truth of Australia’s solemn national ...

For transgender kids, a frantic rush for treatment amid bans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — As a third grader in Utah, mandolin-playing math whiz Elle Palmer said aloud what she had only before sensed, telling a friend she planned to transfer schools the following year and hoped her new classmates would see her as a girl.Several states northeast, Asher Wilcox-Broekemeier listened to punk rock in his room, longing to join the shirtless boys from the neighborhood playing beneath the South Dakota sunshine. It wasn’t until menstruation started, and the disconnect with his body grew, that he knew he was one of them.Both kids’ realizations started their families on a yearslong path of doctors, therapists and other experts in transgender medicine.Now teenagers, their journeys have hit a roadblock. Republican lawmakers across the country are banning gender-affirming care for minors. Restrictions have gone into effect in eight states this year — including conservative Utah and South Dakota — and are slated to in at least nine more by next year.Those who oppose...

China’s FM holds talks in Philippines amid strained ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China’s foreign minister said Saturday his country is willing to work with the Philippines to resolve their differences, as tensions rise over Beijing’s behavior in the disputed South China Sea and Manila’s deeping military cooperation with the U.S. Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks in Manila with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, and was scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. just days before he travels to Washington for a meeting with President Joe Biden.China has warned that a deepening security alliance between the United States and the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests and interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing has criticized a recent agreement by the Philippines and the U.S. to grant U.S. forces access to additional local military camps.The deal allows American forces to establish military staging grounds and surveillance outposts ...

One of the last of his generation, Second World War vet in New Brunswick dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

FREDERICTON — Angus Hamilton, who served as a radar technician in Southeast Asia during the Second World War and returned home to a successful career in the civil service and academia, has died in Fredericton at the age of 100.Born in Listowel, Ont., on April 18, 1922, Hamilton grew up on a farm, with the Great Depression shaping his early years“The war had come at the best possible time for me,” he wrote in his book, “For King and Country,” one of seven he authored chronicling his life“I was 17 in 1939 when the war began; I signed up when I was 18 and I had just turned 19 when I reported for duty. I wasn’t close to settling down. I was at the age when adventure calls.”In an interview in November when he attended a Remembrance Day ceremony in Fredericton, Hamilton said he had wanted to be a pilot, “like every boy, but my eyesight was not good enough.” Instead he became a radar technician with the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving...

Gas prices rise again in New Jersey and around the nation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gas prices continued to rise in New Jersey and around the nation at large this past week, but analysts say a drop in demand and falling oil prices may soon bring relief at the pumps.The average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $3.52, an increase of eight cents from last week, AAA Mid-Atlantic said. Drivers were paying $4.08 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.68, up two cents from last week. Drivers were paying $4.12 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.Oil prices fell this week amid ongoing market concerns that future interest rate increases could tip the economy into a recession, a move analysts say will likely leading to reduced oil demand and prices in the near future.The Associated Press

Chicago man killed in hit and run on LSD overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

CHICGAO — A man was killed after being struck by a vehicle on DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Lake View East Friday night. The medical examiner's office identified the man as 45-yearold Kenneth Hernandez. According to police, Hernandez was standing next to a construction vehicle at the 3100 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive around 10:50 p.m. when a black sedan struck him and continued northbound. Chase warns Chicago employees about potential for more downtown disturbances He was pronounced on the scene and there is currently no one in custody. Police are still investigating the incident.

Man shot and killed in north St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis City Police are investigating after a man was shot and killed in north St. Louis. Louis City police are investigating after a man was shot and killed in north St. Louis. This happened at 12:30 a.m. on Lillian and Claxton avenues. That's in the Walnut Park East neighborhood. The man died from his injuries before officers got there. At the same intersection on Thursday, someone shot an 18-year-old man in the thigh. We're working to find out if these two shootings are connected or if police have made any arrests. Stay with us here on Fox-2 and Fox-2-now-dot-com. For updates.

Citypark team goes green: wears eco-friendly jerseys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The Citypark Team will wear a special jersey during Earth Day weekend for their match against the Colorado Rapids tonight in Denver. But it's not just what they wear but their home stadium that is eco-friendly. City SC's adidas One Planet jerseys are made entirely out of partially recycled ocean plastic. That means its fibers are upcycled plastic waste picked up from beaches and coastal communities. It sports a turquoise and green design that resembles the ocean and some topographical maps from the ocean floor. In addition to their jerseys, the team says it's always thinking of the planet, as Citypark itself is a zero-waste, zero-single-use plastic stadium. They also run on-site recycling and composting programs, as well as energy efficiency and water conservation initiatives. Citypark features 100% LED efficiency lighting, 100 bike parking spots, and 27 electric car charging stations in its adjacent parking garage. Food is served in compostable containers and on flatwa...

Bundle up: frost and freeze warnings issued as cold front brings chilly weekend ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A chilly day ahead, with highs in the low 50s and gusty northwesterly winds. Clouds will also increase, and we could maybe see a spotty sprinkle or two. A Frost Advisory has been issued from STL and points east from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. A freeze warning has been issued for our western counties during this time frame. Under the freeze warning, temperatures could dip as low as 29. Temps of 33 are expected in the advisory area. On Sunday, we'll see some improvements—a touch warmer and sunshine. Another frost or freeze is possible Sunday night into Monday morning. Rain chances increase Tuesday and Wednesday.