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UN warns that 90% of Syrians are below the poverty line, while millions face cuts in food aid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. humanitarian chief warned Thursday that the 12-year conflict in Syria has pushed 90% of its population below the poverty line, and that millions face cuts in food aid next month because of a funding shortfall.Martin Griffiths said that the $5.4 billion U.N. humanitarian appeal for Syria – the world’s largest – is only 12% funded, meaning that emergency food aid for millions of Syrians could be cut by 40% in July.Griffiths delivered the grim news to the U.N. Security Council along with an appeal to members to renew the authorization for the delivery of aid to the country’s rebel-held northwest from Turkey, which expires July 10.But Russia’s U.N. ambassador, whose country is Syria’s most important ally, called the cross-border aid deliveries “a zero-sum game” that is undermining Syria’s sovereignty, discriminating against government-controlled territory, and fueling illegal armed groups including “terrorists in Idlib.”Syria’s uprising-turned conflic...

Should ketchup be kept in the refrigerator or pantry? Heinz weighs in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Do you keep your ketchup in the refrigerator or the kitchen pantry? Heinz is trying to settle a heated online debate."FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. Fridge!!!" the official Heinz UK Twitter posted Tuesday.The company also posted a poll asking people to weigh in on where they store their ketchup. On Thursday night, the poll had nearly 12,000 votes, with 62.4% of people voting to keep ketchup in the fridge. 5-foot gator enters home through doggie door Several Twitter users said they keep their ketchup out of the fridge if the bottle is unopened. Once they open it, the bottle goes into the fridge.One commenter said putting ketchup in the fridge was "madness.""I live in Britain where it doesn't get hot enough to put it in the fridge. I don't want to dip my hot chips into fridge cold ketchup. Madness," Alex McKay tweeted.Heinz said its ketchup -- which is made with tomatoes, vinegar, corn syrup, salt, onion powder and spice -- is shelf-stable because of its natural a...

A snail causes an Austin woman's dog to become severely ill, racks up thousands in vet bills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 29, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) – Emily Holden said she brought her dog, Royce, to the veterinarian for a mass on his leg in May. While there, she mentioned to the vet that Royce drank an abnormal amount of water the night before.“They said, ‘Well, you know, let's run a panel, and we'll see if anything turns up,’” she recalled. Unfortunately, something did turn up.  “The blood test results came back, and they said that his calcium was extremely high,” Holden said. These results precipitated a slew of tests costing thousands of dollars while Royce’s health began deteriorating, Holden said. “He was lethargic, not eating, vomiting multiple times an hour,” she said. “He was not doing well.”Veterinarians believed Royce’s symptoms were consistent with lymphoma, a type of cancer, though they couldn’t see it on the imaging. The only oncology appointments available were toward the end of the summer, but l...

Preventing the apocalypse: Scientists around the world celebrate Asteroid Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

INTERNATIONAL (KXAN) -- On June 30, 1908, an asteroid approximately 70 meters in diameter crashed in the wilds of the Tunguska region of Russia. The collision produced a 12-megaton explosion, flattening the surrounding forest.Today, the Tunguska Event is used to mark Asteroid Day.Recognized by the United Nations and celebrated around the world on June 30, Asteroid Day is meant to build awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts.The effort was led in 2014 by physicist Stephen Hawking, asteroid defense company B612 co-founder Danica Remy, astronaut Rusty Schweickart, filmmaker Grigorij Richters and Queen guitarist Brian May.What's the point of Asteroid Day?The purpose of the day and the initiative were laid out in a declaration developed in 2014. Employ available technology to detect and track Near-Earth Asteroids that threaten human populations via governments and private and philanthropic organizations.A rapid hundred-fold acceleration of the discovery and tracking of Near-Earth Ast...

Austin Public Library to hold Passport Fair Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Public Library plans to hold a Passport Fair on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Central Library in Downtown Austin. According to the library's website, the fair is for people to apply for a passport. The library said it would accept walk-in applications until capacity is reached, so people are asked to arrive early.The library asked that applicants bring the following:Proof of US Citizenship (US birth certificate, US passport, US Record of Consular Birth Abroad)Texas driver’s license, or other state-issued identification with supplemental identificationCompleted form DS-11 Passport Application, unsigned and filled out in black ink or typed. It is available online. Please print single-sided. Please note, it will not do not accept Form DS-82.Each application must have a check or money order. The Austin Public Library Passport Acceptance Facility fee is $35 per application, payable by credit/debit card or check/money order to Austin Public Li...

Hwy 71 Construction at Ross Road, Kellam Road to be completed in 1 year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you're headed east on Highway 71 over the holiday weekend, be prepared for delays through Del Valle. Ross Road and Kellam Rd at Hwy 71 currently have traffic lights, but by mid-2024, TxDOT will be done with the construction of new bridges, bypassing those lights.And on a busy holiday weekend, it's critical to use caution through construction zones.Drivers headed eastbound and westbound on Hwy 71 from Bastrop County to Travis County frequently deal with major delays because of traffic through this construction zone.Bradley Wheelis with TxDOT Austin said there was a big construction zone between Ross and Kellam."This is going to pay off for travelers in a big way, once these projects are complete, what we're doing is removing the traffic signals from the main lanes of SH 71. And we will put bridges in there," Wheelis said.Bridges that will eliminate the traffic lights at Ross & Kellam, making it easier for commuter traffic to get through Del Valle on Hwy 71 and ...

Five ways college admissions could change following Supreme Court ruling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

Students may change what they write about in the college essay. And they may no longer be tortured by the SAT and ACT.As for children of alumni? The pressure is on to end their advantage in the admissions game.The Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday that ended race-conscious admissions is widely expected to lead to a dramatic drop in the number of Black and Hispanic students at selective colleges.But the court’s decision could have other, surprising consequences, as colleges try to follow the law but also admit a diverse class of students.The personal essay becomes more important.The Supreme Court made a point of noting that students could highlight their racial or ethnic backgrounds in the college essay.“Nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote, “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can...

Two in custody after St. Louis officer-involved shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- An incident unfolded in St. Louis City last night as shots were fired by a police officer following a trespassing call that escalated into a foot chase. The suspect allegedly pointed a gun at an officer, prompting the use of force. Two individuals, an adult and a juvenile, were taken into custody, while one suspect remains at large.The incident occurred behind us on Enright Street, near the intersection with Belt Avenue. According to the St. Louis Police, the suspect attempted to hide behind the support columns of a building when the shots were fired. Evidence markers were visible on Enright Street, indicating the scene of the incident.Lieutenant Colonel Michael Sack of the St. Louis Police provided details of the event, stating that it happened a little after 1:00 a.m. Police received a report of trespassers in a nearby apartment complex and upon arrival, discovered three individuals who had already fled the premises. Among them was an armed adult male carrying an AR-s...

Extreme heat may cause Missouri roads to buckle or warp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis area is experiencing its first round of triple-digit heat, and it's already causing issues on the roads. A picture taken by the Kansas Department of Transportation last week shows a section of I-70, near Ellsworth County, Kansas, buckled from the heat. This could very well happen here in St. Louis. So, I spoke to MoDOT on what causes this, and how it's fixed.MoDOT says the cracks in the road are all thanks to the heat. As temperatures increase into the 90s and 100s in the bi-state area, the extreme heat may cause the pavement to buckle or warp. MoDOT tells us this happens because the roadway surface expands at a crack or joint where moisture has seeped in. The crack weakens the pavement, and the heat causes the pavement to buckle and warp. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway MoDOT says it never truly knows when or where a pavement buckle may occur, but when it gets this hot outside, there is potential everywher...

Only 2,000 tickets remain for the $700,000 St. Jude Dream Home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Time is running out to get your tickets for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. There are only about 2,000 tickets left out of the original 16,000. The dream home, valued at $700,000, is a beautiful four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath property located in Dardenne Prairie. Not only will you have a shot at owning this incredible home, but your ticket purchase also supports the important work of "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital." Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric diseases. Every dollar raised through ticket sales goes to help this important cause, offering hope and healing to children in need.Get your ticket for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway by visiting www.dreamhome.org or calling 1-800-667-3394.Mark August 17th on your calendar—the day the drawing for the "St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway" takes place. This is when the luck...