- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Bagnaia sets 'example' with Japan MotoGP win to cut gap on Martin
- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
- Mozambique vote: no suspense but some disillusion
- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
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- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
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In Louisiana, salt water in the Mississippi... and faucets
In southern Louisiana, where most things are surrounded by water, residents are being forced to buy bottled water to drink, bathe and even give to their pets.
Salt water is creeping up the drought-hit Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico, and residents of the delta basin are feeling forgotten.
"Our water started having a very funny taste" in May, explains 68-year-old Cathy Vodopija.
"When you wash your clothes, it’s like bleached whatever you were washing -- without putting bleach in it."
For the second straight year, water levels in the mighty river that cuts the United States in two have hit new lows -- and the fresh water cannot prevent the salt water from flowing into the river.
Byron Marinovich, who owns the Black Velvet Oyster Bar and Grill in Buras, had to disable the restaurant's ice machine. The salt was making the cubes white, "which is very pretty" -- but unappetizing for customers.
At home, after taking a shower in the salty water, Marinovich finishes the daily ritual with bottled water.
"You pour it on your head and you rinse all off with it; if not, you're going to be sticky all day," he warns.
For Vodopija, authorities "didn't care about what was going on with us" until the problem was detected farther upriver.
On September 20, a special barrier built on the river to limit the influx of salt water was overtopped, heightening fears for the safety of drinking water in the greater New Orleans area, which is home to 1.2 million people.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, which is tasked with ensuring navigation on the waterway, decided to erect the underwater sill, while also infusing drinking water supplies with fresh water in the southern part of the river delta basin.
Desalinization units have been set up.
After those efforts, Marinovich says, "the water is getting better," but he still couldn't use it at the restaurant to prepare anything -- his chefs are making gumbo, the local specialty, with bottled water.
Some residents say they have little faith in the water tests done by authorities.
That distrust was evident last week at a spirited public meeting with local officials about the situation, at which it was announced that restrictions on drinking water would be lifted.
"It got really ugly for a while," Marinovich said.
Gaynel Bayham, a pastor and teacher who has organized bottled water distribution at her church for months, said she was frustrated.
"We get left behind," she said. "We have to fight for everything to be able to ... survive down here with certain basic needs."
F.Carias--PC