- Muslim women break taboos navigating east London's waterways
- Nepal dam-building spree powers electric vehicle boom
- More than 60 dead from storm Helene as rescue, cleanup efforts grow
- Dozens missing, 9 dead in migrant boat wreck off Spanish Canaries
- Death toll from Hurricane John hits eight in Mexico
- Storm Helene's toll rises as rescue and cleanup efforts gain pace
- SpaceX launches mission to return stranded astronauts
- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding as cleanup begins
- SpaceX set to launch mission to return stranded astronauts
- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Boeing strike grinds on as latest talks fail to reach agreement
- Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election
- US ports brace for potential dockworkers strike
- Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
- US hurricane deaths rise to 44, fears of more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Global stocks mostly rise, cheering Beijing stimulus
- Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
- Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
- Argentina judge orders dictionary to delete pejorative definition of 'Jewish'
- Global stocks rise on rate hopes, Beijing stimulus
- S.African woman turns 118, among the oldest in the world
- UK clears $4 bn AI partnership between Amazon, Anthropic
- Barca fans barred from Champions League away game over racist banner
- Chinese stocks extend surge, Europe higher on Beijing stimulus
- Pope says Church must 'seek forgiveness' for child sexual abuse
- China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
- Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
- France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
- Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
- Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
- 'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
- On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
- Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
- China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
- Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
- Vietnam president reiterates support for Cuba during official visit
- Drought reduces Amazon River in Colombia by as much as 90%: report
- Stay or go? Pacific Islanders face climate's grim choice
- Florida bracing for 'unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene
- Poverty rises to over 52 percent in Milei's Argentina
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala Harris
- Champagne houses abuzz over English sparkling wine
- Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies
- Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?
- China stimulus, tech optimism boost stock markets
- 'Unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene races towards Florida
- Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks
- South Korea surges in UN innovation index
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala
- Floods threaten Niger's historic 'gateway to the desert'
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."
H.Meyer--CPN