'We Are All DC ': Tens of Thousands March to White House

D.C. rallies against Trump’s troops as more cities targeted



The "We Are All DC: A National March" proceeds down 16th Street NW towards the White House in Washington on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Thousands of protesters marched to call for an "immediate withdrawal of federal troops from the District and an end to the federalization of the local police department." 

(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Getty Images

Common Dreams Staff
Sep 06, 2025


The heart of Washington, D.C., pulsed with defiance on Saturday as tens of thousands of demonstrators surged down 16th Street toward the White House. It was the city’s first major organized protest since President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency and unleashed federal troops onto its streets. Banners waved and voices rose in unison at the “We Are All D.C.” march, a massive show of resistance led by a coalition that included Free DC, defenders of local self-rule, Democracy Forward, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Their message was clear: the federal occupation of the capital must end.

People participate in the "We Are All DC" national march in solidarity with DC communities and calling for an end to the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, DC, on September 6, 2025.(Photo by AMID FARAHI/AFP via Getty Images)







“Today, in defense of the people and communities living under a military takeover of DC, we join in sending a clear and peaceful message: the American people will not bow to dictators. We are in solidarity with our neighbors and Black, Brown, immigrant, and other communities targeted. We will march, we will resist, and we will peacefully protest,” Democracy Forward wrote in a statement on X.



With Trump vowing crackdowns in other Democratic-led cities as well, he appeared to threaten Chicago with migrant deportations in a social media post with an image that parodied the 1979 Vietnam war movie "Apocalypse Now."

“I love the smell of deportations in the morning,” Trump said, converting a line about napalm in the Vietnam War to refer to deportations. “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”

Decline in mainstream web traffic as users turn to AI


By Dr. Tim Sandle

EDITOR AT LARGE SCIENCE

DIGITAL JOURNAL
September 4, 2025


A sophisticated online apparatus has been targeting government critics in Kenya, where rights groups warn of an escalating crackdown on public dissent - Copyright AFP TONY KARUMBA

Website traffic is expected to drop by more than 50% by 2028 as people use AI chat tools to find answers without visiting pages directly, according to The Guardian. A new study by Loopex Digital examines the top websites experiencing traffic drops after the rise of AI chats, analysing where the shift to AI-based search has affected traffic the most.

Based on current trends, Business Insider tops the list of websites experiencing a traffic drop with the rise of AI chat tools, with monthly visits falling by 48.5% between 2024 and 2025.With the number of monthly users dropping from 122 million to 69.5 million within a year, WebMD takes the second spot for losing traffic after AI chat adoption.

The Loopex analysis includes data on monthly website visits and search volumes, tracking how traffic and searches changed as AI chat platforms grew in popularity. Websites are ranked based on their annual visit trend change, with higher-ranking websites being those that saw the largest drops in traffic since AI chat platforms became widely used.

Websites experiencing the latest falls in traffic

Website	Website Visits 2024	Website Visits 2025	Website Visit Trend % Change	Search Trend % Change
Business Insider	13.4 mln	6.9 mln	-48.5%	-32.6%
WebMD	122.0 mln	69.5 mln	-43.1%	-15.2%
Dictionary	34.1 mln	21.3 mln	-37.3%	-36.6%
Stack Overflow	12.6 mln	8.1 mln	-35.6%	-32.4%
Unsplash	26.8 mln	17.7 mln	-34.0%	-1.3%
Investopedia	40.3 mln	26.9 mln	-33.2%	-19.7%
Google Translate	225.0 mln	151.5 mln	-32.7%	-16.7%
Quora	53.8 mln	38.7 mln	-28.1%	-33.2%
CNN	59.0 mln	47.7 mln	-19.1%	-0.9%
Chegg	2.9 mln	2.4 mln	-18.8%	-51.2%

As indicated above, Business Insider tops the list of websites experiencing a traffic drop with the rise of AI chat tools. Within a year, monthly visits to the website fell by 48.5% as more people relied on AI to get condensed versions of articles and market updates. The number of people searching for Business Insider also decreased, dropping from 1.9 million to 1.3 million.

WebMD takes the second spot for losing traffic after AI chat adoption, as more people turn to AI chats for answers to health questions and symptom queries. The site saw a 43.1% decrease in monthly visits over the year. Google searches for the site were down 15.2% over the same timeframe.

Dictionary comes in third for sites losing traffic with the growing use of AI chats. The site attracted 34.1 million monthly visitors last year, which has now dropped to 21.3 million, as more people turn to AI chats to get definitions directly inline. During the same period, searches for the website also dropped by 36.6%.

Stack Overflow comes in fourth, losing 35.6% of its monthly users from the previous year. From 12.6 million in 2024, monthly visitors dropped to 8.1 million in 2025. The number of people searching for the site declined 32.4%, similar to what The Business Insider experienced.

Unsplash takes the fifth spot for experiencing a traffic drop as AI chats become more popular, with monthly users falling from 26.8 million to 17.7 million over the year. This 34% decline reflects users who now prefer AI chats to generate images or visuals without visiting the stock photography website.

Investopedia holds the sixth position among websites that have seen the largest traffic declines following the growth of AI chat platforms. Visitor numbers fell by 33.2% as users seeking finance knowledge now turn to AI chats for instant definitions and concept explanations. Additionally, monthly searches for the site dropped from 860.8K to 691.5K over the past year.

Google Translate secures the seventh spot, with monthly visitors falling from 225 million in 2024 to 151.5 million in 2025. Search interest in Google Translate declined by 16.7%, as many users now rely on AI chats that offer built-in translation features.

Quora ranks eighth in the list of websites hit hardest by the rise of AI chat platforms, with the number of monthly visitors falling by 28.1% within a one-year period. Searches for the site decreased by 33.2% within the same span, as many users turn to AI chats for quick, personalized answers instead of browsing Quora threads.

CNN takes the ninth spot, with monthly visits dropping from 59 million to 47.7 million over the year. The 19.1% decrease in website traffic reflects users choosing AI chats for quick news summaries in place of visiting CNN’s website directly.

Chegg rounds out the top ten websites experiencing traffic drops following the rise of AI chats. The site’s monthly users declined by 18.8% over the year, as people increasingly use AI chats to get homework questions answered instantly without visiting the platform. Chegg also saw the largest drop in searches for the website, with 51.2%, falling from 2.9M to 1.4M over the same period.

‘Sleep under the stars’: hotel mess in Brazil ahead of UN meet; COP30


By AFP
September 4, 2025


Alcides Moura, manager of the newly renamed COP30 hotel, checks the air conditioning in a room in Belem, Brazil - Copyright POOL/AFP Ludovic MARIN

Facundo Fernández Barrio

With two months to go, the “COP30 Hotel,” spruced up and renamed after the UN climate conference due to take place in the Amazonian city of Belem in November, has zero bookings.

The owners had been hoping to cash in on the conference by filling all the rooms with foreign delegates.

But the hotel’s eye-watering initial rates — a cool $1,200 per night, which it later lowered to try to drum up business — were a turnoff.

Delegations from governments, NGOs and civil society have repeatedly urged Brazil to put a limit on accommodation costs that have soared for the first-ever climate COP (Conference of Parties) to be held in the Amazon.

It is a symbolic setting given the rainforest’s critical role in absorbing planet-warming carbon dioxide, but also a challenging one.

More than half of Belem’s 1.4 million residents live in shantytowns — the highest rate of any regional capital in Brazil.

And with a shortage of traditional hotel rooms, conference organizers have scrambled to find alternative accommodation in private homes, universities and schools, and even two cruise ships docked in the harbor some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the conference center.

As many as 50,000 people were expected to attend COP30, though organizers say only 68 of the 198 participating countries have secured their reservations.

“This has never happened at a COP. Normally, everyone has their accommodation sorted three months in advance,” Marcio Astrini of the NGO Climate Observatory told AFP.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has batted away concerns, saying in February that delegates can “sleep under the stars.”



– Most exclusive COP? –



A free-for-all ensued as Belem residents seek to profit from the one-off event that saw an investment of some $700 million in public infrastructure, including a convention center.

“Prices spiraled out of control,” conceded COP30 Hotel manager Alcides Moura, adding that “Belem never hosted an event of this magnitude.”

Ronaldo Franca, a 65-year-old pensioner, is one of several property owners hoping to make a quick buck by renting out his weekend house, some 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the conference venue.

For a property with three double bedrooms and a swimming pool, he is charging $370 per night.

“I’m not going to charge an exorbitant rent, but the government hasn’t sufficiently monitored prices, and some have skyrocketed,” he told AFP.

Organizers say 60 percent of delegates will rent rooms from Belem residents.

Hotels “are almost all full,” said Toni Santiago, president of the hotel association of Para state. It has rejected a government request to cap prices.

“No one does this for other major global events, so why should Belem?” asked Santiago.

The government has set up a task force to help delegates find rooms, and Para governor Helder Barbalho told AFP “the availability of beds is guaranteed.”

Airbnb, for its part, said the average price for accommodation has dropped by 22 percent since February.

But an online search yielded few options for under $100 a night — the limit requested by the UN for delegates from poor countries.

Astrini told AFP that accommodation concerns were overshadowing “what is truly important, like emission reduction goals or climate financing” — issues on the agenda for COP30.

This COP, added the Climate Observatory, could turn out to be “the most exclusive in history.”

Berlusconi media group takes control of German broadcaster


By AFP
September 4, 2025


MFE is led by Pier Silvio Berlusconi, son of the late media tycoon and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi - Copyright AFP Sergei GAPON

Italy’s MediaForEurope (MFE) announced Thursday it had taken control of one of Germany’s biggest private broadcasting groups, as it seeks to build a pan-European group able to compete with streaming giants.

MFE, the biggest commercial television network in Italy which is majority-owned by the Berlusconi family, secured more than 75 percent of shares in the German company through a takeover offer.

ProSieben, which has 15 television channels, had recommended its shareholders accept MFE’s offer, which values the company at nearly 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion).

And on Thursday, group chief executive Bert Habets said MFE’s announcement marked an “important milestone”.

“Together, we cover five core European markets, with ProSiebenSat.1 being a leader in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and MFE in Italy and Spain, reaching a combined population of about 210 million people,” he said in a statement.

“In the coming weeks, we will work closely with MFE to identify the most promising opportunities for a deepened collaboration and align our vision for the future.”

MFE, led by Pier Silvio Berlusconi, son of the late media tycoon and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, already held a one-third stake in ProSieben.

It initially faced competition for the takeover from PPF, backed by Czech billionaire Renata Kellnerova. But when the Italians raised their offer in July, the Czechs did not follow suit.

Last week, PPF announced it would sell its 15.68 percent stake to MEF.

The German government had expressed concern that journalistic independence could be affected by the takeover.

But Germany’s minister for media and culture, Wolfram Weimer, met Pier Silvio Berlusconi earlier this week, and appeared to reach an accord.



– Standing up to tech giants –



“Editorial independence is of central importance — it must not be compromised,” Weimar said in a statement.

“On this point, we are in full agreement, and that provides a solid foundation for successful engagement in the German media market.”

Berlusconi said in the same statement that MFE would produce more local programming “with more news, more entertainment shows, and more TV series”, also saying he wanted to safeguard jobs.

“Our goal is to create a pan-European broadcasting and media group capable of standing up to the global tech giants and competing with them,” he said.

“We are firmly convinced that Germany is the ideal starting point for European initiatives of this kind.”

Formerly known as Mediaset, MFE has sought to acquire ProSieben on several occasions in the past — its first attempt was back in 2003, with Berlin opposing the move.

Silvio Berlusconi, who dominated Italian politics in the late 1990s and early 2000s, died in 2023.

burs-ar/ide/lth

Seniors back to work as ageing Germany battles pension burden


By AFP
September 4, 2025


Retirees now represent a quarter of Germany's population of 83 million - Copyright ${image.metadata.node.credit} ${image.metadata.node.creator}

Clement KASSER

At age 70, Pete Maie appears nervous at the start of a job interview to work as a part-time parcel delivery driver for a German logistics company.

“It’s a little stressful but I’m happy to be here,” said the former soldier and retired logistics manager, a blue shirt tucked neatly into his trousers.

Five years after he formally retired, Maie is reentering the labour market with the help of specialised recruitment agency Unique Seniors.

“I’m available immediately and ready to work as long as my body allows,” he said.

If it were up to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, many elderly people would follow Maie’s lead to help fast-ageing Germany grapple with the twin challenges of a high pension burden and a shortage of skilled labour.

By last year, the cost of the pension system had ballooned to 408 billion euros ($475 billion) according to the Labour Ministry — a 60 percent rise from 2010.

Retirees now represent a quarter of the national population of 83 million, and workforce contributions are no longer enough to cover the cost of paying their retirement benefits.

Meanwhile, the skilled labour shortage has seen employers as diverse as retail chains, banks and the armed forces compete frantically to attract young workers and trainees.

– ‘Autumn of reforms’ –

For many years, the healthy growth rates of Europe’s biggest, export-led economy ensured sufficient tax revenues to finance a generous welfare state.

The model is now showing strains as Germany has been mired in recession for two years, struggles with structural problems and faces tough competition from Asia, high energy costs, and new trade barriers with the United States.

Merz has argued that the welfare state in its current form has become “unaffordable” — comments that rattled his junior coalition partners the Social Democrats (SPD), the country’s traditional workers’ party.

The SPD’s Labour and Social Affairs Minister Baerbel Bas retorted with unusual bluntness, labelling such rhetoric “bullshit”.

The conservative and business-friendly Merz, undeterred, promised an “autumn of reforms”, vowing tough steps to rein in outlays from pensions to unemployment benefits.

Another goal of the conservatives is to have more people work longer. The legal retirement age, now 66, is already being gradually raised and set to reach 67 by 2031.

Last year, more than 1.1 million seniors were already working beyond 67 out of a labour force of 46 million.

To put more seniors to work, Merz would like to allow “those who are able to and who want it” to earn up to 2,000 euros tax-free per month.

– ‘Feeling useful’ –

Maie said he is among those keen to keep working — and not just to supplement his monthly pension of 1,600 euros.

“Today, I lack a mission, the feeling of being useful,” he confided.

Ruth Maria Schueler, a specialist in senior employment at the IW Institute, said “most people who return to work after retirement don’t do so primarily for financial reasons”.

She said she was therefore sceptical about the reform, which she describes as a “tax giveaway” to wealthy seniors that would cost the state 2.8 billion euros a year.

By 2027, an independent commission must propose structural reforms to ensure the long-term future of the pension system.

Conservative Economy Minister Katherina Reiche recently reignited the debate by suggesting a legal retirement age of 70, sparking the ire of unions and the SPD.

Bas charged that this would be “a pure and simple reduction in pensions for people who cannot reach that age”.

Economist Johannes Geyer of the Berlin-based DIW institute said that retirement at 70 would help the budget but could harm workers, especially in physically demanding jobs.

Those in their 60s who are harder to retrain would more likely end up unemployed, said Geyer.

Unique Senior chief Tobias Bell said his agency’s model has a lot of promise despite some negative perceptions.

“Most of our client companies continue to discriminate against older workers,” he said, even as experience showed that this age group is “more productive and less absent” on average.

A case in point is another elderly worker who found a new position through Unique Seniors.

At 65, Rainer Guntermann, officially retired for two years, now assembles semiconductors full-time near Cologne.

He proudly asserts he can more than hold his own among a team with many younger colleagues, given that he is “punctual, diligent and never sick”.

Merz inaugurates supercomputer, says Europe can catch up in AI race


By AFP
September 5, 2025


German Chancellor Friedrich Merz inaugurates Europe's fastest supercomputer, Jupiter - Copyright AFP INA FASSBENDER

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Europe can catch up in the global artificial intelligence race as he inaugurated the continent’s fastest supercomputer.

“The United States and China are in a neck-and-neck race to compete for future market share in an AI-supported global economy,” he said at the inauguration of the Jupiter computer, which will be able to perform at least one quintillion (or one billion billion) calculations per second.

“We in Germany, and we in Europe, have every opportunity to catch up and then keep pace.”

Jupiter, based in Juelich, western Germany, is housed in a centre about half the size of a football pitch and is packed with about 24,000 Nvidia chips, which are favoured by the AI industry.

With the power of about one million smartphones, experts say it is the first supercomputer that can be considered internationally competitive in training AI models in Europe.

“In Germany and in Europe as a whole, we need sovereign computing capacities that are on a par with our international competitors,” Merz said.

“This is a question of competitiveness as well as the security of our country.”

Researchers across numerous different fields will be able to access the 500-million-euro ($580-million) supercomputer, whose uses go far beyond AI.

They range from creating more detailed climate forecasts that can help predict extreme weather events to medical research and studies related to the energy transition.


US AI giant Anthropic bars Chinese-owned entities


By AFP
September 5, 2025


US tech giant Anthropic will bar Chinese-linked users from its artificial intelligence services - Copyright AFP Julie JAMMOT

Anthropic is barring Chinese-run companies and organizations from using its artificial intelligence services, the US tech giant said, as it toughened restrictions on “authoritarian regions.”

The startup, heavily backed by Amazon, is known for its Claude chatbot and positions itself as focused on AI safety and responsible development.

Companies based in China, as well as in countries including Russia, North Korea and Iran, are already unable to access Anthropic’s commercial services over legal and security concerns.

ChatGPT and other products from US competitor OpenAI are also unavailable within China — spurring the growth of homegrown AI models from Chinese companies such as Alibaba and Baidu.

Anthropic said in a statement dated Friday that it was going a step further in an update to its terms of service.

Despite current restrictions, some groups “continue accessing our services in various ways, such as through subsidiaries incorporated in other countries,” the US firm said.

So “this update prohibits companies or organizations whose ownership structures subject them to control from jurisdictions where our products are not permitted, like China, regardless of where they operate.”

Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei (R) shared the stage with then Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky (L) at an event in Las Vegas last year – Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP WIN MCNAMEE

Anthropic — valued at $183 billion — said that the change would affect entities more than 50 percent owned, directly or indirectly, by companies in unsupported regions.

“This is the first time a major US AI company has imposed a formal, public prohibition of this kind,” said Nicholas Cook, a lawyer focused on the AI industry with 15 years of experience at international law firms in China.

“The immediate commercial effect may be modest, since US AI providers already face barriers to operating in this market and relevant groups have been self-selecting for their own locally developed AI tech,” he told AFP.

But “taking a stance like this will inevitably lead to questions as to whether others will or should take a similar approach.”

An Anthropic executive told the Financial Times that the move would have an impact on revenues in the “low hundreds of millions of dollars”.

The San Francisco-headquartered company was founded in 2021 by former executives from OpenAI.

It announced this week it had raised $13 billion in its latest funding round, saying it now has more than 300,000 business customers.

And the number of accounts on pace to generate more than $100,000 annually is nearly seven times larger than a year ago, Anthropic said Tuesday.

Some users in China do access US generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Claude by using VPN services.

Assumptions that the US was far ahead of China in the fast-moving AI sector were upended this year when Chinese start-up DeepSeek unveiled a chatbot that matched top American systems for an apparent fraction of the cost.

Argentina charges Nazi’s daughter for concealing decades-old art theft


By AFP
September 4, 2025


Patricia Kadgien (R) appeared in court to be charged with 'concealment' in the decades-old theft of art from European Jews by the Nazis - Copyright POOL/AFP/File Adele Rycroft

The daughter and son-in-law of a Nazi who stole art from European Jews during World War II were charged in an Argentine court Thursday with hiding numerous works, including 22 by French painter Henri Matisse.

The pair came into the spotlight after an 18th century painting stolen from a Dutch art collector was spotted in an Argentine property ad last month, only to vanish once again.

“Portrait of a Lady” by Italian baroque painter Giuseppe Ghislandi was missing for eight decades before being photographed in the home of a daughter of Nazi Friedrich Kadgien, who had fled to Argentina after the war and died there in 1978.

Police opened an investigation and conducted multiple raids in search of the painting, only to find 22 works from the 1940s by Matisse (1869-1954), and others whose origins have yet to be determined.

The artworks were found in the Argentine seaside resort of Mar del Plata in possession of members of the Kadgien family, officials said.

Daughter Patricia Kadgien, 58, and her 60-year-old husband ultimately handed over the Ghislandi work, and appeared in court Thursday where they were charged with “concealment,” according to prosecutors.

“Portrait of a Lady” was part of the extensive collection of Jacques Goudstikker, who died while fleeing the Netherlands in 1940 when it was invaded by Nazi Germany.

It is thought to be worth about $50,000 today, according to Argentine media reports.

Top German officials, led by Gestapo founder Hermann Goering, divvied up Goudstikker’s collection and Kadgien — a financial adviser to Adolf Hitler — was placed in charge of moving the plunder to South America.

After the war, the Dutch state retrieved some 300 works from the collection, most of which were returned to Goudstikker’s heirs, though many remain scattered around the globe.

Thousands of Nazis fled across the Atlantic after WWII, and many found refuge in Chile and Argentina.

France detains seven over new cryptocurrency kidnapping

By AFP
September 4, 2025


Photo: © AFP

French authorities have detained seven people in an investigation into the kidnapping of a young Swiss citizen believed to be the latest abduction targeting the hugely lucrative cryptocurrency world, a source close to the case said on Thursday.

The man, aged 20 according to Swiss media reports, was freed on Sunday in the southeastern city of Valence in a special operation by French gendarmes, said the source, asking not to be named.

No details were given regarding how long he had been held. Some 150 gendarmes were mobilised in the operation to free him.

According to the Dauphine Libere regional daily, the young man was found tied up in a house near the Valence high speed train station.

French authorities have been dealing with a string of kidnappings and extortion attempts targeting the families of high-worth individuals dealing in cryptocurrencies.

In January kidnappers seized French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion.

Balland’s kidnappers cut off his finger and demanded a hefty ransom. He was freed the next day, and his girlfriend was found tied up in the boot of a car outside Paris.

In May, the father of a man who ran a Malta-based cryptocurrency company was kidnapped by four hooded men in Paris. The victim, whose finger was severed by the kidnappers and for whom a ransom of several million euros was demanded, was released 58 hours later during a raid by the security forces.

Hot water, hidden risks: Why Legionella persists in U.S. water systems


By Dr. Tim Sandle
EDITOR AT LARGE

SCIENCE

DIGITAL JOURNAL
September 4, 2025


A shower head is a perforated nozzle that distributes water over solid angle a focal point of use, generally overhead the bather. Image by DO'Neil (CC BY-SA 3.0)

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City this August has sickened more than 100 people and left five dead. Throughout the U.S. reported cases of this severe form of pneumonia have risen significantly over the last 25 years, with most occurring in summer and autumn.

The disease is caused by any species of Legionella bacteria (such as L. pneumophilia). These are aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacteria. The organisms can thrive in water systems, capable of surviving diverse range of environmental conditions, tolerating temperatures from 0°C-63 °C, a pH range of 5.0-8.5, and in dissolved oxygen concentrations of 0.2-15.0 mg/litre.

Virginia Tech experts Amy Pruden and Kirin Furst have explained what the disease is, why it thrives in hot weather, and how to protect yourself.

How do people contract Legionnaires’ disease?

“People can contract Legionnaires’ disease if they inhale tiny droplets of water containing the bacteria Legionella, which can grow in the biofilms of pipes and fixtures that deliver drinking water to taps and shower heads, especially hot water lines,” Pruden said. “Legionella also can grow in water cooling towers, such as those that serve HVAC systems in large buildings.”

Why do rates of the disease rise during hot weather?

“In hot water heaters, the temperature often is not high enough to kill opportunistic pathogens like Legionella, which thrive in warm temperatures,” said Furst. “During the summer, water in the distribution pipes that bring water to your house can also heat up to optimal temperatures for Legionella, while causing the protective disinfectants like chlorine to decay a lot faster. Together, these conditions create a significant public health concern.”

How can cities control outbreaks?

“The New York City outbreak is a reminder that Legionella is the leading cause of waterborne disease and death in the U.S. We must remain vigilant in keeping it at bay in both cooling towers and drinking water systems to protect vulnerable populations,” said Pruden. “Building water system managers, especially at hospitals, nursing homes, apartment buildings, and hotels, should regularly test water temperature and disinfectant levels.”

How can people make sure their water is clean?

“If your ‘cold’ tap water runs very warm in the summer, I suggest getting a filter pitcher that you can keep in the fridge, so at least you have cold, clean drinking water,” said Furst. “But this won’t address exposure to Legionella or other pathogens that are primarily contracted while showering. For that, you could consider a whole-home water treatment system or a filter for your shower head. Just make sure any water treatment systems have been tested and certified by NSF for the contaminants you are concerned about.

Also, check your household plumbing configuration, as your pipes may run through an uninsulated part of your home, which will contribute to warming. If the water is already warm before it reaches your property because of heating in the distribution system, you could advocate for your municipality to increase shade coverage. Shade decreases both surface and subsurface temperatures, and may help keep water in distribution pipes and storage tanks cool in addition to many other benefits of shade.”

Pruden further explained that if you are in a risk group, like being elderly or immunocompromised, you might consider taking baths instead of showers.

“By doing this, you are less likely to inhale aerosols that contain the bacteria,” she said. “It’s also important to make sure your water heater is set above 140 F*, which is hot enough to kill the bacteria, but take care to mix with cool water in the tub to avoid scalding.”

*60 degrees Celsius, as the conventional expression of temperature

US tech titans pay homage to Trump at White House dinner

DAY AFTER HIS CABINET KISSED HIS ASS BIG TECH FOLLOWS SUIT

By AFP
September 4, 2025


Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was seated directly next to Trump at the dinner - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP ALEX WONG

Tech world executives showered Donald Trump with praise Thursday during a rare dinner that saw the US president host some of the most important players in AI at the White House.

“This is quite a group to get together,” said Meta chief and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who was seated at Trump’s right side.

At the table were heads of major tech companies including Google-parent Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and artificial intelligence star OpenAI.

Some of those at the dinner had attended Trump’s inauguration, signalling they were ready to fall in line with the 79-year-old president’s world view — or at least seek to avoid his ire.

Notably absent from the dinner was multi-billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk, a former Trump ally who had a spectacular falling out with the president.

The chief of Tesla and SpaceX put out word in a post on his X social network that he had been invited to the dinner but couldn’t attend, sending someone to represent him.

Companies at the dinner were making huge investments in US data centers and infrastructure to “power the next wave of innovation”, Zuckerberg said.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook voiced thanks for Trump “setting the tone” for the companies to make major investments in US manufacturing.

Trump recently threatened trade sanctions against countries that apply regulations to US tech companies, aiming particularly at the European Union.

“Thank you for being such a pro-business, pro-innovation president,” said OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.

“It’s a refreshing change.”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, seated next to First Lady Melania Trump, was less effusive, calling for artificial intelligence to be used to promote international development.

“It’s great we all get together and talk about how the United States could lead in this key area and apply it even to the poorest outside the US, as well as to our great citizens,” said the Microsoft legend turned philanthropist.

Gates cited Operation Warp Speed, Trump’s first term initiative which saw the rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines, as an example of America’s capacity for innovation.

Since taking office in January, Trump has cut international aid and ended investments in the kinds of vaccines deployed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Silicon Valley leaders who did not support Trump during his first term in office changed course with his return to office.

Many have visited the White House to promise heavy investment in the United States, and some have been quick to follow the US president’s lead in ending diversity promotion programs and initiatives to combat online misinformation.