USA - It appears no one is safe from the rise of the bots: Microsoft has announced that it will be axing its team of journalists that work for MSN.com, and replacing them with news-savvy artificial intelligence. The tech giant currently contracts several dozen journalists to select and curate news stories that appear on MSN and its Edge internet browser. But starting in June, these media workers will be out of a job – with their responsibilities being delegated to software designed to sniff out the most suitable news for human consumption.

One anonymous employee who will soon be out of work told the Guardian that there is an ironic element to his precarious future. “I spend all my time reading about how automation and AI is going to take all our jobs, and here I am – AI has taken my job,” he said. The journalist added that he feels Microsoft is taking a big risk with automated news aggregation, as the company has strict editorial guidelines when it comes to curating content.

USA - Twitter is allowing its users to coordinate criminal behavior on the platform, with dozens of tweets identifying looting targets still on the platform despite the fact that the site was notified by concerned citizens. The company has however changed the description of its official account to “#BlackLivesMatter.” A Twitter search for “***,” which is the name of a shopping district in San Jose, California, reveals dozens of Twitter users encouraging their followers to target and loot the district.

Many of the tweets have been on the platform for days. “let’s riot and raid *** lol,” said one tweet, which was shared over 100 times. “Next looting stop; *** IN SAN JOSE,” said another. “*** hasnt even issued a statement regarding everything going on when they are very active on social media. They deserve to get looted.” “loot and protest ***. EAT THE RICH,” said the same Twitter user.

USA - As televisions and computers showed a fourth day of protesters turned rioters Saturday, looting and destroying property, it was readily apparent why Americans own 16+ million AR-15s. When Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke was still vying for the Democrat nomination – and pledging to come take away your AR-15 – Breitbart News spoke with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) about what a Herculean task that would be. After all, the AR-15 is the most popular rifle platform in America. NSSF shared their calculations with Breitbart, showing an estimated 16+ million privately owned AR-15s in the US.

USA - Nations around the world have watched in horror at the five days of civil unrest in the United States following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer pressed his knee on his neck until he stopped breathing. Racism-tinged events no longer startle even America’s closest allies, though many have watched coverage of the often-violent protests with growing unease. Burning cars and riot police in the US featured on newspaper front pages around the globe Sunday — bumping news of the COVID-19 pandemic to second-tier status in some places.

USA - A day of widespread protests devolved into a night of fire and fury across the nation as tensions boiled over in dozens of American cities. Police cars and government buildings were set aflame, windows were shattered, stores were ransacked, monuments were vandalized and authorities in riot gear fired pepper pellets, tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators who had amassed to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man killed at the hands of police.

USA - President Donald Trump said on Saturday that leftist organizations such as Antifa are responsible for the widespread rioting and looting on Friday after the death of George Floyd. “It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!” Trump wrote on Twitter. The president asserted that the violent protesters had nothing to do with protests of Floyd’s death after he was detained by police officers. “These are ‘Organized Groups’ that have nothing to do with George Floyd,” Trump wrote. “Sad!”

CHINA - China is "at war" with the US as tensions between the two world superpowers continue to escalate, a key ally of Donald Trump has warned. Relations between the US and China continue to worsen amid growing discontent over the origin of the coronavirus, the sovereignty of Hong Kong, the South China Sea and space programmes.

USA - President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States was terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization as he laid down the gauntlet against China. 'We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and directing those funds to worldwide and deserving, urgent global public health needs,' he said during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden.

He blamed the move on China not being transparent enough about the 'Wuhan' virus, which is what he has called the coronavirus, and slammed Beijing's over reach in Hong Kong. 'China has total control over the World Health Organization, despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year. We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engage with them directly, but they have refused to act,' Trump said.

GERMANY - News that the US has severed all ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) was met with criticism in Berlin, which called on the global body to reform in order to stay afloat. It also urged the EU to fill the funding void. German Health Minister Jens Spahn took to Twitter on Saturday, lamenting what he called “a disappointing backlash for International Health.” He called upon the WHO to change if it is to make “any difference for the future.” Berlin, whose turn to lead the European Union comes in July, will help the health body keep its head above water, Spahn assured: “And the EU must take a leading role and engage more financially. That’s one of our priorities for our EU presidency." While the evasive message didn’t name names, it marked a slight nod to US President Donald Trump who announced the termination of the US’ relationship with the WHO the day prior.

INDIA - Locals ran for shelter as 'billions and trillions' of locusts invaded a residential area of Jaipur, engulfing a staircase and blanketing the sky as they soared over rooftops. A man who filmed the swarm of locusts said the 'uncountable numbers of locusts flying in the sky' were 'something I have never ever seen in my life'. The locusts have already destroyed nearly 125,000 acres of crops, bringing further misery to farmers during the world's largest coronavirus lockdown. India has seen record numbers of virus cases in recent days, bringing the total past 150,000 in what is now one of the world's largest outbreaks. To add to India's problems, a heatwave has sent temperatures to 122F (50C) in some places while the capital New Delhi saw its hottest May day since 2002. The country of 1.3 billion people suffers from severe water shortages with tens of millions lacking running water - to say nothing of air conditioning.

USA - “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” That’s what it says right under “Federal Reserve Note” and “The United States of America.” But legal tender won’t be accepted to play at one of the city of Los Angeles’ dozen public golf courses. Or for the $15 charge to enter the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia. More than 30 Armstrong Garden Centers around California also ask for “touchless” payment options, as does the Beehive clothing boutique in Manhattan Beach and the Munch Company sandwich shop in South Pasadena.

USA - US President Donald Trump has vowed decisive action to quell unrest in Minneapolis, sparked by the police killing of an unarmed black man, threatening to get the military involved if the city’s mayor won’t do the job “right.” The ultimatum came early on Friday morning from the president’s Twitter handle, slamming Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as “very weak” and a “radical left mayor,” while warning that the federal government would take over the situation if local authorities don’t bring it under control.

USA - President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on social media censorship amid rapidly intensifying political bias from the Silicon Valley Masters of the Universe. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters aboard Air Force One that the president will shortly sign the executive order, although no further details were given about what it will consist of.

This comes after Trump warned social media companies that continued political bias would lead to action from the administration. “Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices,” said the President on Twitter earlier today. “We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen.”

CHINA - The Chinese parliament on Thursday passed a national security bill that ramps up security in Hong Kong. Anti-Beijing protests in the autonomous city were reignited by the draft’s introduction. The bill was approved by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing and will now go to the country’s leadership to be enacted into law. The parliament session was attended by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

VATICAN - This Pope has given more interviews to journalists and biographers than any other. He has engaged with the press, the broadcast media and new social media platforms in a relatively open, proactive way, in contrast to the caution and wariness of his predecessors. Francis defends and trusts good journalism. He told reporters last year that freedom of the press was an important indicator of a country’s health.

To professionalise the Holy See’s content the Pope recruited Paolo Ruffini, a former television executive at Italian public broadcaster, RAI, to lead the Vatican’s dicastery for communication and appointed another trusted aide, Andrea Tornielli, Vatican reporter for La Stampa, as editorial director of Vatican Media. Marking World Communications Day last Sunday, the Pope stressed the importance of “sharing constructive stories that help us to understand that we are all part of a story that is larger than ourselves”.