I actually created a site - https://detoxed.news - with a very similar philosophy a while back, though with a much simpler implementation. It periodically scrapes Wikipedia's Current Events Portal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events) and presents that information in a nicer format.
I think there's definitely a sweet spot where you keep well-informed about current events and happenings in the world, without wasting your time on the 24 hours new cycle.
1) Flood in Rwanda kills 109 people 2) Sudan War 3) Australia evacuation from Sudan 4) Seizing of an oil tanker
None of these headlines keep me particularly informed and are actually a more potent version of the 24 hours new cycle