Tuesday, May 16 — 4 significant news stories

Today ChatGPT read 1335 top news stories and gave 12 of them a significance score over 6.5.

After removing duplicates and repeats, here is today’s significant news:

[7.7] Massive Russian missile strike hits Kyiv - The Guardian, ABC News, CNN, RTE.ie, TheJournal.ie

Russian forces launched a major attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in one of the biggest attacks since last year's invasion. Emergency sirens woke residents at 2.30am local time, and Ukrainian air defences engaged incoming missiles. Ukraine's commander-in-chief said Kyiv's defenders shot down 18 out of 18 Russian rockets and drones. The city came under an intense and sweeping attack from the "north, south and east", featuring missiles fired from air, sea and land. The attacks appear to have been a complex attempt to destroy Ukraine's new US-made Patriot air defence systems.

[6.7] Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard cleared by European Union - The Washington Post

The European Union has approved Microsoft's $69bn acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard, following concessions made by the tech giant. Under the agreement, Microsoft will license popular Activision games, including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, free to other cloud streaming providers. The European Commission said the concessions "fully address" concerns that the deal would give Microsoft an unfair advantage in the nascent cloud gaming market. The deal has faced opposition from regulators in the US and UK, with Britain's Competition and Markets Authority warning that cloud gaming needs to "continue as a free, competitive market".

[6.6] International students boost UK economy by £42bn in 2021/2022, according to new analysis - The Guardian

The financial contribution of international students to the UK's economy increased by a third over three years, reaching around £42 billion in 2021, according to a study. This growth is attributed to the rising number of overseas students choosing to study in the UK. The study arrives at a time when the government is contemplating restrictions on international students to manage increasing migration. The proposed measures include visa restrictions and reduced post-study work rights for international students, which may discourage potential overseas students. The study also noted a significant increase in non-EU students since 2018, while the number of EU students declined post-Brexit. Despite the costs they incur on public services, international students are considered a significant contributor to the UK's economy, providing a net benefit of approximately £37 billion.

[6.5] China's economic rebound after dismantling its zero-Covid policy falls short of expectations - Financial Times

China's economic recovery appears to be slower than anticipated following the end of its strict anti-Covid measures. Industrial production and consumer spending have not met expectations, with youth unemployment reaching a record high and significant investment indicators also falling short. The manufacturing sector is growing at a slower rate than predicted and the ongoing property crisis and trade uncertainties are complicating the situation. These factors have had a knock-on effect on metal markets, with futures of nickel and iron ore both seeing a decrease.

While some believe the recovery still has potential, others predict it will lose momentum in the latter half of the year due to a withdrawal of fiscal support, stalling credit growth, a weaker housing market, and shifts in global demand for Chinese exports. Despite the economic challenges, the country's central bank remains optimistic about the economy's overall improvement.

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