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Global health agencies lock in a cheaper malaria vaccine just as a new stroke drug clears a major trial and a Russian AI executive compares advanced models to nuclear arms. Meanwhile, central bankers sound alarms about digital money, markets lean into rate-cut hopes, and culture stories range from Donald Glover’s health scare to a record musical opening.

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Global vaccine alliance Gavi and UNICEF have secured a new malaria vaccine pricing deal that cuts the R21 vaccine cost by about 25% to $2.99 per dose, starting in roughly a year.

The agreement with Serum Institute of India could save about $90 million and fund 30 million additional doses.

Malaria still kills more than half a million people annually, and children need four doses for full protection.

The lower price is expected to extend coverage to as many as 7 million more children over five years.

The move comes as global health agencies contend with tight budgets, and it shows how pooled procurement can keep lifesaving vaccines accessible for low-income countries despite financial pressure.

Bayer’s experimental blood thinner asundexian succeeded in the Phase III OCEANIC-Stroke study, reducing repeat strokes in more than 12,000 patients without a major rise in serious bleeding.

The once-daily drug targets Factor XIa and was tested alongside standard antiplatelet therapy.

The trial is the first to show that blocking Factor XIa can lower clotting risk with fewer safety trade-offs than existing blood thinners, which often cause bleeding complications in older and vulnerable patients.

If approved, asundexian could mark a significant shift in stroke prevention and offer a safer option for millions at risk, giving Bayer a rare pipeline boost after recent setbacks.

A senior Russian AI executive claimed that joining an elite “AI club” could grant nations “nuclear-like power,” arguing that frontier AI models will define military balance, economic strength, and global influence.

He warned that countries without top-tier AI could become dependent on those who control data and compute.

The remarks reflect how AI dominance is increasingly viewed as a geopolitical race shaped by chip access, high-end compute, and regulatory strategy.

While the executive called for cooperation among leading powers, he cautioned that others risk long-term technological reliance.

Drawing parallels to nuclear capability highlights both the stakes and the need for guardrails, raising questions about whether global norms, export controls, or monitoring regimes for AI may eventually mirror those used for nuclear technologies.

Early signals from next year’s wage negotiations suggest Japanese firms are preparing another round of solid pay rises, and an economic analysis of wage plans says that could give the Bank of Japan more confidence to raise rates sooner.

If strong settlements hold through spring, Japan could see its first meaningful tightening cycle in decades, potentially reshaping global capital flows built on cheap yen funding.

Slovenian voters rejected a proposal that would have allowed some terminally ill adults access to medically assisted dying, with an overview of the referendum result showing a clear majority voting “no.”

The outcome keeps the country aligned with most of central and eastern Europe, even as parts of western Europe liberalize assisted-dying rules.

South Korea’s trade minister said there is room for cooperation with Taiwan to blunt the impact of new U.S. tariffs on some semiconductor products, as Asian chipmakers rethink supply chains.

Any workaround on production steps or export routes could reshape who ultimately bears the cost of the tariffs—manufacturers, U.S. buyers, or consumers.

Hospitals and training programs say it is getting harder to recruit foreign-born physicians, who currently make up about a quarter of the U.S. doctor workforce, and a detailed report on immigrant physicians cites higher visa fees, politics, and better offers abroad as key drivers.

Because many of these doctors work in rural or underserved areas, the trend could deepen shortages and lengthen wait times.

A new international report urges governments to adopt coordinated policies that make precision-medicine tools more accessible, reliable, and equitable worldwide, arguing innovation alone won’t close widening health gaps.

The analysis says scaling genomic screening, data-sharing standards, and AI diagnostics will require major regulatory updates and long-term investment, according to a global call to action.

A new public explainer on free speech details why one major newsroom is fighting legal and political efforts that could narrow protections for journalists and ordinary citizens.

Media lawyers argue these cases will shape investigative reporting and people’s ability to share controversial views without fear of retaliation.

Global equities climbed as traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve will cut rates in December, and a roundup of market moves notes U.S. and European futures rising while the dollar softened.

The optimism is lifting risk assets but also raises questions about whether central banks might be easing too quickly if inflation flares again.

India’s solar module exports fell to their lowest level this year in September after new U.S. trade measures curbed shipments, according to industry data on solar exports.

Manufacturers are diverting more panels to the domestic market, which may pressure margins and force global buyers to seek alternative suppliers.

Tech investor Prosus reported higher revenue and profit for the first half of its fiscal year, with a summary of the earnings release highlighting strong contributions from its Tencent stake and e-commerce platforms.

Management is using asset sales to fund buybacks and new bets, making the company a key barometer for big consumer-internet valuations.

Researchers testing CeVO4 nanoparticles in supercapacitors report significant gains in energy storage efficiency by tuning the material’s structure to improve charge transfer and cycling stability.

If scaled, the work could help close the gap between batteries and capacitors, enabling faster charging and more compact devices.

A research team has developed an AI-enabled wearable device designed for continuous monitoring of vital signs such as heart rate and breathing using lightweight, comfortable materials.

By combining on-body sensors with algorithms, it aims to spot early signs of trouble and could shift more preventive care out of hospitals—while raising new privacy questions.

Engineers studying flexible electronics have examined how bending affects capacitive power transfer systems, identifying designs that keep performance stable when surfaces flex.

That knowledge is key for future products like smart clothing, rollable screens, and medical patches that must work reliably in motion.

Dallas erased a 21-point deficit to beat Philadelphia 24–21, with a full box score showing Dak Prescott leading three touchdown drives and the defense shutting out the Eagles late.

The comeback keeps the Cowboys firmly in the playoff hunt and tightens the NFC East race.

Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes as the Los Angeles Rams crushed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34–7, and an in-depth game recap notes the win as their sixth straight.

Los Angeles now holds the NFC’s best record, while Tampa Bay must monitor Baker Mayfield’s injured shoulder.

Eberechi Eze scored a hat trick in Arsenal’s 4–1 demolition of Tottenham, sending the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League, according to an official match report.

The emphatic result boosts Arsenal’s title credentials and increases pressure on Spurs’ conservative approach.

Donald Glover told fans at a Los Angeles festival that a stroke last year forced him to cancel part of his Childish Gambino tour and undergo surgeries to repair a heart condition.

His story has sparked conversations about touring pressures and the importance of taking sudden neurological symptoms seriously.

Musical sequel “Wicked: For Good” delivered an estimated $226 million global debut, with box office reporting saying it has outpaced the original’s early run.

The performance reinforces the appeal of big-budget musical franchises and may encourage studios to greenlight similar projects.

A feature on collective joy describes how shared experiences at concerts and sports events create a state called “we mode”, where heartbeats and emotions sync and connection surges.

Psychologists say seeking out activities that trigger this feeling—like singing, dancing, or cheering together—can help counter loneliness and stress.

A new assessment from European policymakers warns that large-scale adoption of stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to traditional currencies—could siphon hundreds of billions of euros from bank deposits.

A recent analysis of the warning cites estimates that, under certain scenarios, as much as 10% of household deposits could migrate into private digital money.

That shift would directly affect how banks fund themselves and how central banks steer the economy.

Stablecoins today are mostly used for trading cryptocurrencies and moving money quickly across borders, with issuers promising to hold safe assets like cash and government bonds in reserve.

But if they become widely used for everyday payments, households and companies might keep more of their liquid savings in tokens rather than in bank accounts.

Banks would then need to replace lost deposits with more expensive wholesale funding or shrink their balance sheets, potentially curbing lending or raising borrowing costs for households and businesses.

Regulators worry about both stability and sovereignty. A run on a major stablecoin—if users suddenly doubted that reserves were truly safe and liquid—could trigger forced sales of government bonds or commercial paper, amplifying market stress.

At the same time, if large parts of the payments system were controlled by a few global issuers, often based outside Europe, policymakers fear they would lose visibility into financial flows and the ability to enforce sanctions, consumer protections, and anti–money laundering rules.

In response, authorities are accelerating work on frameworks that would require stablecoin issuers to hold high-quality reserves, meet bank-like supervision standards, and cap the size of unregulated tokens.

They are also pushing ahead with central bank digital currency projects to offer a public alternative.

Over the next year, expect debates over wallet design, privacy guarantees, and cross-border interoperability to intensify, as policymakers try to reap the benefits of faster, cheaper payments without undermining the foundations of the banking system.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team