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UK launches world-first gonorrhoea vaccine amid rise in drug-resistant cases
A vaccine to protect against gonorrhoea will be rolled out across England and Wales from August, in what health officials have described as a landmark move to tackle rising infections and growing antibiotic resistance.
The jab, known as 4CMenB, will be offered to people at higher risk of infection via sexual health clinics. It marks the first time a vaccine for gonorrhoea has been included in a routine immunisation programme anywhere in the world.
Gonorrhoea is the UK’s second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Cases in England hit more than 85,000 in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918 – while Wales saw a 27% increase on the previous year.
Experts have raised concerns over the emergence of drug-resistant strains, with growing resistance to ceftriaxone, the last remaining routinely used antibiotic. Some strains are now resistant to multiple treatments, earning the nickname “super gonorrhoea”.
Although the 4CMenB jab is only partially effective – reducing the risk of infection by up to 42% – the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said it could play a significant role in reducing transmission.
Environmental regulations saved US households $576 on energy bills last year
Federal energy-efficiency standards saved the average US household $576 on utility bills in 2024, while cutting national energy use by 6.5% and water consumption by 12%. These gains are now at risk as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the programmes behind them.
Central to these standards is Energy Star, a voluntary labelling scheme launched in 1992 to help consumers identify efficient appliances. It has guided millions toward products that reduce energy use and lower bills, without limiting what manufacturers can sell or what consumers can buy.
Trump has pledged to roll back efficiency rules covering appliances such as dishwashers, shower heads, toilets and gas stoves, casting them as restrictions on consumer choice. Critics warn the move would undermine decades of progress and raise household costs.
Efficiency standards have played a key role in curbing energy demand even as the population has grown. While efficient appliances can cost more upfront, tax credits and long-term savings often outweigh the initial expense – benefits that may vanish if the rollback proceeds.
Ending these standards would reverse a long-standing policy success that has quietly saved Americans billions.
Global leaders adopt landmark pandemic preparedness treaty
World leaders have adopted a new global pandemic agreement, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen international cooperation in the wake of Covid-19.
A statement from The World Health Organization hailed the accord as a “victory for public health, science and multilateral action,” following three years of negotiations. Passed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, the agreement lays the groundwork for coordinated global responses to future outbreaks and aims to prevent the widespread loss of life and economic disruption seen during the coronavirus pandemic.
Some contentious issues, including how countries share pathogen data and receive equitable access to vaccines and treatments in return, were deferred to an annex that will be negotiated over the next year. The agreement will open for signatures once this annex is complete and will take effect after ratification by 60 countries.
Health leaders called the deal a foundation to build on, urging swift action to close remaining gaps in financing, preparedness, and equitable access to life-saving tools before the next global health threat emerges.
Bicycles outnumber cars in London for the first time this century
Known for its red double decker buses and calls to “mind the gap”, London had gained a new reputation as a city of cyclers.
A recent traffic survey by the City of London Corporation revealed that bike use in the capital surged by 57% in two years. Cycles now outnumber cars in central London, and could soon outnumber all motor vehicles combined.
This transformation has been driven by miles of protected lanes and the rise of dockless electric bikes. Use of rental e-bikes has quadrupled since 2022, led by companies like Lime, which now operates around 30,000 bikes across 17 boroughs.
Londoners embraced electric bikes when they became truly effortless to ride, with quick acceleration and minimal exertion. And being dockless means bikes can be picked up and left almost anywhere, especially with relaxed parking rules on residential streets.
Challenges remain, including inconsiderate parking, safety concerns and calls for tighter regulation. But London shows that with the right mix of infrastructure, access and convenience, cities can shift how people move.
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