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• Section 11 - Perspectives : Delusional Parasitosis
• Section 11 - Newly Arrived Immigrants, Refugees & Other Migrants

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Hilary Reno, Laura Quilter

More than 2 dozen bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens can cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs are among the most common infectious diseases reported worldwide. In 2018, ≈26 million new STI cases were reported in the United States; and in 2016, ≈376 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomonas were reported globally. STIs can be transmitted from person to person during sexual activity involving anal, genital, or oral mucosal contact.

Epidemiology

Casual sex during travel is common; a systematic review showed a 35% prevalence. In addition, some people travel for sex tourism (see Sec. 9, Ch. 12, Sex & Travel ). Sex partners abroad might include commercial sex workers among whom STI prevalence is elevated. International travel was an independent risk factor for chlamydia infection in a study conducted at one sexual health clinic. Among travelers, documented risk factors for acquiring STIs or HIV include alcohol and other drug use, longer duration of travel, male gender, and increased number of new partners.

Before travel, counsel travelers at risk of engaging in condomless sex to have condoms available, and provide guidance regarding other risk-modifying behaviors. Providers caring for returning travelers should know where to find current information about global epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of STIs from national and international public health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea website and World Health Organization (WHO), Gonococcal Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance Programme .

The epidemiology and clinical presentations of common bacterial, viral, and parasitic STIs are shown in Table 11-13 , Table 11-14 , and Table 11-15 , respectively. Ask returning travelers about sexual activity during their trip, and include specific questions about region of travel, sexual partners, types of sexual exposure, and condom use. Assessing risk in men who have sex with men (MSM) is important because they have elevated rates of certain infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, and syphilis. Screen travelers seeking an evaluation for STI or with evidence of STI for other common STIs as well as HIV. For patients with HIV infection, provide information on HIV care and treatment services if they are not already receiving care.

Table 11-13 Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, & treatment of select bacterial STIs

Abbreviations: BID, twice daily; IM, intramuscularly; MU, million units; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification testing; PO, orally; STI, sexually transmitted infection; TID, 3 times daily.

Table 11-14 Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis & treatment of select viral STIs

Abbreviations: BID, twice daily; IM, intramuscularly; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PO, orally; STI, sexually transmitted infection; TID, 3 times daily.

Table 11-15 Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis & treatment of select parasitic STIs

Abbreviations: BID, twice daily; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification testing; PO, orally; STI, sexually transmitted infection

Clinical Presentation

Because many infections are asymptomatic, assess for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis in returning travelers who had sex outside of a monogamous relationship while traveling. Advise any traveler who develops STI symptoms (e.g., rectal, urethral, or vaginal discharge; unexplained rash or genital lesion; genital or pelvic pain) following a sexual exposure to abstain from sex and seek prompt medical evaluation.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is commonly acquired ≤2 years of sexual debut and usually clears spontaneously. Although most STIs involve the genital tract, some (e.g., gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis) also cause disseminated disease. Consider STIs in returning travelers, because infection can result in serious and long-term complications including adverse birth outcomes, cancer (anal and cervical), infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and an increased risk for HIV acquisition and transmission.

Although not considered an STI, transmission of mpox virus during the 2022 multinational outbreak has been associated with close skin-to-skin contact, including that which occurs during sex. Moreover, some patients have presented with physical findings and/or symptoms that could be consistent with an STI (e.g., anogenital lesions, proctitis, dysuria). In some instances, this has resulted in misdiagnosis and delays in initiating proper medical management. In other cases, patients have been co-infected with mpox virus and an STI. For details on the transmission, epidemiology, and management of mpox during the 2022 mpox outbreak, see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 22, Smallpox & Other Orthopoxvirus-Associated Infections ; Sec. 9, Ch. 12, Sex & Travel ; and the CDC mpox website .

Base STI evaluation, management, and follow-up on the most recent national and international guidelines from CDC and WHO. Because of limited availability of diagnostic testing in many countries, WHO follows a syndromic approach to STI management; in the United States, therefore, following CDC treatment guidelines is preferred. Consider drug resistance if an infection does not respond to first-line therapy. This is particularly relevant in travelers who have a persistent gonococcal infection, given the global spread of multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae .

Prevention and control of STIs is based on accurate risk assessment, counseling and education, early identification of asymptomatic infection, and effective treatment of travelers; prompt evaluation and treatment of sex partners also is necessary to prevent reinfection and to disrupt STI transmission. As part of pretravel advice, include specific messages and strategies on how to avoid acquiring or transmitting STIs. Abstinence or mutual monogamy between uninfected partners is the most reliable way to avoid acquiring and transmitting STIs.

For people whose sexual behaviors place them at risk for STIs, correct and consistent use of external or internal latex condoms can reduce the risk for HIV infection and other STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Preventing lower genital tract infections might reduce the risk for pelvic inflammatory disease in female patients. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms also reduces the risk of chancroid, genital herpes, HPV infection, and syphilis. Advise travelers to use only water-based lubricants with latex condoms, because oil-based lubricants (e.g., massage oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, shortening) can weaken latex. Also remind travelers that contraceptive methods that are not mechanical barriers (e.g., oral contraceptives) do not protect against HIV or other STIs, and that spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 do not prevent HIV or STIs.

Preexposure vaccination is among the most effective methods for preventing certain STIs. HPV vaccines, for example, are available and licensed for people ≤45 years of age. Both hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be transmitted sexually (see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 7, Hepatitis A , and Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 8, Hepatitis B ). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all adults aged 19–59 years, and hepatitis A vaccine for MSM. Travelers at risk of acquiring HIV infection might benefit from preexposure prophylaxis (see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 11, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / HIV , and HIV: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) .

CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) website

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Jodie Dionne-Odom, Kimberly Workowski

Bibliography

Aung ET, Chow EP, Fairley CK, Hocking JS, Bradshaw CS, Williamson DA, et al. International travel as risk factor for Chlamydia trachomatis infections among young heterosexuals attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia, 2007 to 2017.

Euro Surveill. 2019;24(44):1900219. Avery AK, Zenilman JM. Sexually transmitted diseases and travel: from boudoir to bordello. Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(5):IOL5-0011-2015.

Crawford G, Lobo R, Brown G, Macri C, Smith H, Maycock B. HIV, other blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections amongst expatriates and travellers to low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(12):1249.

Meites E, Kempe A, Markowitz LE. Use of a 2-dose schedule for human papillomavirus vaccination—updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(49):1405–8.

Newman L, Rowley J, Vander Hoorn S, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, et al. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable sexually transmitted infections in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0143304.

Svensson P, Sundbeck M, Persson KI, Stafström M, Östergren PO, Mannheimer L, et al. A meta-analysis and systematic literature review of factors associated with sexual risk-taking during international travel. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2018;24:65–88.

Vivancos R, Abubakar I, Hunter PR. Foreign travel, casual sex, and sexually transmitted infections: systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2010;14(10):e842–51.

Weston EJ, Wi T, Papp J. Strengthening global surveillance for antimicrobial drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017;23(13):S47–52.

Workowski KA, Bachmann L, Chan P, Johnston CM, Muzny CA, Park I, et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(RR-04):1–187.

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How to Staff Travel?

The best perk from working with an airline are severely discounted rates for flights (if not free!) on your airline. What if your airline doesn’t fly to that amazing island in the Azores? Luckily, you know that one of your ZED partners probably does.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to fly on another airline to your dream destination and how to be a StaffTraveler!

What is staff travel?

Staff travel is when an airline employee flies using their staff benefits. It is also known as non-rev travel. There’s an article here explaining some of the terms that you may come across.

Where should I go?

What an excellent question! This is a difficult one. It really depends on your hobbies, your timeframe, etc. Personally, the one thing I like to draw inspiration from is Instagram . Instagram allows you to explore photos from locations and by some popular tags.

I follow a few travelers who frequently post about trips they’ve taken. Usually, I draw my inspiration from them! Also, I love hearing about places that my friends and co-workers have gone to. Word of mouth is also a very good way to find some inspiration for locations you travel to.

The final place I like to draw inspiration from is my life goals. For me, this was my trip to Thailand. I spent some time in an animal rescue sanctuary near Chiang Mai. Being near rescued dogs, elephants, and buffalo was such an amazing experience. Even better, I was able to camp among them! That memory of being in Chiang Mei will be one I cherish forever. This is why I encourage you to chase your life goals.

The final place I like to draw inspiration from is my life goals. For me, this was my trip to Thailand. I spent some time in an animal rescue sanctuary near Chiang Mei. Being near rescued dogs, elephants, and buffalo was such an amazing experience. Even better, I was able to camp among them! That memory of being in Chiang Mei will be one I cherish forever.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bubbleroom (@bubbleroom) on Jul 7, 2019 at 10:45pm PDT

When should I go?

Just as before, this is is a difficult question to answer and depends on you! Being a StaffTraveller on standby could be difficult. So given the location and time of year will determine how hard of a trip it’ll be!

The three main things I try to do when I Staff Travel are:

• Avoid the peak season
• Avoid flying on the weekends
• Aim for the first flight of the day

For some, this isn’t as difficult, especially who can take the jump seat. I am not able to fly jump seat but I wish I could!

How do I get there?

This is where the real fun begins.

The first thing I like to do is to determine what airports I’d like to fly into. For example, If I wanted to fly from Amsterdam to Hong Kong, a quick search in the StaffTraveler app tells me that I should fly to HKG and that I might have multiple options. 

The next thing you’ll want to do is check with your company website to find a list of airlines you can fly on. These airlines should be part of your ZED Agreement. You will have to find these agreements through your airline.

Chances are, your airline uses myIDTravel as their staff travel booking system. In order to access myIDTravel, you’ll need to go through the employee website of your airline. Below, I’ll walk you through how to check which airlines you can staff travel with on myIDTravel. Your airline might use a different (or their own) system.

Which airlines can I choose from?

I’ll be honest here, myIDTravel is not the friendliest of systems for research. Once you get the hang of it, you can navigate it with minimum tears. To begin, enter your desired departure, destination and airline, select the date of departure, and let it roll.

Once you land on the next page, you’ll see some smiley faces to indicate your chances of making it on your desired flight. Let me be the first to tell you, this is not the most effective tool to gauge your chances of spending your weekend in Hong Kong. Rarely accurate, the smiley faces are green (happy), yellow (meh) and red ( no-way-Jose-you’re-not-making-this-flight ). Personally, I’ve rarely found these to be reliable, and don’t trust them when making plans.

Meet StaffTraveler

To make my staff travel experience as painless as possible (who among us hasn’t slept in an airport before?), I use the StaffTraveler app . Thanks to this app, you no longer need to rely on the mercy of 3 old fashioned emojis. Instead, you can have a vast network of airline employees at your disposal cheering you on! StaffTraveler provides you the most accurate flight availability for flights; some call it “the world’s best non-rev app”, yep, shameless plug.

Checking the flight loads on other airlines Let’s go from Hong Kong to Bali (Denpasar)!

To get started, download the StaffTraveler app in your App Store (iOS & Android).

Inform yourself

There’s too much to know about staff travel to cover everything in a single blog post. Luckily, there’s a wealth of information in the StaffTraveler Insider Knowledge Base . Also, every airline has it’s own quirks. Make sure you inform yourself thoroughly about the particularities of the airline you wish to travel with. You’ll find everything you need to know to non-rev like a pro in the StaffTraveler Airline Notes .

Are you ready to go? Check your flights with StaffTraveler, pack your stuff and have a wonderful time!

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About the Division of STD Prevention

The mission of the Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to provide national leadership, research, policy development, and scientific information to help people live safer, healthier lives by the prevention of STDs and their complications. This mission is accomplished by assisting health departments, healthcare providers and non-government organizations (NGO) through the provision of timely science-based information and by clearly interpreting such information to the general public and policy makers. The Division’s specific disease prevention goals are contextualized within the broader framework of the social determinants of health, the promotion of sexual health, and the primary prevention of sexually transmitted disease.

Jurisdictions are delivering innovative solutions nationwide.

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STDs compromise Americans’ health and cost millions of dollars.

• Dear Colleague Letter: Clinical Reminders during Bicillin L-A® Shortage (July 20, 2023)
• Dear Colleague Letter: Update on STI Prevention Funding (June 29, 2023)
• Dear Colleague Letter: HHS Announces Federal STI Implementation Plan  (June 8, 2023)
• Dear Colleague Letter: Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Division of STD Prevention Director announces that CDC awarded funding to three organizations to form Sexually Transmitted Infections Impact Research Consortium (STIIRC) , which will conduct studies to reverse persistent, troubling trends in reported cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Dear Colleague Letter: Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Division of STD Prevention Director, on STD prevention and control accomplishments in 2021 and upcoming events and resources for 2022.  (January 24, 2022)
• Dear Colleague Letter: Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Division of STD Prevention Director, on the future of STI prevention and joining CDC as the new division director  (August 2, 2021)
• Dear Colleague Letter: White House announces $1.13 billion investment to strengthen the disease intervention specialists workforce.  (May 13, 2021)
• Dear Colleague Letter: NASEM Releases New Report on STI Prevention and Control  (March 24, 2021)
• STI Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimates

CDC’s Division of STD Prevention concentrates its efforts on four focus areas to guide STD prevention and maximize long term impact.

• Adolescents and Young Adults
• Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
• Pregnant Women
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Middle East conflict live updates Israel braces amid fears of Iranian strike; U.S. shifts forces to region

The Pentagon is beefing up its presence in the Middle East, U.S. officials said Friday, as Israel braces for Iran to retaliate for a strike near its embassy in Syria. President Biden, in remarks to reporters Friday, warned Iran not to strike but added that he expected the attack would come “sooner than later.” Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for the attack in Syria that killed two senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. U.S. officials have not said whether the potential retaliation would come from Iran directly or from an Iran-backed group.

• Turkish state broadcaster says Israeli fire struck its journalists in Gaza
• Israel says some aid trucks entered Gaza through new crossing
• Crutches and chocolate croissants: Gaza aid items Israel has rejected

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• Middle East conflict live updates: Israel braces amid fears of Iranian strike; U.S. shifts forces to region 31 minutes ago Middle East conflict live updates: Israel braces amid fears of Iranian strike; U.S. shifts forces to region 31 minutes ago
• Crutches and chocolate croissants: Gaza aid items Israel has rejected April 11, 2024 Crutches and chocolate croissants: Gaza aid items Israel has rejected April 11, 2024
• Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024 Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024

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Israel-Gaza war

The Israel-Gaza war has gone on for six months, and tensions have spilled into the surrounding region .

The war: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival . (See photos and videos of how the deadly assault unfolded ). Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching a ground invasion that fueled the biggest displacement in the region since Israel’s creation in 1948 .

Gaza crisis: In the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of this century’s most destructive wars , killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into “ famine-like conditions. ” For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave .

U.S. involvement: Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians , including President Biden, the United States supports Israel with weapons , funds aid packages , and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations’ cease-fire resolutions.

History: The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 . Read more on the history of the Gaza Strip .

U.S. restricts travel for Israel staff as Iran attack fears rise

The United States has restricted travel for its staff in Israel , as fears grow of an imminent retaliatory attack by Iran .

The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert Thursday restricting its employees and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice “out of an abundance of caution.”

The warning comes as Israel’s military vowed it would defend the country and respond, with expectations mounting that Tehran will soon strike back for the attack on its embassy in Syria that killed a number of senior commanders. The exchanges have raised fears that the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the Gaza Strip could escalate into a wider conflict.

Israel never claimed responsibility for the airstrike on its rival’s consulate in Damascus, but Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said earlier this week that Israel “must be punished and it shall be,” for what he considered an effective attack on Iranian soil.

The U.S. has promised support for its ally in the face of Iranian threats and worked to persuade Tehran to avoid significant escalation, but Israel has signaled its readiness for whatever retribution may be coming.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that a direct Iranian attack will require “an appropriate Israeli response” against Iran, while an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that the country was “alert and highly prepared” for a variety of scenarios.

“Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Thursday as he visited an airbase. “We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he added.

The growing tensions in the Middle East come as Palestinians in Gaza marked somber Eid celebrations this week amid severe food shortages despite Israeli promises to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that famine in Gaza was “imminent,” after USAID Administrator Samantha Power said a day earlier that it was “credible” to assess that famine had already begun in the territory.

More than 33,600 people have now been killed in Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, in the six months of war since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed an estimated 1,200 people.

The militant group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Hamas was still seeking a cease-fire deal despite the deaths of his three sons in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this week, but talks to secure a truce and the release of remaining hostages remain deadlocked .

It remained unclear whether Iran’s retaliation would come in the form of a direct attack or through some of the web of Tehran-backed groups who have already waged attacks from Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen in recent months.

Tehran has so far avoided direct confrontation with Israel or Washington. But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that “legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor” was a necessity in the wake of the consulate strike, accusing Israel of targeting diplomatic premises in violation of international law, according to Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.

The Pentagon said Thursday that top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, had moved up his trip to Israel so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.”

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack on Israel,” and that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies remained “ironclad” despite growing criticism from Washington of its ally’s actions in Gaza.

The White House also said Thursday that the U.S. has communicated to Iran that it had no involvement in the strike in Damascus, and warned Iran not to use this attack as a pretext to escalate further in the region, or to attack U.S. facilities or personnel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held telephone conversations with his Chinese, Turkish and Saudi counterparts “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest” and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate.

“We have also engaged with European allies and partners over the past few days and urged them as well to send a clear message to Iran that escalation is not in Iran’s interest, it’s not in the region’s interest, and it’s not in the world’s interest,” spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday .

British foreign minister David Cameron said he had made it clear to his Iranian counterpart that the Islamic Republic must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.

“I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence,” Cameron said on X .

France warned its citizens Friday to “imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.” German airline Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines, the only two Western carriers flying into Tehran, extended a suspension of flight to the Iranian capital.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

This fungus turns cicadas into 'zombies' after being sexually transmitted

Turns out humans, aren’t the only creature that can ride the psychedelic wave that comes with ingesting fungus.

Except the side effects for cicadas, a flying pest, are quite deadly. We are talking a reaction akin to something you would see on “The Walking Dead” or maybe “The Last of Us,” as the decrepit creatures fly about, losing body parts and infecting any other cicadas they touch with the fatal fungus.

The fungus, known in the scientific community as Massospora cicadina , is a sexually transmitted pathogen that results in severe dismemberment and eventually death, USA TODAY reported in 2020. 

The chemicals found in cicadas after they have been infected are similar to those found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, according to a study published by PLOS Pathogens in 2020. 

An NBC affiliate in Chicago reported that the fungus was seen among the cicada population recently. But this isn’t the first time, John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut confirmed with USA TODAY Wednesday. 

The same thing happened four years ago, when the “mind-controlling” disease ravaged members of that year's cicada brood, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.  At least 10% of cicadas in the Midwest were infected with the fungus, Cooley told the Independent . 

The issue is "even stranger than science fiction. This is a sexually transmitted zombie disease,” Cooley said. 

Here’s what we know. 

Cicada overload: 2 broods to emerge together in US for first time in over 200 years

What does the ‘zombification’ process look like? 

The zombification of a cicada or cicada swarm is pretty graphic, the white fungus pooling in its crevices. 

Cooley told the Independent that once the fungus takes over a male cicada’s body, their testes are the first to go, sterilizing the insect before killing it. 

The infected cicada in question spreads the chalky white spores to other cicadas, sharing the sexually transmitted pathogen across the population, according to reporting by the Independent. 

How does the sexually transmitted pathogen affect cicadas? 

Well, it's not very pretty. 

The disease acts like a parasite, eating its way through the flying insect’s limbs and other parts of their body. Infected cicadas begin to lose those limbs bit by bit until there’s nothing left. 

These “zombies” very quickly become a threat to any and all neighboring cicadas, as males take flight, continuing to spread the fungus around, USA TODAY reported.  

The fungus causes infected males to jerk their wings, making a familiar humming noise only made by female cicadas. The noise attracts other males, who think there is a female ready to mate. 

“ Thus spreading the fungus to the attracted males ,” until there is no healthy cicada left in the bunch. 

The fungus is considered a death sentence, building up in the abdomen and destroying them from the inside out as the fungal spores grow, USA TODAY reported. Its “a disturbing display of B-horror movie proportions," a press release from West Virginia University states. 

Contributing: Autumn Schoolman; USA TODAY

Lufthansa agrees pay rise with flight attendants after strike

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US lawmakers angry after Huawei unveils laptop with new Intel AI chip

Republican U.S. lawmakers on Friday criticized the Biden administration after sanctioned Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei unveiled a laptop this week powered by an Intel AI chip.

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Peter Dutton’s office billed taxpayers almost $6,000 for staff to travel with him when he attended Gina Rinehart party

Exclusive : Opposition leader travelled at own expense to lavish party, but documents reveal two staff also made the trip to Perth

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Peter Dutton’s office claimed nearly $6,000 in public expenses for staff and security to travel to Perth with the opposition leader when he attended Gina Rinehart’s lavish birthday party.

Dutton’s office has said he travelled at his own expense to the party for Australia’s richest woman , which included a horseriding performance, multiple large cakes and onstage pyrotechnics. But travel information obtained under freedom of information shows members of Dutton’s team – which his office said included a staffer and a security detail – claimed travel from Melbourne to Perth and back again on 29 February, the night of the party on the banks of the Swan River.

It was reported in March that Dutton attended Rinehart’s party after the end of a parliamentary sitting week, before appearing in Melbourne the next morning to campaign for the Dunkley byelection. The Australian Financial Review reported Dutton was spotted flying from Canberra to Melbourne, then travelling on to Perth before returning to Melbourne that same evening – potentially joining Rinehart’s party for as little as an hour.

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Dutton was criticised at the time by 2GB host Ben Fordham for choosing to fly to Perth instead of spending more time campaigning in Dunkley, calling the opposition leader’s decision “a bad call” and suggested he should have “brushed” the party to campaign more in the crucial byelection.

“Peter Dutton spent more time on the aeroplane than he did at the party, which sounds like a waste of time to me,” Fordham said.

Labor’s Jodie Belyea won the byelection against Liberal challenger Nathan Conroy by a 53-47 margin.

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA), the government body which manages parliamentarians’ work expenses, released information under FoI on Thursday to show Dutton’s office claimed flights between Melbourne and Perth on the day of – and the day after – Rinehart’s party. All were classified as having been claimed by “personal staff”, rather than Dutton himself. Guardian Australia understands that any claim for Dutton himself would have been recorded and classified differently on the documents.

IPEA records show staff from Dutton’s office claimed a Melbourne to Perth flight on 29 February, the day of the party, costing $2,221.63. The same day, staff also claimed a Perth to Melbourne air fare, at $2,680.80.

The following day, 1 March, was another staff claim for a Perth to Melbourne air fare at $1,028.93.

In total, the three air fare claims between Melbourne and Perth came in at $5,931.36.

Guardian Australia contacted Dutton’s office for clarification on the claims. A spokesperson responded that the opposition leader travelled with one staff member and his security detail, which they said was appropriate and within travel rules.

Dutton is typically accompanied in public by a security detail, as are other senior politicians like prime minister Anthony Albanese and deputy PM Richard Marles.

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Dutton’s spokesperson also referred back to his remarks in March, at the time of the initial reporting on his Perth trip.

“The air fares were at my expense, there was no accommodation. I flew back on the redeye so that I could be back into Melbourne at 4.30 the next morning,” Dutton said at the time.

“My security detail operates exactly the same as the governor general and the prime minister.”

The lavish celebration for Rinehart, according to her company’s websites, included “a horse show backed by the fantastic Aussie music, The Man from Snowy River, with riders … carrying large Australian and company flags”.

The Perth lord mayor, Basil Zempilas, told 6PR radio he attended the event, calling the horseback show “an incredible sight”, and saying the pop star Guy Sebastian had sung the national anthem.

Last year Dutton was flown to another Rinehart party at Hancock Prospecting’s Pilbara mine by another billionaire rich-lister , where he praised the mining magnate and her family as “pioneers” who had “given so much to this country”.

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April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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‘Please leave!’ A Jewish UC Berkeley dean confronts pro-Palestinian activist at his home

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What was supposed to be a celebratory dinner at a dean’s home for graduating UC Berkeley law students on Tuesday turned into an angry confrontation over the Israel-Hamas war, free speech and accusations of anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hatred.

Several dozen law school students were invited to the Oakland home of School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and his wife, law school professor Catherine Fisk, for the first of three dinners they planned to host. The event, which took place in the couple’s backyard garden with white-cloth-covered tables and students seated among lemon trees, was to recognize the work of law students and provide an opportunity to enjoy casual time with the two prominent professors.

But the dinner quickly devolved after a Palestinian American law student who was invited stood up in front of guests and attempted to give a speech about Palestinians dying in Gaza and her desire for the university to divest from corporations involved in Israel’s war and its occupation and blockade of Palestinian lands.

Chemerinsky approached the student with his arms folded and shouted at her: “Please leave. No. Please leave. Please leave.” Fisk grabbed away the student’s microphone, while saying, “It is not your house. It is my house. And I want you to leave.”

The student who spoke, Malak Afaneh, said that Fisk assaulted her and that her free speech rights were denied.

Chemerinsky, who is Jewish, says that the incident is the latest in antisemitic attacks on him and that free speech does not extend to his home. The university, which has been embroiled in months of protests over the Israel-Hamas war, is standing behind the dean.

“I am appalled and deeply disturbed by what occurred at Dean Chemerinsky’s home last night,” UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ said in a statement. “I have been in touch with him to offer my support and sympathy. While our support for free speech is unwavering, we cannot condone using a social occasion at a person’s private residence as a platform for protest.”

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In an interview, University of California President Michael Drake called the incident “very unfortunate.”

UC Board of Regents Chair Rich Leib said he condemned the student’s actions and called it “deplorable.... The individuals that targeted this event did so simply because it was hosted by a dean who is Jewish. These actions were antisemitic, threatening, and do not reflect the values of this university.”

The events were caught on multiple videos by pro-Palestinian activists who were present.

A video shows Afaneh, who was dressed in a jean skirt, a white “divest” shirt with a black-and-white keffiyeh around her neck and a red hijab, getting up from her table and standing in front of the seated guests. After offering the traditional Islamic greeting in Arabic and translating it to English as “peace and blessings upon you all,” she says, “Tonight we are gathered here in the name of commemorating our final few weeks as law students. Tonight is also the last night of the holy month of Ramadan where millions of Muslims around the world fast.”

“Please leave!” Chemerinsky says after the words “gathered here.” The video shows him standing several feet away from Afaneh as he shouts. “This is my house. You are my guest. You’re my guest. Please leave my house,” he says.

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The protest started over the college’s dismantling of a piece of student-erected pro-Palestinian protest art on campus, which had been standing since March 28.

April 7, 2024

The clip then pans to Afaneh to show that Fisk has approached her from behind and grabbed Afaneh’s phone, from which she is reading a script, the microphone and Afaneh’s shirt. Fisk’s arm is on Afaneh’s right shoulder and at times appears to touch her neck.

“This is not your house! It is my house!” Fisk says. The video shows Fisk looking at another woman who is with the demonstrator and saying, “Get her to leave my house!”

An argument ensues among Afaneh, Chemerinsky, Fisk and the other woman, also a law student.

“You are not welcome,” Fisk says to Afaneh, suggesting she may call the police. Afaneh replies, “You can call the police.” Fisk says, “I don’t prefer to.” She then tries to take the microphone from Afaneh, who does not let go of her grip and is pulled a few steps up a small set of stairs.

“Forty thousand people are dying,” Afaneh says at one point to Fisk in the video, which is just under three minutes long.

“I can’t stop that,” Fisk says.

A Palestinian-American student is saying she was assaulted and denied free speech rights when she tried to speak about the deaths of Palestinians during at law school dinner at UC Berkeley Dean Erwin Chemerinsky’s home on Tuesday. The dean, who kicked out protestors, says they do not have free speech rights on his private property. A Jewish man, he has accused activists of being antisemitic. (Maryam Alhakim)

The video later shows Chemerinsky speaking to a different student, pleading for activists to leave. “There is a genocide going on,” a student tells him. “Then don’t come here!” Chemerinsky says.

Nine activists organized the protest as part of the law school’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. They left shortly after the argument, according to both sides.

“We agree with you about what’s going on in Palestine,” Fisk says in a separate video as Afaneh and students leave.

“Then what have you done about divestment? Nothing. Nothing,” a different student says as she walks away.

“We don’t control the investment,” Fisk replies.

In an interview Wednesday, Afaneh said that she felt assaulted by Fisk and that she was considering filing charges, but would first consult with lawyers.

“The aggression with which she ran at me when I said ‘ as-salamu alaykum .’ She saw my hijab and keffiyeh, and that was a risk for her,” Afaneh said.

Fisk did not reply to an email seeking comment. Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert, released a statement Wednesday and responded to a reporter’s questions.

“The house is privately owned by my wife and me. The mortgage is our names. It is on a street in Oakland. It is not owned by the university, on university property, or in any way paid for by the university,” Chemerinsky said in an interview with The Times. “It is private property, and the 1st Amendment simply does not apply there. No one has the right to come into my house, or yours, and disrupt a dinner. As a matter of constitutional law, this is absolutely clear.”

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Chemerinsky has been a vocal critic of pro-Palestinian activists at Berkeley and a frequent target of their activity since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Chemerinsky said he is being singled out because he is Jewish.

“Last week, there was an awful poster, on social media and bulletin boards in the law school building, of a caricature of me holding a bloody knife and fork, with the words in large letters, ‘No dinner with Zionist Chem while Gaza starves,’” he said in the statement. “I never thought I would see such blatant antisemitism, with an image that invokes the horrible antisemitic trope of blood libel and that attacks me for no apparent reason other than I am Jewish.”

On Wednesday the group’s social media pages did not show blood on the knife and fork. Chemerinsky last week had sent The Times an image from the group’s Instagram account that did show a blood-stained knife and fork.

This is not the first conflict in recent months involving the law school. In the fall, a professor ignited controversy when he published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal titled, “Don’t Hire My Anti-Semitic Law Students.” Students and alumni petitioned Chemerinsky to take action in response. Chemerinsky stood up for the professor, saying he was defending free speech even if people find it “deeply offensive.”

The dean said dinners scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday would continue.

“I hope that there will be no disruptions.... But we will have security present,” Chemerinsky said in the statement. “Any student who disrupts will be reported to student conduct and a violation of the student conduct code is reported to the bar.”

Staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.

More to Read

‘I can’t focus on anything but rage.’ Pro-Palestinian protests roil elite Pomona College

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In a time of rising campus antisemitism, USC gives highest honor to Holocaust survivors

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Jaweed Kaleem is a national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times. Based in L.A. with a focus on issues outside of California, he has traveled to dozens of states to cover news and deeply reported features on the complexity of the American experience. His articles frequently explore race, religion, politics, social debates and polarized society. Kaleem was previously based in London, where he was a lead news writer on Russia’s war on Ukraine and spearheaded European coverage for the Times, including the Global California initiative. Before joining The Times in 2016, he reported on religion for HuffPost and the Miami Herald, where he was a member of a Pulitzer Prize finalist team recognized for coverage of Haiti. His reporting has also received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society for Features Journalism, the Asian American Journalists Assn., the South Asian Journalists Assn. and the National Headliner Awards.

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India relocates consulate staff in Myanmar, issues travel advisory

Mea spokesperson randhir jaiswal said that the security situation in myanmar remains precarious amid fighting between the rebels and the military..

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• MEA says security situation in Myanmar deteriorating
• Indians advised to observe proper safety protocols
• India relocates embassy staff from Sittwe to Yangon

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday cautioned Indians travelling to violence-hit Myanmar , saying they should observe proper safety protocols. India has also relocated its staff from its consulate in Myanmarese city of Sittwe.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the security situation in Myanmar remains precarious and deteriorating .

"Indians who are travelling to Myanmar should observe proper safety protocols and take care of themselves while the embassy is there to take care of them," Jaiswal said.

"The security situation in Myanmar remains precarious and deteriorating. You heard about the fighting that is going on, specifically in Rakhine state and other areas. Some time back, we issued an advisory to our nationals so that they could take due care," he further said.

The MEA said India has temporarily moved staff from its consulate in Sittwe to Yangon in view of the fighting in Rakhine state of Myanmar. However, the Consulate in Mandalay remains fully functional.

The Southeast Asian nation plunged into chaos after its military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, sparking widespread armed resistance across the country.

Recently, a relentless assault by anti-coup forces forced around 200 Myanmar military personnel to withdraw to the Friendship Bridge connecting the border town of Myawaddy to Thailand.

The anti-junta forces declared they had gained control of the critical border town of Myawaddy.

"Today KNU-led joint resistance forces captured the remaining military base in Myawaddy," Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for Myanmar's National Unity Government, told news agency Reuters.

The National Unity Government is a shadow administration of ousted lawmakers and anti-junta groups.

The military has already lost its control of areas along Myanmar's borders with India, China and Bangladesh. Its manpower has also been depleted.

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