{
  "id": 12722907,
  "title": "Trump says does not think Russian plague is bio-weapon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/trump-says-does-not-think-russian-plague-is-bio-weapon",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T21:58:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/08/trump-says-does-not-think-russian-plague-is-bio-weapon"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that a Russian plague laboratory worker's death did not seem to be connected to a biological weapon. He expressed uncertainty, stating, \"We don't think so. We're going to find out soon enough, but we don't think so.\" When asked about the involvement of a \"bio-weapon,\" Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, \"We don't think so.\"\n\nRussia had previously warned against the spread of \"false information\" amid reports of a second suspected case. Both the US and UN have called for Russia to provide more transparency. Trump reiterated Russia's claim that the situation was under control, though he noted that they were not providing much information. He likened Russia's response to that of China during the initial Covid-19 pandemic, observing, \"Well, China didn't say much, and Russia is not saying much either. But they do say they have it very much under control.\"\n\nTrump also mentioned that he had a scheduled phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the matter, but declined to disclose the date. He added, \"Today is Vladimir Putin's birthday.\"",
  "summary": "The US president says he has a phone call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the issue, which involves the death of a Russian plague laboratory worker.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Trump says does not think Russian plague is bio-weapon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/trump-says-does-not-think-russian-plague-is-bio-weapon-12728086",
        "published": "2026-10-07T21:58:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}