Trump to ask Putin about Russian lab worker's plague death

President Donald Trump said he plans to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin about the death of a Russian lab worker from plague, dismissing speculation that a bioweapon was involved while acknowledging Russia has provided limited information. Trump told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. does not believe the death resulted from a bioweapon, adding he would call Putin later that day, noting it was the Russian leader's birthday. The case involves Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old worker at a Siberian anti-plague institute who died Friday from pneumonia of unknown cause, prompting authorities to quarantine about 200 people, most of whom have since been released. Russian officials said Shipilova was vaccinated and immune to infections she worked with, and no plague cases were detected among her contacts. The World Health Organization said a full risk assessment has not been possible, while the U.S. State Department warned Moscow that failing to disclose details violated international health obligations.