USA Newsblog: Regarding the suspected plague: Trump wants to talk to Putin

For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates USA presses for information on the plague suspicion in Russia State of emergency in US state New York due to measles cases According to the media: Bomber withdrawal from Great Britain due to the danger of an Iranian drone attack Beni Rae Harmony is the new Vice Spokesperson of the White House US Air Force orders bombers from Great Britain back for security reasons Barbara Klimke USA presses for information on the plague suspicion in Russia US President Donald Trump wants to speak with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin about a suspected case of lung plague. He replied to a journalist's question about whether he had spoken to Putin about the case: "I have an appointment for a phone call." It will happen very soon. The US health agency CDC had previously stated on the platform X that it was aware of reports about the suspected case in the Russian region of Irkutsk, which led to the death of a laboratory assistant. The CDC also made it clear that the reported case was not confirmed. According to the responsible Russian authorities, the death of the 28-year-old woman who worked at the Institute for Combating Plague Diseases was not due to a plague carrier; the cause of death was listed as an "pneumonia of unknown origin." The woman died on Friday at the district hospital in Schelechow in Irkutsk in Siberia. The World Health Organization (WHO) also presses for more information from Russia. The WHO offered Russia help in clarifying the cause. They are in contact with the Russian health authorities and have offered technical support, the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared on the platform X. Find more on the topic here: The US health agency CDC had previously stated on the platform X that it was aware of reports about the suspected case in the Russian region of Irkutsk, which led to the death of a laboratory assistant. The CDC also made it clear that the reported case was not confirmed. According to the responsible Russian authorities, the death of the 28-year-old woman who worked at the Institute for Combating Plague Diseases was not due to a plague carrier; the cause of death was listed as an "pneumonia of unknown origin." The woman died on Friday at the district hospital in Schelechow in Irkutsk in Siberia. The World Health Organization (WHO) also presses for more information from Russia. The WHO offered Russia help in clarifying the cause. They are in contact with the Russian health authorities and have offered technical support, the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared on the platform X. Find more on the topic here: Trump wants to pay for "patriotic" advertising himself Following allegations of funding election advertising with taxpayer money, US President Donald Trump wants to bear the costs of the controversial video messages himself in the future. Although he considers the clips as "positive advertising for our great USA," and actually thinks it is "standard" to spend US money for it, Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social. However, he has decided to pay for the "patriotic advertising" himself and with the money he collected for the "Make America Great Again" movement. State of emergency in US state New York due to measles cases Due to rising numbers of measles infections in rural areas of the US state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency. This allows the state to react faster to the outbreak and permits medical personnel to take additional measures to vaccinate and test more residents of New York if needed, she said in a statement. Among other things, this executive order can expand the circle of those allowed to administer a vaccination, such as emergency responders and pharmacists. "No one should become seriously ill or die from a disease that can be avoided by vaccination," Hochul said. "That is why I have taken measures to increase the number of medical professionals who can perform vaccinations and tests." According to the statement, by October 3rd, a total of 108 measles cases had been recorded in the state of New York since the beginning of the year - seven of them in the million-city of New York City and 101 in the rest of the area. At the same time, the numbers are rising in the US and globally, as further stated. In the US, the number of measles infections had already reached its highest level in decades by July. More than 2300 cases were registered in 45 states and thus more than in the entire year 2025, as shown by data from the CDC and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The neighboring country Canada lost its status as "measles-free" with the World Health Organization (WHO) after an outbreak in 2025. The health minister appointed by US President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been under criticism for some time due to the rising numbers of measles infections. He had repeatedly expressed doubts about the validity of vaccinations. Former Trump spokesperson Leavitt switches to Fox News The former White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, will work for the conservative station Fox News starting November 1st. The station announced this in a statement. Leavitt will provide political analyses and comments, it was said. According to the statement, Leavitt lives in New Hampshire. As CNN reports, Fox News wants to set up a studio in Leavitt's house. The 29-year-old will work there. Leavitt is the third spokesperson for US President Donald Trump who switches to the conservative station after her resignation. Kayleigh McEnany, who held this position in the final phase of Trump's first term, has already switched to Fox News, as have Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Leavitt is the third spokesperson for US President Donald Trump who switches to the conservative station after her resignation. Kayleigh McEnany, who held this position in the final phase of Trump's first term, has already switched to Fox News, as have Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Leavitt resigned from her position as Trump's spokesperson at the end of August to have more time for her family, as she said. The most recent spokesperson for the White House gave birth to her second child in May and had just returned from maternity leave when the announcement of her resignation was made. Leavitt already has a two-year-old son. Karoline Leavitt will give a speech at the Republican National Convention in September. . Julio Cortez/AP/dpa According to the media: Bomber withdrawal from Great Britain due to the danger of an Iranian drone attack The United States has withdrawn its long-range bombers from the British airbase RAF Fairford due to fear of a possible Iranian drone attack. This occurred a week after the arrest of several men suspected of preparing terrorist attacks there. "We can now confirm that all US bombers stationed at RAF Fairford have returned to their home bases in the United States," said a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon explained that for reasons of operational security, they could not confirm the relocation "in real-time." According to New York Times information, new threats against the military base were the reason for the surprising withdrawal of the US long-range bombers. The Pentagon did not comment on this. The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had said last week that there were "strong signs" of Iran's involvement in the alleged attack plans. The Iranian embassy in London called this propaganda. Great Britain had allowed the US to use the bombers for attacks on Iranian missile sites from which ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. Anna Lea Jakobs After failed execution: Pike still unconscious Days after her failed execution, the US-American woman Christa Pike is allegedly still in critical condition. The 50-year-old is reportedly still unconscious, intubated, and being kept artificially sedated in a hospital in Nashville. Hospital staff are working to save her life and remove the pentobarbital administered from her body. Pike was to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday evening (local time). But even after she reportedly received the two doses of pentobarbital provided in the protocol by the authorities, she remained alive. Tennessee has not yet explained why the execution failed. The correctional authority immediately stated afterward that all the intended steps of the protocol had been followed. The defense suspects that at least part of the pentobarbital entered the bloodstream, not into the blood vessels, but into surrounding tissue due to problems with the access. The state has not yet confirmed this account. The exact cause is now to be clarified by an independent investigation. Governor Bill Lee had canceled the last scheduled execution for this year. Anna Lea Jakobs Trump appoints Intelligence Chief as AI Appointee US President Donald Trump has appointed his intelligence chief Jay Clayton as the new AI Appointee of the government. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, based on an interview with Clayton. According to this, Clayton is to lead a new White House body that will report on the risks and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within 120 days. The body, referred to by the government as the "Super Intelligence Force," should ensure that the US remains a leader in highly developed AI, said Clayton to the paper. "The risk of not being first is high." The background of the appointment is an intense debate about the safety of AI. Some researchers warn that the technology can become dangerous for humans. Politicians from both parties demand stronger regulation. Trump himself has advocated for a cautious regulation to not jeopardize competitiveness against China. Trump is thus appointing a consultant for this issue for the second time. The Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are also to be part of this new body. Anna Lea Jakobs Cornell President concerned about alleged group rape of the elite university After alleged group rape at the elite University of Cornell, its president shows compassion for the affected student. "What Jane Doe suffered in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will haunt our community for many years," said Michael I. Kotlikoff in a video. Jane Doe is the pseudonym of a former student who accuses seven men of sexually abusing and raping her in a shared house on campus in 2024. According to the woman, she was made submissive with alcohol and drugs. Her statements shortly after the incident did not lead to a trial. That is why the university was publicly criticized. A new civil lawsuit will now re-examine the case. New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the investigation under special supervision. Kotlikoff admitted in his video that he heard "frustration" that his university "did not communicate sufficiently about what the university did after the report of the assault." This led to distrust. Kotlikoff emphasized that there are "legal and data protection limits." The university wants to strive to explain more, to explain the measures taken, and to be more transparent. "It pains me when I think about what she went through," says Kotlikoff. The incident raises "heart-wrenching and disturbing questions about sexual violence, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug consumption." "It pains me when I think about what she went through," says Kotlikoff. The incident raises "heart-wrenching and disturbing questions about sexual violence, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug consumption." Anna Lea Jakobs US Coast Guard finds wreckage of missing aircraft The US Coast Guard has discovered wreckage belonging to a small aircraft that was missing before the East Coast of the USA, according to their reports. The search for the six passengers will continue on Sunday night (local time), the Coast Guard reported. It is reportedly four Canadian citizens and two from Bermuda. Contact with the aircraft was reportedly broken on Saturday morning (local time), the Coast Guard reported. Search teams then searched the water and the air for the aircraft. In a statement from Nantucket Airport - one of the nearest airports to the coast to the last known location of the aircraft, it was said that the aircraft had declared an emergency before the contact was broken. "The exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear," it is said in the letter available to the German Press Agency. Barbara Klimke Regarding the time change: Trump makes Senator's phone number public In the dispute over the time change, Donald Trump published the alleged phone number of Republican Senator Tom Cotton. The US President urged his supporters on his social media channel to call the Senator. Cotton blocks a bill supported by Trump that would end the half-yearly time change. The Senator stated on the platform X that the citizens of his state of Arkansas did not want their children to go to school in the dark. Cotton blocks a bill supported by Trump that would end the half-yearly time change. The Senator stated on the platform X that the citizens of his state of Arkansas did not want their children to go to school in the dark. "If Tom Cotton would put Arkansas first, he would give the people there an additional hour of daylight. They would not have to walk twice a year in their homes, their yards, their workplaces and elsewhere to set their clocks – and often forget to do so." "Donald Trump" The US House had already agreed to the legislative proposal in July, but it met with resistance in the Senate. Trump argues that more daylight in the afternoon is good for agriculture and sports and reduces crime. It is not the first time that Trump has published a Senator's phone number. During his first presidential campaign, he read the number of Senator Lindsey Graham at a rally in 2015, whom he called an "idiot" at the time. It is not the first time that Trump has published a Senator's phone number. During his first presidential campaign, he read the number of Senator Lindsey Graham at a rally in 2015, whom he called an "idiot" at the time. Trump talks about possible increased attacks on Iran after US elections US President Donald Trump believes that further attacks on Iran are possible after the congressional midterms in November. He said this in an interview with Time magazine. In the meantime, the US is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and an amphibious task force with other ships are on their way to the region. The forces are expected to bring about about 9000 to 10,000 sailors and Marines. Upon their arrival, three US aircraft carrier battle groups may be stationed there. It is still unclear whether the Roosevelt will join the already deployed carriers or replace one of them. Trump announces a $90 one-time payment for more than 20 million sick US Americans US President Donald Trump has announced a one-time payment of $90 to more than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries. The money is to help them pay the monthly premiums for Medicare Part B. Trump wrote on Friday evening (local time) on social media that the payments would come from the Medicare Improvement Fund. Congress has endowed the fund with two billion dollars to improve the Medicare program. According to the White House, most eligible recipients should receive the money directly at the beginning of October. Those who do not receive a direct transfer should receive a check to the address on file with Medicare. The announcement comes just a month before the congressional midterms (the so-called Midterms) in November. In September, Trump had promised to pay every adult US citizen $5000 if Republicans retained both houses of Congress during the midterms. Analysts, economists, and individual Republicans in Congress expressed doubts about the plan.