Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for the upcoming US Elections, is under the magnifying glass for his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday (Oct 15), when asked about his alleged "personal relationship" with Putin, Trump in an evasive manner commented, "I don't talk about that".

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:85,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1962}">The Trump-Putin friendship</h2>

Earlier this month, a new book by the journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Trump has maintained a "personal relationship" with Putin, and the two leaders have spoken several times since the Republican left office in 2021.

On Tuesday, during an appearance at the Economic Club of Chicago, the interviewer John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, asked Trump about the rumoured friendship.

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"Can you say yes or no, whether you have talked to Vladimir Putin since you stopped being president?" he asked.

Trump did not deny these interactions but responded, "Well, I don't comment on that, but I will tell you that if I did, it’s a smart thing"

"If I'm friendly with people, if I can have a relationship with people, that's a good thing, not a bad thing in terms of a country. He's got 2,000 nuclear weapons and so do we."

The interviewer further prodded the ex-president, "That sounds very much like you did talk to him."

To this, Trump said,&nbsp;"No, I don't talk about that."

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:514,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2391}">Why is the friendship controversial?</h2>

Trump's potentially contacting Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office contradicts his previous outrage over former Secretary of State John Kerry's conversations with foreign officials.&nbsp;

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The Republican, while he was the US president, had labelled Kerry's interactions about preserving the nuclear agreement with Iranian officials, as a betrayal of the United States. He said that it was a violation of the Logan Act, a 1799 statute barring private citizens from interfering in diplomatic relations with foreign governments, and even wanted Kerry to be "prosecuted" for that.

Bob Woodward's 'War' also&nbsp;alleged that Trump, when he was president for the first time, sent COVID test kits to his friend&nbsp;Putin. This happened even as the US reeled from a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for the upcoming US Elections, is under the magnifying glass for his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for the upcoming US Elections, is under the magnifying glass for his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday (Oct 15), when asked about his alleged "personal relationship" with Putin, Trump in an evasive manner commented, "I don't talk about that". The Trump-Putin friendship Earlier this month, a new book by the journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Trump has maintained a "personal relationship" with Putin, and the two leaders have spoken several times since the Republican left office in 2021. On Tuesday, during an appearance at the Economic Club of Chicago, the interviewer John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, asked Trump about the rumoured friendship. Also read | Trump sent COVID test kits to Putin while Americans died? Explosive new book reveals his shocking betrayal "Can you say yes or no, whether you have talked to Vladimir Putin since you stopped being president?" he asked. Trump did not deny these interactions but responded, "Well, I don't comment on that, but I will tell you that if I did, it’s a smart thing" "If I'm friendly with people, if I can have a relationship with people, that's a good thing, not a bad thing in terms of a country. He's got 2,000 nuclear weapons and so do we." The interviewer further prodded the ex-president, "That sounds very much like you did talk to him." To this, Trump said, "No, I don't talk about that." Why is the friendship controversial? Trump's potentially contacting Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office contradicts his previous outrage over former Secretary of State John Kerry's conversations with foreign officials. Also read | 'Too much, too late': Georgia judge temporarily halts controversial ballot hand-counting rule The Republican, while he was the US president, had labelled Kerry's interactions about preserving the nuclear agreement with Iranian officials, as a betrayal of the United States. He said that it was a violation of the Logan Act, a 1799 statute barring private citizens from interfering in diplomatic relations with foreign governments, and even wanted Kerry to be "prosecuted" for that. Bob Woodward's 'War' also alleged that Trump, when he was president for the first time, sent COVID test kits to his friend Putin. This happened even as the US reeled from a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump dodges questions about his friendship with Putin, says 'I don't comment on that'—what is he hiding?

Donald Trump is fighting hard to emerge victorious in the upcoming Nov 5 US Presidential elections. Still, a new revelation by an explosive new book, a famed reporter's opus, may&nbsp;affect his chances of being the next US President.

'War,' a book by Bob Woodward, has revealed that allegedly, Trump, when he was president for the first time, sent COVID test kits to his friend Russian President Vladimir Putin. This happened even as the US reeled from a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:133,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1974}">Explosive revelations</h2>

Reportedly, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging in America and elsewhere, Trump sent a batch of the coveted COVID-19 tests to Putin. While Putin accepted the shipment, he was concerned about potential political backlash for Trump and urged him to keep the transfer of medical supplies secret.&nbsp;

According to Woodward's book, Russian President Putin told Trump: "I don't want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me."

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In excerpts published by The Washington Post, the famed reporter alleges that Trump has maintained a "personal relationship" with Putin, and the two leaders have spoken several times since the Republican left office in 2021.

Citing an unnamed source, he indicates that the two leaders may have spoken up to seven times since then — despite the US's efforts to aid Ukraine in the Russia war, and the souring&nbsp;US-Russia relations.

Kremlin has confirmed that Trump sent the COVID tests, but denied allegations that former US President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times after leaving office, reported.

In a conversation with the RBC daily, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "No, that's not true."

<h2>Who is Woodward?</h2>

Woodward is a reporter known for his extensive coverage of American presidents. According to AFP, he began his reportages with President Richard Nixon. Woodward, along with his colleague, had exposed the damning Watergate Scandal of the 1970s that led to Nixon's fall.

Now, reporting on Trump, he has remarked that Trump's friendship with Putin, an authoritarian president at war, makes him more unfit for the presidency than Nixon.

"Trump was the most reckless and impulsive president in American history and is demonstrating the very same character as a presidential candidate in 2024," he writes.

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<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:623,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2464}">Harris reacts to the revelation</h2>

Trump's political rival Kamala Harris when asked about the book by radio host Howard Stern on Tuesday (Oct 8) said that during a health calamity that saw Americans "dying by the hundreds every day," Trump sent COVID kits to "a murderous dictator".

"Everybody was scrambling to get kits (and Trump) is sending them to Russia, to a murderous dictator for his personal use," said the Democratic Party presidential candidate.

However, the Trump campaign has slammed the book as "made up stories" by a "demented and deranged man who suffers from a debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome."

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump is fighting hard to emerge victorious in the upcoming Nov 5 US Presidential elections. Still, a new revelation by an explosive new book, a famed reporter's opus, may affect his chances of being the next US President.

Donald Trump is fighting hard to emerge victorious in the upcoming Nov 5 US Presidential elections. Still, a new revelation by an explosive new book, a famed reporter's opus, may affect his chances of being the next US President. 'War,' a book by Bob Woodward, has revealed that allegedly, Trump, when he was president for the first time, sent COVID test kits to his friend Russian President Vladimir Putin. This happened even as the US reeled from a shortage during the coronavirus pandemic. Explosive revelations Reportedly, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging in America and elsewhere, Trump sent a batch of the coveted COVID-19 tests to Putin. While Putin accepted the shipment, he was concerned about potential political backlash for Trump and urged him to keep the transfer of medical supplies secret. According to Woodward's book, Russian President Putin told Trump: "I don't want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me." Also read | Kamala Harris refuses to call Netanyahu 'close ally' during 60 minutes interview In excerpts published by The Washington Post, the famed reporter alleges that Trump has maintained a "personal relationship" with Putin, and the two leaders have spoken several times since the Republican left office in 2021. Citing an unnamed source, he indicates that the two leaders may have spoken up to seven times since then — despite the US's efforts to aid Ukraine in the Russia war, and the souring US-Russia relations. Kremlin has confirmed that Trump sent the COVID tests, but denied allegations that former US President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times after leaving office, reported. In a conversation with the RBC daily, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "No, that's not true." Who is Woodward? Woodward is a reporter known for his extensive coverage of American presidents. According to AFP, he began his reportages with President Richard Nixon. Woodward, along with his colleague, had exposed the damning Watergate Scandal of the 1970s that led to Nixon's fall. Now, reporting on Trump, he has remarked that Trump's friendship with Putin, an authoritarian president at war, makes him more unfit for the presidency than Nixon. "Trump was the most reckless and impulsive president in American history and is demonstrating the very same character as a presidential candidate in 2024," he writes. Also read | Watch: White House 'disgusted' as Trump blames illegal immigrants for ‘bad genes in US’ Harris reacts to the revelation Trump's political rival Kamala Harris when asked about the book by radio host Howard Stern on Tuesday (Oct 8) said that during a health calamity that saw Americans "dying by the hundreds every day," Trump sent COVID kits to "a murderous dictator". "Everybody was scrambling to get kits (and Trump) is sending them to Russia, to a murderous dictator for his personal use," said the Democratic Party presidential candidate. However, the Trump campaign has slammed the book as "made up stories" by a "demented and deranged man who suffers from a debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome." (With inputs from agencies)

Trump sent COVID test kits to Putin while Americans died? Explosive new book reveals his shocking betrayal

A British scientist working in the United States (US) said that he faced death threats and harassment due to his work with Chinese scientists on virus research before the Covid pandemic broke out in 2020.

A British scientist working in the United States (US) said that he faced death threats and harassment due to his work with Chinese scientists on virus research before the Covid pandemic broke out in 2020. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Sunday (Sep 29), the scientist was identified as Peter Daszak. Daszak is the president of the EcoHealth Alliance (EHA), a New York-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) focusing on pandemic prevention, scientific research, and other areas. He was also a member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of Covid. As per the SCMP report, Daszak said that he and EcoHealth Alliance endured four years of relentless and damaging attacks online and also in the press. The scientist said that attacks were also directed at his family. Family's names appear on 'kill list' Daszak said that an envelope containing white powder had been sent to his home in the US. Meanwhile, the names of his wife and children appeared on a "kill list" on 4chan, an anonymous online forum. Also read | ‘Strong evidence’ hints COVID-19 originated from Wuhan market “That is not appropriate or normal for a scientist to be put through," he told the SCMP. “You talk to the FBI to try and help. They are the same guys investigating you and do not believe that you did not do something wrong. It is awful,” he added. Why the growing trouble for Daszak? One year after the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), EHA started working with Chinese scientists to identify the wildlife reservoir of the original Sars-CoV and assess the likelihood of a similar coronavirus causing a global outbreak. The EHA's partnership with China’s leading virology lab in Wuhan (the Wuhan Institute of Virology aka WIV) began in 2005 with approval from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the State Department. However, when the Covid pandemic caused global mayhem in 2020, the EHA faced flak for its US-funded coronavirus research in China, with questions over whether it followed grant protocols or conducted risky research. Also watch | US 'pressurised' Meta to censor COVID-19 content × The SCMP report further said that Daszak's partnership with the WIV ended after allegations surfaced that their research caused the Covid pandemic. The EHA report responding to allegations Recently, the EHA wrote a report responding to allegations from the US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. “Many of [the claims levelled against EHA] are built on the false assumption that Covid-19 emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology because of a lab leak during research supported by the NIH under a sub-grant from EcoHealth Alliance: There is not a scintilla of verifiable scientific evidence for this,” the NGO said in the report. The “open and transparent” scientific collaboration ended abruptly when former US president Donald Trump terminated NIH funding to EHA in 2020, it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Leading scientist in US says he faced death threats due to work with China on virus research: Report