World - USNN World News

World

Chinese virologist accuses Beijing of coronavirus cover-up, flees Hong Kong: ‘I know how they treat whistleblowers’

by USNN World NewsJuly 10, 2020June 20, 2024

World

CENTCOM commander doubts Russian bounty intel tied to US troop deaths in Afghanistan

by USNN World NewsJuly 8, 2020July 8, 2020

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Jeffrey Epstein’s confidant Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to NY prison after arrest

by USNN World NewsJuly 6, 2020July 6, 2020

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Sasse slams ‘Chairman Xi’s spy web’ after reports UK will freeze Huawei out of 5G networks

by USNN World NewsJuly 6, 2020March 26, 2025

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China appoints Communist Party hardliner to oversee Hong Kong’s new security office

by USNN World NewsJuly 3, 2020July 3, 2020

World

Behind the top-secret Russian military intelligence unit accused of paying insurgents to kill Americans in Afghanistan

by USNN World NewsJuly 2, 2020June 13, 2025

A nationwide vote on a package of constitutional reforms wrapped up Wednesday local time. Polls have been open for a week to help reduce crowds and to bolster turnout amid the coronavirus pandemic. Putin is all but guaranteed to get the result he wants following a massive campaign to get voters to say "yes" to the changes. However, the referendum -- intended to consolidate his hold on power -- could end up undermining his position because of the unconventional methods used to boost participation and the dubious legal basis for the balloting. FILE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, watches the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Moscow. FILE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, watches the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Moscow. (Sergei Guneyev/Host Photo Agency via AP) Political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky said Putin's push for holding the vote despite the ongoing pandemic reflects his potential vulnerabilities. "Putin lacks confidence in his inner circle and he's worried about the future," Pavlovsky said. "He wants an irrefutable proof of public support." The balloting completes a convoluted saga that began with Putin’s state-of-the-nation address in January, when Putin first proposed the constitutional changes. He offered to broaden the powers of parliament and redistribute authority among the branches of the Russian government, stoking speculation he might continue calling the shots as parliament speaker or as chairman of the State Council when his presidential term ends in 2024. The Russian president, who has been in power for more than two decades, said he would decide later whether or not to run again in 2024. He argued that resetting the term count was necessary to keep his lieutenants focused on their work. WHITE HOUSE INSISTS 'NO CONSENSUS' ON INTEL OF RUSSIAN BOUNTIES FOR US TROOPS, AS PRESSURE MOUNTS placeholder Putin complicated his constitutional plan by putting it to voters even though parliamentary approval was sufficient to make it law. The move was intended to showcase his broad support and add a democratic veneer to the constitutional changes. The plan backfired weeks later when the coronavirus pandemic engulfed Russia, forcing Putin to postpone the referendum, which had originally been scheduled for April 22. The delay stymied Putin's campaign blitz and left his constitutional reform plan hanging as the damage from the virus mounted and public discontent grew. Amid the uncertainty, Putin rescheduled the vote immediately upon seeing the first signs of a slowdown in Russia's infection rate even though the number of new confirmed daily cases reported remains high. Political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann said the Kremlin faced a difficult dilemma: holding the vote sooner would bring accusations of jeopardizing public health for political ends, while delaying it further raised the risk of defeat. "The early date has an advantage of coming soon after lifting the quarantine restrictions that made voters feel more optimistic," she said. "And in general, people are in a better mood during the summer season." Schulmann argued that the Kremlin's focus isn't so much on boosting overall turnout, but rather on increasing attendance by the public sector workers who make up Putin's base. The authorities have mounted a sweeping effort to persuade teachers, doctors, workers at public sector enterprises and others who are paid by the state to cast ballots. Reports surfaced from many corners of the vast country that managers were coercing people to vote. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Most observers expect the Kremlin to get its way, regardless of the opposition's strategies. Pavlovsky noted, however, that the unusual methods used by authorities to boost turnout and get the result Putin wants would undermine the legitimacy of the vote. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

World

Putin nears goal of changing Russian constitution, letting him stay in power until 2036

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020June 30, 2020

World

How much of the United States does China really own?

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020May 30, 2025

World

Inside ‘Office 39’: North Korea’s illicit global smuggling network

by USNN World NewsJune 28, 2020June 28, 2020

World

Trump pushes back on NY Times report on Russian Afghan attacks, says ‘nobody briefed’ him, Pence

by USNN World NewsJune 28, 2020June 13, 2025

World

Lightning kills 83 people across India’s Bihar state

by USNN World NewsJune 25, 2020June 25, 2020

World

Everywhere Statues Are Torn Down By The Mob, History Promises People Are Next

by USNN World NewsJune 24, 2020August 15, 2025

NATIONAL NEWS

House Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban IRS From Buying Ammunition

By Jack Phillips Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Friday introduced a bill in the House to bar the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from acquiring ammunition. The bill (pdf), known as ...

Following Landmark Second Amendment Decision, SCOTUS Overturns Appeals Court Decisions in 4 States

By Matthew Vadum The Supreme Court followed up its June 23 landmark ruling that for the first time recognized a constitutional right to carry firearms ...

Texas Military Investigating Loaded M4 Carbine Found in Unguarded Truck

By Juliette Fairley A loaded semi-automatic M4 carbine was found unattended in a vehicle this week and is thought to belong to Texas Military Department (TMD) soldiers. But ...

Biden Spoke to Hunter About China Business Deals, Voicemail Reveals

By Rita Li A recovered voicemail reveals President Joe Biden called his son, Hunter Biden, in late 2018 to discuss a New York Times report on the latter’s ...

4 Arrested, 2 Charged Over Deadly Smuggling Operation That Left 53 Dead in Texas

By Caden Pearson Four people have now been arrested in connection with the people-smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 53 people in the back ...

Supreme Court Upholds Federal Anti-Discrimination Law Protecting Veterans

By Matthew Vadum Texas violated a federal anti-discrimination law protecting veterans by refusing to rehire a former state trooper after he was injured in the Iraq War ...

Trump-Backed Boebert Wins Colorado Republican US House Primary

By Nanette Holt Trump-backed Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) easily blasted past her challenger, a veteran state lawmaker, to win the Republican primary on June 28. By 9:57 p.m. ...

Texas Attorney General Launches Investigation Into Walmart’s Prescription Opioid Sales

By Katabella Roberts Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Tuesday said he is investigating retail giant Walmart over potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act relating to its ...

Oil and Coal Jobs Fall Sharply as Washington Promotes Green Energy

By Naveen Athrappully Jobs in the U.S. oil and coal industry fell in 2021 while employment expanded in the green energy sector, according to the ...

Ghislaine Maxwell Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

By Dave Paone NEW YORK—Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once an international, jet-setting socialite, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 28 for trafficking young ...

At Least 46 People Found Dead in a Truck Carrying Suspected Migrants in San Antonio

By Mimi Nguyen Ly At least 46 people were found dead in an 18-wheeler truck carrying suspected illegal immigrants on a remote back road in ...

South Carolina Rep. in Leaked Audio Strategizes ‘Sleepers’ and ‘Dope Money’ to Finance Senate Campaign

By Matt McGregor A South Carolina state representative on the ballot for the Democratic primary runoff on June 28 for the U.S. Senate has been heard in ...