USNN World News

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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

World

Trudeau points to ‘direct link’ between detained Canadians and arrest of Huawei executive

by USNN World NewsJune 23, 2020June 23, 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

EPA Orders Temporary Halt to Shipping of Ohio Toxic Train Crash Contaminated Waste

By Jeff Louderback Amid objections from Michigan authorities who said they were not aware hazardous materials were headed into their state, the U.S. Environmental Protection ...

Biden’s Agenda for US Military in 2023 Transforms the Institution to an Unprecedented Degree, Analysts Say

By Michael Washburn News Analysis The Biden administration’s efforts to revise and extend radical policies affecting the culture of the U.S. military and the status of ...

Marianne Williamson Confirms Presidential Bid

By Gary Bai Marianne Williamson, progressive activist and author of multiple self-help books, became the first Democratic candidate to enter in the 2024 presidential race ...

Railroad Company Linked to Toxic Train Crash Helped Fund Ohio Governor’s Campaigns: Report

By Jeff Louderback Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who authorized an end to the evacuation order of East Palestine two days after a controlled burn sent ...

Republican House Judiciary Committee Members Gear up for ‘Fight’ to Secure Southern Border

By Allan Stein YUMA, Ariz.—House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said he wasn’t surprised no Democrats attended the committee’s second hearing on the southern border crisis in Yuma ...

Rancher Accused of Shooting Mexican National at His Border Property Released From Jail

By Mimi Nguyen Ly An elderly Arizona rancher who is accused of killing a Mexican national at his border property has been released from Santa Cruz County ...

New York City Business Hires K-9 Units Amid Rise in Shoplifting Thefts

By Katabella Roberts Amid a surge in shoplifting crimes in New York City, one of the Big Apple’s largest shopping districts has hired K-9 units in an effort to ...

Major Association of US Doctors Makes Official Statement on Transgender Procedures for Minors

By Mimi Nguyen Ly The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is warning about “unknown and unknowable long-term risks” it says are inherent to “gender-affirming ...

Gun-Toting Wing of IRS Wants to ‘Put the Fear of God in People’: Ex-Agent

By Tom Ozimek As the Internal Revenue Service seeks to bolster the ranks of its weapon-carrying Criminal Investigation unit, a former special agent described the ...

Ethics Complaint Filed Against California Rep. Katie Porter Claims She Misused Official Resources in 2022 Reelection Campaign

By Mark Tapscott A nonprofit government ethics watchdog claims that Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who is running to succeed Sen. Diane Feinstein in the 2024 ...

Senate Republicans Introduce Legislation Prohibiting IRS From Conducting Financial Surveillance on Private Citizens

By Mark Tapscott Thirty-one of the Senate’s 49 Republicans are co-sponsoring a bill to nullify a Biden administration proposal by banning the IRS from conducting surveillance on ...

Trump Delivers Bottled Water During Visit to Ohio’s Toxic Derailment Site, Criticizes Biden Admin’s Response

By Samantha Flom Former President Donald J. Trump met with East Palestine, Ohio, residents and officials on Feb. 22, to provide much-needed bottled water and cleaning supplies ...