Articles by USNN World News

Life, Nature and Tradition

California woman gored by bison at Yellowstone National Park after getting within 10 feet to take photos

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020June 30, 2020

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

Opinion

Matt Schlapp: Trump’s federal court legacy – how these judges will make a difference

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

Opinion

Brian Arbour: Copy Obama and Bush – IF Trump follows their example he can be reelected

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020June 30, 2020

Opinion

Kamala Harris will be Joe Biden’s VP pick, Miranda Devine says

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020May 14, 2025

Supreme Court

Supreme Court strikes down state ban on taxpayer funding for religious schools

by USNN World NewsJune 30, 2020June 30, 2020

Healthcare

What your doctor might not know about coronavirus

by USNN World NewsJune 29, 2020June 29, 2020

National News

Never Trumpers cross line with party operatives by targeting GOP senators: ‘Taking it too far’

by USNN World NewsJune 29, 2020June 29, 2020

Opinion

Democrats can save our party – by voting Republican

by USNN World NewsJune 29, 2020June 29, 2020

Business

Musk defends Tesla as Texas county considers millions in tax breaks to land ‘gigafactory’

by USNN World NewsJune 29, 2020August 31, 2024

National News

Protesters set up guillotine in front of Jeff Bezos’ DC home

by USNN World NewsJune 29, 2020June 29, 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

Oregon drivers stopped at gunpoint by groups protecting wildfire ravaged properties from looters: sheriff

By Danielle Wallace | Fox News The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to more than 330 calls for service over the past week – a 400% increase ...

Trump to preside over signing of historic Middle East deals at White House

By Adam Shaw | Fox News President Trump will preside over the signing of two historic deals between Israel and two Gulf nations at the White House on Tuesday – a ...

Kamala Harris accidentally touts plans under a ‘Harris administration’ during virtual roundtable

By Joseph A. Wulfsohn | Fox News ‘Joe better hire a food taster,’ one critic advised the former VP. Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s running mate in the 2020 election, raised ...

Wounded hero LA County sheriff’s deputy identified, was librarian before joining police force

By Stephanie Pagones | Fox News Claudia Apolinar is being lauded for her ‘intestinal fortitude’. One of the sheriff’s deputies ambushed Saturday night by a brazen gunman previously worked as a librarian ...

New House bill would create payroll tax holiday for American workers

By Megan Henney FOXBusiness Americans would receive a four-month pay raise under Rep. Brady’s bill. A top House Republican introduced legislation that would create a temporary payroll tax holiday from Sept. 1 ...

Bob Woodward maintains he did nothing wrong by sitting on Trump audio

By Brian Flood | Fox News ‘Historians are going to be writing about the whole lost month of February for tens of years,’ he said. Veteran journalist Bob Woodward maintained Monday that ...

Biden pushes gun control less than 24 hours after attempted assassination on deputies

By Bradford Betz | Fox News Trump has used the ambush to portray Biden as weak on crime. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday called for gun control less ...

New details on condition of LA deputies attacked in patrol car, huge reward offered for info on triggerman

By Stephanie Pagones | Fox News Both sheriff’s deputies now listed in stable condition. Los Angeles police officials have announced a $100,000 reward for information that leads them to the gunman ...

Trump calls for swift justice in shooting of ambushed deputies as manhunt intensifies in LA

By Andrew O’Reilly | Fox News Authorities have offered a $100,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. President Trump argued on Sunday for tougher criminal sentencing guidelines ...

Republicans demand answers on Mueller team wiping phones, suggest ‘anticipatory obstruction of justice’

By Brooke Singman | Fox News Congressional Republicans call the purported accidental ‘wiping’ an ‘amazing coincidence’. Congressional Republicans demanded answers on Friday as to whether there “was a ...

Libertarians pick first female presidential nominee

By Paul Steinhauser | Fox News Newly minted Libertarian Party presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen is touting that she’s the “freedom” candidate. “The choice isn’t one or the other but the ...

CBS reporter tweets about Biden not ‘outworking’ Trump

By Morgan Phillips | Fox News CBS reporter Kathryn Watson questioned why Joe Biden wasn’t campaigning more after news broke that the former vice president was not expected to ...