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

Venezuelan refugee hits back after Ilhan Omar calls for dismantling America’s ‘system of oppression’

By Joshua Nelson | Fox News He said Democrats have a hidden agenda behind their police reform protests. A Venezuelan refugee pushed back strongly on Ilhan Omar’s anti-capitalism statements, claiming ...

Harvard, MIT sue over ICE demand that foreign students leave US if courses are online-only

By Adam Shaw | Fox News The lawsuit was filed in District Court in Boston Wednesday morning. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are suing ...

Trump says ‘we are in a culture war,’ Republicans need to ‘toughen up’

By Ronn Blitzer | Fox News Trump called on the GOP to push back against left-wing ideology. President Trump warned his fellow Republicans to “toughen up” and stand firm against left-wing causes ...

New report argues perils of mail-in voting go beyond fraud

By Ronn Blitzer | Fox News The report warns that sweeping national change to voting would be costly and dangerous. A new report from a conservative group on ...

CNN’s Don Lemon scolds Terry Crews, says Black Lives Matter is about police brutality, not Black-on-Black violence

By Brian Flood | Fox News Crews has come under fire for tweeting that he wants to ‘unite people’ regardless of race, creed or ideology. CNN host Don Lemon lectured actor Terry ...

Kamala Harris’ Wikipedia page scrubbed of information amid veepstakes, igniting online fight

By Tyler Olson | Fox News One person has made hundreds of edits in just a few months. An online battle has erupted over the Wikipedia page for Sen. Kamala ...

Mark Meadows hints at executive orders ‘this week’ on China, drug prices since Congress won’t act

By Joshua Nelson | Fox News ‘This president will do more in the next four weeks than Joe Biden and his team did in the last 40 ...

Fallen Ohio police officer had final message for his family

By Greg Norman | Fox News An Ohio police officer killed in the line of duty on the Fourth of July had one last message for his loved ones: ...

Trump defends US history, blasts ‘radical left’ in ‘Salute to America’ celebration

By Marisa Schultz | Fox News Trump made a full-throated defense of America’s past and said he won’t allow an “angry mob” to tear down statues. President Trump evoked ...

Seattle protester hit by car on closed highway dies, second remains in serious condition, officials say

By Stephen Sorace | Fox News The two women were part of a group protesting police brutality. A woman struck by a vehicle that drove onto a closed Seattle freeway ...

Chicago erupts in July 4 gunfire — with girl, 7, and boy, 14, among those killed

By Brie Stimson | Fox News “We are making progress … but we have to do better,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot says A 7-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy ...

CNN executive raises eyebrows with snarky response to Trump as former network staffer takes notice

By Brian Flood | Fox News CNN’s head of strategic communications directly responded to the president on Twitter. An influential CNN executive has been overtly anti-Trump on social media, an unusual move for a ...