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

What to know about Independence Day celebrations at Mount Rushmore, in Washington, DC

By Morgan Phillips | Fox News President Trump will head to South Dakota Friday for an Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore. President Trump will head to South Dakota ...

Seattle father mourning loss of son killed in ‘CHOP’ zone gets calls of support from Trump, Mayor Durkan

By Louis Casiano | Fox News The infamous CHOP zone was cleared out this week after weeks of reports of violence within the area and mounting criticism ...

Feds arrest ‘ringleader’ in attack on Andrew Jackson statue by White House

By Jake Gibson | Fox News Jason Charter was arrested at his residence Thursday morning, sources say. Federal law enforcement officials on Thursday arrested a man in Washington they call a ...

Ghislaine Maxwell indictment: How Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged madam groomed his victims

By Vandana Rambaran, Marta Dhanis | Fox News Maxwell ‘helped put the victims at ease because an adult woman was present’. Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime confidant and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested ...

CNN accused of activism by former staffer after ‘appalling’ report on Facebook advertisers

By Brian Flood | Fox News The story listed companies that ‘haven’t pulled ads from Facebook yet’. CNN was ridiculed and labeled “activists” Wednesday after publishing a story about ...

McConnell says CHOP ended ‘several deaths too late,’ drops devastating ad

By Brian Flood | Fox News As protesters and armed anarchists seized control last month of a swath of Seattle’s downtown that includes a police station, dubbing ...

Detroit police chief hits back at Rashida Tlaib: ‘Totally inaccurate’ to claim abuse of peaceful protesters

By Julia Musto | Fox News Chief James Craig says his officers feared for their lives. Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s claim that Detroit Police Department officers abused peaceful protesters is “totally inaccurate,” Detroit Police ...

CNN’s Cuomo accused of siding with St. Louis mob in homeowner interview

By Brian Flood | Fox News McCloskey said he was simply protecting his home. CNN’s Chris Cuomo was accused of siding with the “mob” on Tuesday night during a contentious ...

Kellyanne Conway says US should prioritize schools over bars in coronavirus plans

By Tyler Olson | Fox News ‘We need to have priorities in our states’ Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday, seemed to back states that are ...

Thomas Sowell tells Mark Levin left-wing ideology ‘falls apart like a house of cards’ when you demand facts

By Joshua Nelson | Fox News Author and Hoover Institution senior fellow Thomas Sowell said on Tuesday that much of the left’s ideology “falls apart like a house of cards” ...

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

By Paul Steinhauser | Fox News ‘If they were just focused on Trump, that would be one thing’. The “Never Trump” coalition of Republicans fighting to oust President Trump from ...

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

By Danielle Wallace | Fox News Protesters have set up a guillotine outside a Washington, D.C. complex where Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos purportedly resides, according to reports. Several videos circulated on social media showing what resembled the ...