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

The Battle for Space Is On

By Autumn Spredemann Space has been called the final frontier and experts say governments are becoming more focused on strengthening defense and exploring the military ...

Federal Agency Warns Companies Against Unchecked Surveillance of Employees

By Naveen Athrappully The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance to protect workers against obtrusive employers hiring third-party tracking services to digitally monitor staff. Reports ...

Trump’s Attorneys Seek Election Case Dismissal, Say Special Council Appointment Unconstitutional

By Sam Dorman Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys argued in a new filing on Oct. 24 that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s superseding indictment should be ...

Judge Throws Out Vote Payment Allegations Against Elon Musk

By Zachary Stieber A federal judge has turned away allegations that billionaire Elon Musk violated the law when he started giving $1 million away to ...

New Hampshire’s Gubernatorial Hopefuls Spar at Candidate Forum

By Samantha Flom New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates are making their final pitches to voters with just two weeks to go until Election Day. At a candidate ...

2 Lawmakers Attempt the Impossible: Saving Social Security

By Mark Tapscott More members of Congress, 329, co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) than nearly any other legislative proposal in 2024, but that may ...

US Has Evidence North Korean Troops Are in Russia, Austin Says

By Ryan Morgan U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Oct. 23 that there’s evidence North Korea has deployed troops to Russia, though why exactly ...

IRS Unveils New Federal Income Tax Brackets for 2025

By Zachary Stieber The IRS on Oct. 22 unveiled the new federal income tax brackets for 2025. Each bracket was changed, including the top one. Single ...

California Voters Could Decide Whether Republicans Keep the House

By Travis Gillmore Though seen by many as a deep blue state sporting a Democrat trifecta—with the governor’s office and both legislative chambers controlled by ...

Nevada’s Early Voters Show Passion as Republicans Turn Out in Numbers

By Nathan Worcester LAS VEGAS—One day after Nevada began in-person early voting, the results were already striking, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats 22,284 to 11,854 at ...

Elon Musk Offers $1 Million Every Day for Voters Who Sign Petition, Prompting Governor’s Warning

By Jack Phillips Tesla owner Elon Musk said he would offer $1 million per day to registered voters who sign a petition and delivered a ...

Nantucket Residents Rattled by Arrest of 5 Illegal Immigrants for Violent Sex Crimes

By Allan Stein NANTUCKET ISLAND—The 30-mile journey by high-speed ferry from Hynannis to Nantucket Island takes about an hour over idyllic waters off the geographic ...