World - USNN World News

World

Jeffrey Epstein’s confidant Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to NY prison after arrest

by USNN World NewsJuly 6, 2020July 6, 2020

World

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

World

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

World

Trudeau slams ‘political’ detentions, after China spy charges

by USNN World NewsJune 23, 2020June 23, 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

CNN’s Brian Stelter ridiculed for claiming ‘right-wing media tempest’ is behind push for Biden not to debate Trump

By Joseph A. Wulfsohn, Brian Flood | Fox News Suggestion Biden should not debate came in CNN, NYT op-eds. CNN media pundit Brian Stelter raised eyebrows On Monday night after he said ...

NYC crime spree knocks on the doorsteps of America’s ultra-rich

By Stephanie Pagones | Fox News New York City’s Upper East Side is seeing a ‘significant uptick’ in robberies, police say. A portion of New York City’s Upper East Side, which reportedly ...

Trump warns election result could take ‘two months’ because of mail-in voting

By Tyler Olson | Fox News President Trump said Monday that it could take two months for Americans to see a result from November’s presidential election — a comment that ...

Minneapolis’ Frey accuses Walz of dragging feet during early unrest

By Edmund DeMarche | Fox News Mayor Frey said he knew early on that the situation on the ground was dire. Mayor Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis Democrat who faced ...

Joe Biden should not debate President Trump, Clinton’s ex-WH spokesman says

By Edmund DeMarche | Fox News Joe Lockhart, the former White House press secretary, penned an op-ed last week urging Joe Biden to skip debating President Trump ...

Cuban business owner in Louisville decries BLM protesters’ demands as ‘mafia tactics’

By Edmund DeMarche | Fox News Martinez came to the U.S. on a raft at 18 in search for a better life. Fernando Martinez, a business owner in ...

NYC shootings this year, topping 777, have surpassed 2019 numbers, police say

By Bradford Betz | Fox News With five months left in 2020, many remain pessimistic that the situation will improve. New York City shootings so far in 2020 have ...

Portland sees 150-round shooting at apartment building, as crowds continue violent clashes with police

By Danielle Wallace | Fox News More than 150 rounds were fired and one woman was shot in Portland on Friday night while protesters on Saturday – some of whom appeared ...

NASA astronauts splash down in SpaceX capsule as historic mission returns to Earth

By James Rogers | Fox News NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft Sunday, ending ...

NBC investigating Entertainment chairman amid staff allegations of racism, sexism, homophobia

By Sam Dorman | Fox News Accusations made by Sharon Osbourne, Gabrielle Union and others. NBC is reportedly investigating Paul Telegdy, the chairman of their Entertainment division, amid accusations that he ...

Trump doubles down, warns November will bring ‘greatest election disaster in history’

By Stephanie Pagones | Fox News ‘People oughta get smart,’ Trump said. President Trump doubled down Friday on his warnings surrounding expanded mail-in ballots, declaring November will bring the ...

Democrat mayor suggests replacing teachers who oppose return to class

By Morgan Phillips | Fox News Bowser seemed to allude to the union’s unwillingness to return to the classroom as a factor in the district’s decision to ...