USNN World News

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

World

Pompeo urges China to release detained Canadians after ‘groundless’ charges

by USNN World NewsJune 23, 2020June 30, 2020

World

American among UK terror victims, US ambassador confirms

by USNN World NewsJune 22, 2020June 22, 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

Ex-Bolton deputy skipping deposition suggests ‘maybe’ impeachment push is viewed as ‘illegitimate,’ Rep Andy Biggs says

By Joshua Nelson | Fox News After a former deputy to onetime National Security Adviser John Bolton took legal action against Democrats for their ...

History will judge Democrats harshly for impeachment of Trump, Ken Starr says

By Nick Givas | Fox News History will judge congressional Democrats harshly for their handling of President Trump’s impeachment inquiry due to their lack of ...

Katie Hill paid $5G bonus to alleged male lover, used ‘influence’ to get jobs for husband: reports

By Dom Calicchio | Fox News U.S. Rep. Katie Hill, the California Democrat embroiled in a legal battle over the publication of nude photos, and facing a House ethics probe over an ...

FBI agents probing Michael Flynn acted with ‘nefarious’ intent in manipulating records, says Jason Chaffetz

By Julia Musto | Fox News FBI agents handling former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s 2017 interview had seemingly “nefarious” intent in editing official records, Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz said Saturday. Chaffetz, a Republican ...

Trump Says He Was ‘Not Involved’ in DOJ’s Criminal Investigation Into Origins of Russia Probe

By Janita Kan President Donald Trump said he was not involved in the Justice Department’s decision to expand their review of the surveillance of the Trump campaign ...

Rep. Jim Banks: Adam Schiff lies about Trump repeatedly – Shouldn’t be leading impeachment inquiry

By Rep. Jim Banks | Fox News By striking down the Republican resolution to censure House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif. – who is leading the impeachment inquiry ...

‘This Ruling Is Dangerous for Every American:’ Doug Collins Rips Judge Over Impeachment Decision

BY ZACHARY STIEBER Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) said he didn’t agree with the decision by a federal judge to order the release of grand jury material ...

Trump, Republicans Express Concern as Whistleblower Slips Into the Sidelines

BY JANITA KAN The anonymous whistleblower who is at the center of impeachment inquiry is quietly slipping into the sidelines as Democrats say the individual’s testimony is no ...

Graham Says Senate Resolution Condemning Impeachment Inquiry Has 50 Co-sponsors

By Jack Phillips Fifty U.S. senators have signed onto a resolution condemning the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) ...

Sen. Lindsey Graham: Every American should be bothered by what Democrats are doing to Trump

By Morgan Phillips | Fox News Sen. Lindsey Graham, after introducing a resolution to condemn the House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry on Thursday, called the process ...

Trump blasts Dems over ‘sham’ impeachment inquiry ‘behind closed doors’: ‘They cannot win’

By Vandana Rambaran | Fox News President Trump on Friday thanked loyal Republican lawmakers in the House for introducing a resolution that formally condemns the Democrat-led impeachment ...

President Donald Trump Awarded Bipartisan Justice Award for First Step Act

By Zachary Stieber Republican President Donald Trump was awarded the Bipartisan Justice Award on Oct. 25 for his work on the First Step Act. Trump thanked lawmakers from ...