USNN World News

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

World

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

by USNN World NewsJune 23, 2020June 30, 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

RFK Jr. Loses Secret Service Protection After Suspending Campaign, Backing Trump

By Jeff Louderback Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will no longer receive Secret Service protection after he announced on Aug. 23 that he ...

Trump Supporters See RFK Jr. Backing as Big Win

By Allan Stein GLENDALE, Ariz.—Former president Donald Trump introduced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the “special guest” at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, just hours ...

Boeing Starliner Not Safe Enough to Return Astronauts, NASA Says

By Jacob Burg After months of uncertainty over whether Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft could safely return its two astronauts home from the International Space Station ...

How to Tell If Your Social Security Number Was Compromised in Massive Data Breach

By Jack Phillips After a data protection company confirmed that numerous Social Security numbers were hacked, several websites have appeared this week allowing people to ...

RFK Jr. Says He Supports Trump as He Suspends Campaign

By Zachary Stieber Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Aug. 23 that he’s supporting former President Donald Trump, after a court filing from his campaign ...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Withdraws From Arizona Ballot

By Zachary Stieber Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, has withdrawn from appearing on ballots in Arizona. “RFK Jr.’s campaign filed official paperwork with ...

RFK Jr. Continues Ballot Access Fight as Speculation Mounts He Will Exit Race

By Jeff Louderback MINEOLA, N.Y.—While speculation mounts that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will drop out of the presidential race on Aug. 23 and back former ...

Connecticut Chief States Attorney Asked to Probe Bridgeport Election Fraud Allegations

By Juliette Fairley The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) has unanimously voted to refer a complaint against a Bridgeport Democrat party official and the ...

Defense Budget Talks Reignite Debate Over Military Draft for Women

By Michael Washburn Provisions in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require women to register for the military draft, while ...

RFK Jr. Campaign May Join Forces With Trump or Form New Party, Running Mate Says

By Jack Phillips The campaign of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not received a fair chance at winning the election, according to ...

Harris Proposes Raising Corporate Tax Rate to 28 Percent

By Stephen Katte Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is proposing to increase the corporate tax rate as part of her economic agenda if she wins ...

RNC Asks Supreme Court to Block 41,000 Arizona Voters From Voting in November

By Matthew Vadum The Republican National Committee (RNC) asked the Supreme Court on Aug. 19 to prevent 41,000 registered voters from voting in the November ...