USNN World News

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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

House bill would block rioters from coronavirus unemployment benefits

By Brie Stimson | Fox News GOP Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana says two of his constituents were harassed while leaving President Trump’s RNC event. A House Republican introduced ...

Kenosha police union gives its account of Jacob Blake shooting

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CNN accused of pitting David Dorn’s family against each other following widow’s RNC speech

By Brian Flood | Fox News Media Research Center analyst Nicholas Fondacaro blasts Chris Cuomo. CNN was accused of “pitting different sides” of the late David Dorn’s family against each other after ...

Politico hammered for tweet saying Alice Johnson has been ‘propped up’ by Trump campaign

By Joseph A. Wulfsohn | Fox News ‘This is a disgusting racist headline,’ one critic reacted. Politico raised eyebrows Thursday night with its description of Alice Marie Johnson, who spoke at ...

Sen. Rand Paul thanks DC cops for saving him from ‘crazed mob’ after RNC

By David Aaro | Fox News U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he was attacked by a “crazed mob” of more than 100 people after leaving the White House following ...

New York Times reporter gaslighting readers with story on Trump’s LGBTQ record, critic says

By Brian Flood | Fox News ‘Trump’s history of being pro-gay dates back to long before Biden figured it was a political winner,’ Chris Barron said. New York Times reporter Maggie ...

Hurricane Laura brings tornado threat after Louisiana landfall, Lake Charles ‘severely damaged’

By Travis Fedschun, Janice Dean | Fox News Hurricane Laura made landfall in Cameron, La., with 150 mph winds. Heavy rains and winds battered Louisiana Thursday morning as a weakening Hurricane Laura roared ...

Elise Stefanik: Biden speaking out on violence after months of silence is ‘too little too late’

By Joshua Nelson | Fox News ‘This is going to become one of the key deciding issues as people head to the polls this November,’ she said. Democratic ...

Newsom skips question on ex-wife Guilfoyle’s RNC speech: ‘I respectfully defer’

By Evie Fordham | Fox News The pair were married from 2001 to 2005. Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom before he became the state’s top ...

PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor blasted for tweet knocking Cawthorn for standing during RNC remarks

By Joseph A. Wulfsohn | Fox News Cawthorn rose from his wheelchair exhorting Americans to ‘kneel before God but stand for our flag’. “PBS NewsHour” correspondent Yamiche Alcindor was heavily ...

Tom Cotton promises to ‘expose’ Biden as ‘weak and wrong for America’ in RNC speech

By Caleb Parke | Fox News The Army combat veteran says he will hit Joe Biden’s record on American security in RNC speech. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told “Fox ...

Pence gets top billing on GOP convention’s third night

By Paul Steinhauser | Fox News Pence will use an ‘optimistic tone’ to lay out in detail Trump’s economic and foreign policy accomplishments. He always takes second billing ...