World News

Did Putin kill Yevgeny Prigozhin? Probes show Russians are skeptical on September 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm

Published

3 years ago

September 2, 2023

Prigozhin’s violent death in a plane crash was hardly a surprise given his short-lived armed rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Critics and enemies of Putin in Russia have a tendency to end up dead or in prison.

Yet many of the circumstances of Prigozhin’s death in the Aug. 23 crash are a mystery, and Russians themselves appear uncertain over what happened.

President Biden has suggested Prigozhin’s death has Putin’s fingerprints on it, and U.S. officials have said they suspect a planned explosion on Prigozhin’s plane caused the aircraft to fall from the sky on a clear, sunny day, killing all 10 people on board.

But groups monitoring Russian public opinion say narratives on social media and in Russian news articles vary widely between viewing the plane crash as an accident or a sinister attack.

Much of that has to do with the Kremlin’s own efforts, Jonathan Teubner, CEO and founder of FilterLabs.AI, said in an interview with The Hill.

“What we kind of saw was, throughout the 23rd and into the 24th, there was this really concerted effort particularly between news media and social media, which is a pretty standard sign of Kremlin info-ops, and they’re pushing varieties of ‘it was an accident,’” Teubner said.

“And, actually, I think the interesting story here is how quickly it fades and just goes into a general mix.”

Putin bearing responsibility was the least likely explanation promoted in Russian discourse, the FilterLabs.AI analysis noted. Blaming Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, was the most dominant theory — even as Putin and other Russian officials have held back from assigning Kyiv as the culprit.

Teubner said it’s in Putin’s interest not to signal Ukraine could have successfully carried out an operation to assassinate Prigozhin, whose mercenary group is responsible for countless killings in that country.

“If I’m right, and fairly confident I am, when Russia is blaming Ukraine for things happening in Russia, they are messaging that to the Europeans, ‘They’re fighting us; they’re going on the offensive.’ When Russia messages about Ukrainian drone warfare in Russia, they message to say they shot them down. They don’t talk about, ‘They successfully attacked us in our territory,’” he said.

Other theories the groups said were being discussed within Russia include that Prigozhin’s plane was taken down by a bomb; that he faked his death; that it was an accident; that his death could be blamed on competing groups in African countries where Wagner forces are utilized; or that he was killed by “the West.”

“Right after the crash was made public, media channels sympathetic to the Wagner Group blamed the Russian government, and even Putin by name,” the FilterLabs.AI analysis read.

“Some state-backed media channels immediately turned their attention to the West. A military correspondent hinted darkly that ‘any forceful actions of the enemy on the ground are always accompanied by information and psychological influence in the media sphere’ — as if the plane had been brought down by Western agents, who were now sowing dissension online.”

In a separate analysis by Russia Watcher, a polling initiative at Princeton University, the dominant response among a survey of 2,000 people was uncertainty, the group wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The survey was carried out Aug. 24-28, with a 60 percent response rate. Respondents were only allowed to select one, predetermined survey response.

“A plurality (40%) of our respondents said they either didn’t know or preferred not to answer the question. The second most popular answer was that Prigozhin isn’t actually dead (14%), followed by “operator error or aircraft malfunction’ (13%),” the group wrote.

“About 10% thought the plane had been shot down by [Russian] air defenses, crashed due to foreign sabotage, or was taken down by a ‘[Ukrainian] terrorist attack’. Only 5% thought there was sabotage by a [Russia] actor.”

Teubner said that a key element of the organization’s monitoring of Russian public opinion is to get a better understanding of the Russian information-operation machine.

“I think we have been, in the West, somewhat lazy in our assessment of it. We went from thinking it was all-powerful, post-2016 [U.S. election], and a lot of that was thanks to Prigozhin,” he said.

While Prigozhin’s public notoriety came as head of the Wagner private military company fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, he was in the crosshairs of the U.S. government for leading the Russian operation that meddled in the 2016 election through his Internet Research Agency (IRA), described as a troll-farm that focused on sowing discontent in the United States.

“What we’re tracking is to see, a much more grated scale of their capabilities, depending on several factors: resources, that are kind of actual people sitting at desks typing messages, like the IRA was, to actually being able to run these accounts, technical facilities and capacity to do it,” Teubner said.

“Are they as capable as we think they are? Are they as powerful as we think they are?”

It’s unclear if the public will ever know the real facts behind Prigozhin’s death.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement, and Russia’s Investigative Committee, the main federal investigating authority, is probing the crash.

The Kremlin has thus far rejected that it will allow an investigation under “international rules,” after Brazil’s Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) offered to join a Russian-led investigation to improve aircraft safety, Reuters reported.

The plane that crashed in Russia with Prigozhin and nine others on board was a Brazilian-made Embraer jet.

Teubner added that it will be interesting to observe how the Kremlin talks about Prigozhin going forward, in particular to avoid fueling his base of supporters to criticize the Russian military or the war in Ukraine, which is referred to in Russia as a “special military operation.”

“We’ll likely track along the lines of — they’ll want to talk about Prigozhin more when things go better on the battlefield; they’ll want to talk about Prigozhin less when things don’t go as well,” he said.

Putin, who had labeled Prigozhin a “traitor” in the midst of the Wagner leaders’ rebellion in June, eulogized him after his death as a “talented man” who made “serious mistakes,” in the aftermath of his death.

The Russian people are skeptical over the circumstances of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, according to Western-based survey groups that are probing Russian public opinion and gauging the strength of the Kremlin to shape the public narrative. Prigozhin’s violent death in a plane crash was hardly a surprise given his short-lived armed rebellion against…

Business

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT RETURNS FOR ITS 5TH EDITION AT THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT – HOUSE OF LORDS, PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Published

4 weeks ago

May 16, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theme: “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation”

London, United Kingdom — The Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) is officially back for its landmark 5th Edition, continuing its legacy as one of the leading international platforms driving sustainable development, climate action, ethical investment, innovation, and global collaboration.

Convened annually at the prestigious British Parliament, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, by Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto, the Summit has, over the last four years, successfully fostered international dialogue and partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of global sustainability goals, the establishment of sustainability-focused ministries, departments and policy structures across national and subnational governments, and the attraction of major investors into sustainable development projects, corporations and emerging economies.

This year’s summit, themed “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation,” will explore how emerging technologies, responsible leadership, sustainable finance, innovation, and global partnerships can shape a more inclusive, resilient and environmentally conscious future.

The 5th Edition promises to be the most impactful yet, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, investors, academics, innovators, climate experts and youth leaders from across the globe to discuss actionable solutions toward achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Among the distinguished speakers, delegates and honorees already lined up for the Summit are:

• His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq — Executive Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

• His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu — Executive Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria

• Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano — Former Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Former Foreign Minister of Mexico

• Lord Marvin Rees, Baron Rees of Easton OBE — Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom

• Hon. Neema K. Lugangira — Secretary-General of Women Political Leaders (WPL), Brussels and Former Member of Parliament

• Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of the Republic of Namibia

• His Excellency Nangolo Mbumba — Former President of Namibia

• Former President of Tanzania

• Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq — First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairperson of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum

• Your Excellency Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON — Executive Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the Northwest Governors Forum, Nigeria

• Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma — Governor of Khomas Region, Namibia

• H.E. Mr. Veiccoh Nghiwete — High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the United Kingdom

• Her Excellency Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka — High Commissioner of Zambia to the United Kingdom

• Ms. Danielle Newman — Partner Lead, ICT, World Economic Forum

• Leanne Elliott Young — Co-founder, Institute of Digital Fashion & CommuneEast

• Ms. Chloe Russell — Producer & Presenter, Art, Science and Nature

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger — University of Cambridge & University of Waterloo

• Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington — IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)

• Professor Payam Akhavan — Massey College, University of Toronto

• Mr. Mallai C. E. Sathya — President, Dravida Vetri Kazhagam and International Movement for Tamil Culture Asia

The Summit will feature high-level panel discussions, strategic investment conversations, sustainability awards, policy dialogues, innovation showcases, youth engagement sessions and international networking opportunities focused on climate resilience, ethical financing, food-water-energy sustainability, circular economy, artificial intelligence, diplomacy and sustainable development.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, Convener Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto noted:

“As the world rapidly evolves through artificial intelligence and technological innovation, we must ensure that sustainability remains people-centered, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive. The Global Sustainability Summit continues to serve as a bridge connecting governments, institutions, innovators and investors to accelerate practical sustainability solutions globally. Our fifth edition is not only a celebration of progress made over the years, but also a renewed call for global collaboration and actionable impact toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero ambitions.”

The Global Sustainability Summit continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative partnerships and sustainable global progress, reinforcing the urgent need for collective action toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

More announcements regarding additional speakers, partners and summit activities will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

News

US May Completely Cut Income Tax Due to Tariff Revenue

Published

6 months ago

November 30, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

President Donald Trump says the United States might one day get rid of federal income tax because of money the government collects from tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs are extra taxes the U.S. puts on products that come from other countries.

What Trump Is Saying

Trump has said that tariff money could become so large that it might allow the government to cut income taxes “almost completely.” He has also talked about possibly phasing out income tax over the next few years if tariff money keeps going up.

How Taxes Work Now

Right now, the federal government gets much more money from income taxes than from tariffs. Income taxes bring in trillions of dollars each year, while tariffs bring in only a small part of that total. Because of this gap, experts say tariffs would need to grow by many times to replace income tax money.

Questions From Experts

Many economists and tax experts doubt that tariffs alone could pay for the whole federal budget. They warn that very high tariffs could make many imported goods more expensive for shoppers in the United States. This could hit lower- and middle‑income families hardest, because they spend a big share of their money on everyday items.

What Congress Must Do

The president can change some tariffs, but only Congress can change or end the federal income tax. That means any real plan to remove income tax would need new laws passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, there is no detailed law or full budget plan on this idea.

What It Means Right Now

For now, Trump’s comments are a proposal, not a change in the law. People and businesses still have to pay federal income tax under the current rules. The debate over using tariffs instead of income taxes is likely to continue among lawmakers, experts, and voters.

News

Epstein Files to Be Declassified After Trump Order

Published

7 months ago

November 20, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to declassify all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death in 2019 continues to fuel controversy and speculation.

The order, signed Wednesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, instructs the FBI, Department of Justice, and intelligence agencies to release documents detailing Epstein’s network, finances, and alleged connections to high-profile figures. Trump described the move as “a step toward transparency and public trust,” promising that no names would be shielded from scrutiny.

“This information belongs to the American people,” Trump said in a televised statement. “For too long, powerful interests have tried to bury the truth. That ends now.”

U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that preparations for the release are already underway. According to sources familiar with the process, the first batch of documents is expected to be made public within the next 30 days, with additional releases scheduled over several months.

Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. Supporters praised the decision as a bold act of accountability, while critics alleged it was politically motivated, timed to draw attention during a volatile election season. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, emphasized caution, warning that some records could expose private victims or ongoing legal matters.

The Epstein case, which implicated figures in politics, business, and entertainment, remains one of the most talked-about scandals of the past decade. Epstein’s connections to influential individuals—including politicians, royals, and executives—have long sparked speculation about the extent of his operations and who may have been involved.

Former federal prosecutor Lauren Fields said the release could mark a turning point in public discourse surrounding government transparency. “Regardless of political stance, this declassification has the potential to reshape how Americans view power and accountability,” Fields noted.

Officials say redactions may still occur to protect sensitive intelligence or personal information, but the intent is a near-complete disclosure. For years, critics of the government’s handling of Epstein’s case have accused agencies of concealing evidence or shielding elites from exposure. Trump’s order promises to change that narrative.

As anticipation builds, journalists, legal analysts, and online commentators are preparing for what could be one of the most consequential information releases in recent history.