World News

Putin aims to leave nothing to chance in Russia’s 2024 election on December 26, 2023 at 11:31 pm

Published

2 years ago

December 27, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin is working to eliminate what little political opposition remains to his rule in Russia ahead of the country’s presidential election in 2024.

Putin, who is seeking a fifth term as president in what is almost an assured victory in the March election, has moved to clear any obstacles in his path.

Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) last week rejected the presidential candidacy of Yekaterina Duntsova, a former TV journalist, over paperwork errors. Duntsova’s campaign, which is described as pro-peace and pro-democracy, has rejected the commission’s ruling and is appealing the decision through the courts.

“The CEC’s refusal is directed against the representation of millions of citizens who advocate for a peaceful and democratic future of Russia,” Duntsova’s campaign wrote on Telegram. “With this political decision, we are deprived of the opportunity to have our own representative and express views that differ from the official aggressive discourse.”

Meanwhile, imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Putin’s most famous critics, emerged Sunday in a penal colony in Russia’s High North, weeks after his lawyers said they had lost contact with him.

Navalny, whose written messages from prison are posted on social media by his lawyers and team, projected an optimistic tone after being relocated to the Arctic prison. He thanked his supporters for raising concern globally and promised to keep up his opposition.

“I am your new Santa Claus… But I am a special-regime Santa Claus, so only those who have behaved very badly get presents,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, adding a winking emoji.

The March election, which will come roughly two years after Moscow launched its brutal war in Ukraine, is poised to further cement Putin’s legacy as the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator who oversaw a regime under which millions of people were killed.

Putin first served as president in 2000, assuming the position after the surprise resignation of reformist Boris Yeltsin, who signaled his support for Putin and helped pave the way to his electoral victory.

He was reelected in 2004 and then appointed prime minister four years later. Putin ran for his third presidential term in 2012 — a victory that garnered mass public backlash over accusations of fraud and vote-rigging.

After securing a fourth term in 2018, Putin oversaw constitutional changes that allowed him to run for two additional six-year terms — setting up his current reelection bid and another one possibly in 2030.

“I think it’s an insult to the idea of elections and democracy to call what’s happening in Russia an election,” said Bill Browder, a target of the Kremlin for his work supporting Russian anti-corruption activists, in an interview with the U.K.-based Times Radio last week.

Browder is a key architect of the Magnitsky Act, a federal law that empowered the U.S. to sanction Russian officials involved in significant corruption and human rights abuses, and that has expanded to target bad actors across the globe.

“What Putin has done in Russia is basically create a dictatorship. Any person who wants to run against him ends up either in exile, in jail or dead,” he said.

Browder is an advocate for the release of his close friend and Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced in April to 25 years in prison on charges of treason and spreading false information about the Russian military following his criticisms against Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Lawmakers in Washington are pushing the Biden administration to designate Kara-Murza, a U.S. permanent resident, as “wrongfully detained” on politically motivated charges and to make securing his release a priority, alongside the release of businessman Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

“Putin controls all information, and he makes it very clear to everybody that any type of dissent leads to a catastrophe for you and your family,” Browder told Times Radio.

The Russian leader has drawn a hard line against any criticism of his handling of the war in Ukraine, with the public death of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a fiery plane crash in August offering a stark reminder that even the war’s supporters must tout a careful line.

Prigozhin, who in June launched a shocking yet short-lived coup against Russia’s military leaders, had sought to gain more resources and legitimacy for his band of fighters. Moscow was widely expected to respond to the armed rebellion, but the timeline was a mystery, with some former U.S. intelligence officials speculating Putin’s aim was to expose any collaborators.

“You can see what Putin’s plan was — to keep the dead man walking so they could continue to find out what happened,” Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former CIA station chief, told The Wall Street Journal.

Some American officials viewed Russia’s war in Ukraine as creating an opportunity for Russian citizens to vocally challenge Putin’s grip on power.

Early on in Moscow’s full-scale war, U.S. officials said Russians would take to the streets against Putin in opposition to their soldiers coming home in body bags.

Such large-scale protests have failed to materialize, given Russia’s tight control on freedom of assembly, strict security and harsh punishments.

Putin has also pushed to protect against public discontent by insulating Russia’s economy from international sanctions stemming from the war. Russia has switched up supply routes to go through friendly countries and has relied heavily on oil and gas revenues that have yet to be completely penalized.

The Russian-based Levada Center, which tracks Russian public opinion, found that consumer sentiment in Russia improved in October.

“This may partly be due to the strengthening of the ruble and government measures to curb prices. The absence of significant negative news contributes to the improvement of consumer sentiment,” Stepan Goncharov, a senior research fellow, wrote in an analysis.

Putin’s favorability was at 83 percent in December, according to Levada’s tracking.

Still, Levada’s most recent tracking of Russian opinion regarding the war in Ukraine has demonstrated apathy, with a September poll showing 52 percent of respondents saying they don’t follow the war too closely, or don’t follow it at all.

According to the survey, 59 percent of respondents were concerned that a total mobilization will occur in Russia. Among women respondents, that fear is higher, at 75 percent.

Some women are mobilizing efforts to pressure the Russian government to release civilian conscripts, a push that has the potential to grow into a larger criticism of Moscow’s war.

“Putin first lied to us that civilians would never have to fight,” a Russian woman named Natalia, who was active in a grassroots campaign pushing for a full demobilization, told The Guardian. “You start thinking: Is he also lying about why we are in Ukraine?”

Kara-Murza, the jailed Russian opposition figure, in a message from prison delivered in Washington to the National Democratic Institute earlier this month, asked for the democratic world to keep faith with Russians who oppose Putin’s rule.

“There are people in Russia who have chosen to stand up to war, oppression, and injustice, even at the cost of personal freedom,” he wrote.

“I have no doubt that, in the end, our vision of Russia will prevail. I say this because I’m a historian by background, and we know that, even though it may not bend as fast as we would like, the arch of history does bend towards liberty.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is working to eliminate what little political opposition remains to his rule in Russia ahead of the country’s presidential election in 2024. Putin, who is seeking a fifth term as president in what is almost an assured victory in the March election, has moved to clear any obstacles in his path. …

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.