Methods of journalistic substanitation in the New York Times: do you think that they would allow such standards about Israeli leaders?

" Some reports have suggested that Mr. Putin may be worth more than $40 billion, though there has been little hard evidence, if any, to go by."  So if there is little hard evidence, why publish this sentence?  Now what are the "some reports"?   This is their source: "Look up "Putin's personal fortune" on Google, and you'll find estimates of between $40 billion and $70 billion."