Latest news with #SO
Mint
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme
KYIV, - Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies said on Saturday they had uncovered a major graft scheme that procured military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices, two days after the agencies' independence was restored following major protests. The independence of Ukraine's anti-graft investigators and prosecutors, NABU and SO, was reinstated by parliament on Thursday after a move to take it away resulted in the country's biggest demonstrations since Russia's invasion in 2022. In a statement published by both agencies on social media, NABU and SO said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and an unspecified number of national guard personnel taking bribes. None of them were identified in the statement. "The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices," it said, adding that the offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30% of a contract's cost. Four people had been arrested. "There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. Zelenskiy, who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face when his attempt to bring NABU and SO under the control of his prosecutor-general sparked the first nationwide protests of the war. Zelenskiy subsequently said that he had heard the people's anger, and submitted a bill restoring the agencies' former independence, which was voted through by parliament on Thursday. Ukraine's European allies praised the move, having voiced concerns about the original stripping of the agencies' status. Top European officials had told Zelenskiy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities. "It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption," Zelenskiy wrote on Saturday after meeting the heads of the agencies, who briefed him on the latest investigation. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Zelenskiy vows to protect Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, bows to protests
By Olena Harmash and Dan Peleschuk Zelenskiy vows to protect Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, bows to protests KYIV -Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed on Wednesday to retain the independence of anti-corruption agencies, bowing to pressure from the first wartime street protests and rare rebukes from European allies. For a second day in a row, thousands of people across the country - from Kharkiv in the northeast to the capital Kyiv to Lviv in the west - took to the streets demanding reversal of the law curbing the independence of anti-graft agencies. In his evening address to the nation on Wednesday, Zelenskiy said he would submit a new bill to ensure the rule of law and retain the independence of the anti-corruption agencies. "Of course, everyone has heard what people are saying these days... on social media, to each other, on the streets. It's not falling on deaf ears," Zelenskiy said. Thousands of people turned up for a second day of protests in central Kyiv, close to Zelenskiy's office. In the first such demonstrations of the war, the youth, activists, and war veterans chanted 'Shame' and 'Veto the Law'. "It's like a knife in the back, to be honest," Maryna Mykhalchuk, 26, who has friends killed in the war and plans to join the army soon, told Reuters. Opposition lawmakers and European officials also called for reversal of the law, which Zelenskiy signed overnight. The law gives the Prosecutor General appointed by Zelenskiy more power over two investigative anti-corruption agencies. It was rushed through parliament on Tuesday, a day after the security services arrested two anti-corruption officials for suspected Russian ties. In a joint statement, both agencies - the anti-corruption bureau NABU and the specialised prosecutors SO - said they wanted their independence restored through legislation. Parliament is expected to hold an emergency session next week to consider the new draft bill from Zelenskiy's office, several lawmakers said. STRONGEST CRITICISM SINCE THE WAR BEGAN The law prompted some of Ukraine's European allies to deliver their strongest criticism of Zelenskiy's government since Russia's invasion in February 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her strong concern to Zelenskiy and asked for an explanation, said the spokesman. The law's critics say the government appears to be trying to rein in anti-corruption agencies to protect officials. After decades of endemic corruption in Ukraine, cleaning up its government has been held up as the key condition for the country to join the EU, tap billions of dollars in foreign aid, and integrate more broadly with the West. The issue risks antagonising Kyiv's most loyal allies at a time when it is trying to smooth over the relationship with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticised Zelenskiy. "Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions are vital to its reform path. Restricting them would be a significant setback," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a post on X. Benjamin Haddad, France's European Affairs minister, said it was not too late to reverse the decision. Ukrainian political analysts said the legislation risked undermining society's trust in Zelenskiy during a critical stage of the war against Russia. Fierce fighting rages along more than 1,000 kilometres of the frontline. Russian troops continue their grinding advance in the east and have stepped up near daily attacks on Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones. Hundreds of protesters, some clad in military uniforms, in the city of Zaporizhzhia, close to the frontline in the southeast, demanded overturning the law with chants of "Ukraine is not Russia." Similar rallies took place in other major cities across the country. The public's European aspirations are vital to sustaining the war effort, said Valerii Pekar, a Kyiv-based analyst: "Only democracy and the European choice give us a chance to win," he posted on Facebook. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to Expect From Southern Company's Q2 2025 Earnings Report
Valued at a market cap of $101.8 billion, The Southern Company (SO) is a utility company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects. It is expected to announce its fiscal Q2 earnings for 2025 before the market opens on Thursday, Jul. 31. Ahead of this event, analysts expect this utility giant to report a profit of $0.99 per share, down 9.2% from $1.09 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has topped Wall Street's earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, while missing on another occasion. In Q1, SO's EPS of $1.23 outpaced the forecasted figure by 2.5%. Shopify Stock is a Bargain - How to Make a 3.2% One-Month Yield with SHOP Tariffs, Inflation and Other Key Things to Watch this Week Stocks Set to Open Lower as Trump Ratchets Up Tariff Threats, U.S. Inflation Data and Big Bank Earnings Awaited Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! For fiscal 2025, analysts expect SO to report a profit of $4.28 per share, up 5.7% from $4.05 per share in fiscal 2024. Furthermore, its EPS is expected to grow 7% year-over-year to $4.58 in fiscal 2026. SO has outpaced the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 12.1% uptick over the past 52 weeks, with its shares up 16%. However, it has slightly lagged behind the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLU) 16.6% return over the same time frame. On May 1, Southern Company delivered better-than-expected Q1 results, yet its shares plunged marginally post the release. Due to higher retail and wholesale electric revenues and growth in its natural gas sales, the company's overall operating revenue improved 17% year-over-year to $7.8 billion, surpassing the consensus estimates by 11%. Moreover, its adjusted EPS of $1.23 advanced 19.4% from the same period last year and topped Wall Street estimates by 2.5%. Wall Street analysts are moderately optimistic about SO's stock, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 21 analysts covering the stock, eight recommend "Strong Buy," one indicates a "Moderate Buy," 11 advise "Hold,' and one suggests a 'Strong Sell' rating. The mean price target for SO is $95.29, which indicates a 2.8% potential upside from the current levels. On the date of publication, Neharika Jain did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Michelle Keegan stuns in three summer dresses just 12 weeks after giving birth
Michelle Keegan made sure all eyes were on her when she modelled a stunning selection of summer dresses on holiday in Marbella with her husband, Mark Wright Michelle Keegan looks sensational on her latest sun-kissed holiday, modelling a selection of dresses from her own Very collection. The Coronation Street star, 38, showed off her enviable wardrobe while posed to perfection in Marbella, where she's taken her baby daughter, Palma, three months, for her first holiday. The actress, who was joined on the jaunt by her husband, Mark Wright and his sister Jess, told fans she was "obsessed" with her new summer dresses, particularly a floor-length brown frock with gold shell detail. Captioning a snap of herself in the dress while posing under the Spanish sun at the swanky £300-a-night SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel, she mused: "One of my fave dresses from this collection, so simple but yet so effective. I'm obsessed with the gold shell detail." Also making its debut for the collection was a buttery yellow crocheted strapless dress, which set Michelle's tan off a treat. Then, there was a stunning off-white, tasselled off-the-shoulder number, which looked like a dress, but was actually a top and a skirt, as Michelle explained: "This colour is a WOW! And the asymmetrical hemline is really flattering. (It's a skirt and top so you have to buy separate ladies) Oh, and it's currently in the SALE!" Fans couldn't get enough of Michelle - and her wardrobe- as many flocked to Instagram, praising the actress for how good she looked. One gushed: 'How does anyone look that amazing after just having a baby?', while another joked: 'You look absolutely stunning…I am still trying to get my post-baby figure back, and my baby is 17 this year!' Michelle and Mark have jetted off to Spain for Palma's first trip abroad as they told fans it was "Princess P's first holiday". Sharing some sweet snaps of the family's first holiday, Michelle can be seen cradling her bundle of joy while another showed the mum and daughter shaded from the sun. Michelle and Mark announced their daughter's arrival three months ago, taking to Instagram with a snap of the tot's tiny hand, revealing they had a 'new love to share'. In a sweet post, holding her precious Palma, Michelle wrote: 'Together we have a new love to share… Our little girl. Palma Elizabeth Wright. 06.03.25'. Mark also spoke about his little girl on his Heart Breakfast show while chatting to his friend and fellow dad, Olly Murs. Recalling the moment he first held his daughter, he also praised his wife for being a 'superhero'. He said: 'It's the biggest achievement of my life it's all I think about but obviously, hats go off to my wife she is an absolute superhuman, a superhero for bringing this baby into the world '. He continued: 'That moment when I held her in my arms, it gets me emotional now thinking about it... I suppose everything else goes out the window, and it's made me realise what life is all about, and my little baby Palma, I love you so much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PowerSecure Partners with Edged to Advance Eco-Friendly Data Centers Across the Country
PowerSecure, The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)'s subsidiary known for its cutting-edge energy solutions, has announced an expanded partnership with Edged, a top developer of highly efficient and sustainable data centers and digital infrastructure. Under this collaboration, PowerSecure will deliver advanced power distribution systems to support Edged's data centers across the US. A shipping tanker moving through a busy port with containers stacked in the background. This growing alliance began with the Edged Atlanta campus, which launched commercial operations in August 2024. Since then, the two companies have worked together on projects in major cities including Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Des Moines, Kansas City, and Phoenix. So far, PowerSecure has supplied 152 megawatts of critical load capacity to Edged facilities and remains committed to supporting the company's expansion. Edged is raising the bar for sustainability in the tech sector with data centers that use no water for cooling— saving millions of gallons annually per site— and cut overhead energy consumption by 74%, all while handling intensive AI workloads in hot climates. Jim Smith, president of PowerSecure, made the following statement: 'We are proud to work with Edged in delivering customized, resilient power solutions that support the next generation of data centers. This alliance reflects the strength of our team and our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and reliability in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. PowerSecure is proud to be a key player in addressing these challenges, delivering the reliability and resilience upon which our communities and customers have come to depend.' With over 20 years of experience, PowerSecure leads the US distributed energy infrastructure space and has developed, installed, and managed more than 2 gigawatts of microgrid capacity. Its parent company, The Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides clean, reliable, and affordable energy to 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond. SO has surged by nearly 8% since the start of 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of SO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure. None. Sign in to access your portfolio
