Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Shining a light on the fostering community’s powerful relationships

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Foster Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council’s fostering service, is encouraging people in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas to consider becoming foster carers this Foster Care Fortnight (12-25 May).

    Throughout the two weeks, Foster Portsmouth will be joining others across the UK to celebrate the fostering community, raise awareness of the life-changing impact fostering can have, and highlight the urgent need for more loving foster families in and around the city.

    Foster Portsmouth marked the start of the fortnight by lighting up the Spinnaker Tower in their brand colours and are flying their flag outside the Civic Offices for the duration.

    They will also be holding their spring drop-in foster carer recruitment event on Saturday 24 May between 10am-1pm at the Holiday Inn, Farlington as Foster Care Fortnight draws to a close.

    Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

    “The drop-in event will enable people, who wish to find out more about fostering and our ‘team around the child’, to talk directly to existing foster carers about the rewards of fostering children and young people.”

    “Our fostering community is one of our key strengths. As a ‘small but mighty’ not-for-profit fostering service, we get to know our foster carers and the children or young people in our care, and they’re able to stay close to their families, friends, schools and community links.”

    “As a result, we’re able to build a strong close-knit community spirit, and our foster carers collaborate closely with social workers and the professionals involved in a child’s care and development.”

    The theme of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight is ‘the power of relationships‘. This highlights the vital connections at the heart of fostering.

    Strong, trusting relationships are the golden thread that runs through every fostering story. Whether it’s the bond between a foster carer and a child, the support of social workers, the friendships built within fostering communities, or the connections with birth families, these relationships shape lives, create stability, and open up new possibilities for the future.

    The bonds formed with foster carers help children and young people grow and thrive. Foster carers play a crucial role in providing safe, stable, and nurturing homes for children and young people – many of whom have faced difficult or traumatic experiences.

    At the centre of many of these relationships within Foster Portsmouth is their  Mockingbird programme, a unique approach to supporting foster families. This sees up to 10 households create their own support networks, through a dedicated foster carer at a hub home. This approach has led to stronger, more resilient foster families, who are not just supported by professionals, but their own communities.

    Rachel Day, a foster carer in Portsmouth has directly benefited from this model. She said:

    “Mockingbird has created a community that feels like a family. Carers can build positive relationships and friendships with each other. Children and young people are given a sense of belonging where they are not the only child in our care.”

    “This support encourages carers to socialise with their families, to get outdoors and experience fun times together, creating positive memories that children and young people will remember.”

    However, more foster carers are urgently required in and around Portsmouth. 6,000 more are currently needed across the UK, with 820 of these needed in the South East. This shortage leaves too many children without the local homes they need to stay close to family, friends, school and clubs.

    There is a particular need for foster carers to look after teenagers and sibling groups. Fostering services are working hard to find and recruit the foster carers they need locally to look after these children.

    Portsmouth City Council is also spotlighting the team that supports foster families during Foster Care Fortnight. Social care practitioners work with groups of foster families within their community, alongside a lead carer. This distinctive approach aims to strengthen relationships and improve outcomes for children and young people in care.

    Stronger Futures, the children’s social care recruitment campaign, is celebrating Mockingbird liaison workers as they share their experiences from working in the community and the advantages of the Mockingbird model.

    Councillor Dorrington continued:

    “As we celebrate the remarkable work of our Mockingbird liaison workers, we’re highlighting the exceptional support they provide to foster families. Their commitment and the innovative approach of the Mockingbird model focus on building stronger relationships. Portsmouth City Council is proud to recognise these outstanding individuals during this fortnight, alongside our wonderful foster families and carers.”

    Anyone aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicitysexualitymarital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.

    Fostering could be a short or long term arrangement until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children seeking safety and asylum or children with a disabilitysupported lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby placement, or respite care.

    Carers receive local round the clock support and ongoing quality training such as therapeutic care, including through our mentoring scheme and our innovative award-winning Mockingbird programme.. They also receive a  competitive financial package, social activities, and free membership to The Fostering Network.

    People can drop-in to the event on Saturday 24 May at the Holiday Inn, Farlington anytime between 10am and 1pm.

    To enquire now about fostering with Foster Portsmouth, people can fill in their contact form at www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk/enquire-now, they can call 0300 1312797 or they can email info@lafosteringse.org.uk.

    For more information on Stronger Futures and careers in fostering, please visit www.strongerfutures.co.uk/fostering.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Jeito Capital Leads a USD 65 million Financing in ReproNovo to Develop Transformational Treatments in Reproductive Medicine and Women’s Health

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jeito Capital Leads a USD 65 million Financing in ReproNovo to Develop Transformational Treatments in Reproductive Medicine and Women’s Health

    • Proceeds from the financing will advance ReproNovo’s lead candidates RPN-001 (leflutrozole) and RPN-002 (nolasiban), through Phase 2 clinical trials in male infertility and in the treatment of adenomyosis and embryo implantation, respectively
    • In the context of increasing infertility across the world, this investment reflects Jeito’s interest in highly promising clinical-stage biopharma companies developing breakthrough innovations with strong value-creation potential for patients and society

    Paris, France, May 21, 2025 – Jeito Capital (“Jeito”), a global leading independent Private Equity fund dedicated to biopharma, announced today it is leading a USD 65 million (EUR 57 million1) Series A financing round in ReproNovo, a company dedicated to developing innovative treatments for reproductive medicine and women’s health.

    AXA IM Alts and M Ventures co-led the financing round alongside a syndicate of healthcare funds: Ysios Capital and ALSA Ventures.

    Ksenija Pavletic, Jeito Partner and Chief Commercial Officer with 25 years of experience in reproductive medicine and women’s health, will join ReproNovo’s Board of Directors.

    Founded in 2021, ReproNovo is developing novel approaches to address critical gaps in reproductive medicine and women’s health, including male and female infertility as well as uterine health. The company, led by a team of experts in this space – Jean Marie Duvall, Chief Executive Officer, Joan-Carles Arce, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Officer, and BingMei Hao, Chief Financial Officer – brings a proven track record in successful clinical development and commercial launches.

    Since its inception, ReproNovo has rapidly built a pipeline comprising two Phase 2 clinical-stage assets across three disease areas, and the company plans to use the proceeds from this financing to advance this pipeline across multiple programs:

    • With its lead candidate, RPN-001 (leflutrozole), the company will focus on the development of an oral therapy for male infertility due to low testosterone levels. Low testosterone is becoming more prevalent, including in younger men, highlighting the urgent need for an efficacious treatment option.​ This trend coincides with a broader decline in male reproductive health, now recognized as a major public health problem2.
    • RPN-002 (nolasiban), also orally administered therapy, is a first-in-class compound to manage adenomyosis, an overgrowth of endometrial tissue into the uterus that can result in severe menstrual bleeding and pain. Similar to endometriosis, this is a common gynecological condition, with recent imaging studies identifying features of adenomyosis in nearly one in four women undergoing gynecological evaluation3.

    RPN-002 will also be explored for improving success rates in assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

    The global decline in fertility rates, coupled with the rising incidence of male infertility (sperm counts have fallen by 50% to 60% over the last four decades4) and the significant health risks women endure during fertility treatments underscore the urgent and underserved need for innovative reproductive solutions that address both genders and these global challenges comprehensively.

    Through this investment, Jeito reaffirms its commitment to highly promising companies with transformational science that has the potential to deliver strong value for patients and society. By tackling male infertility and women’s health at a global scale, ReproNovo is addressing not only a significant patients’ concern but also a major societal issue.

    Dr. Rafaèle Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, said:
    “ReproNovo combines strong innovative potential, a seasoned team, and a clear ambition to address one of the most pressing global challenges of our time: declining birth rates. At Jeito, we are committed to advancing breakthrough innovations with significant value for both patients and society. This investment reflects that commitment. We are proud to support the acceleration of ReproNovo’s clinical development and help unlock its potential to become a future market leader.”

    Ksenija Pavletic, Partner and Chief Commercial Officer at Jeito Capital, added:
    “As approximately one in six people worldwide will face infertility issues, we are proud to support ReproNovo, whose commitment to advancing novel therapies in reproductive health aligns well with our focus on accelerating cutting-edge technologies and the commercialization of treatments with transformative benefits for patients. We are highly impressed by the ReproNovo team, whose members have a strong track record in this field, having brought a number of compounds successfully through clinical development and onto the market. Their deep understanding of the field will enable them to effectively address critical unmet needs that have a strong impact on society.”

    Jean Marie Duvall, Co-founder and CEO of ReproNovo, concluded:
    “We are focused on innovative therapeutic solutions for male and female infertility and pioneering management options for conditions like adenomyosis. Our aim is to address critical gaps in the landscape of infertility and women’s health worldwide. We are thrilled to announce the successful closing of our $65 million Series A funding round with this strong, sector specialized group of investors, marking a significant milestone in our journey to becoming a leading reproductive medicine and women’s health company.”

    About Jeito Capital
    Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity fund with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients’ access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito has built a diversified portfolio of clinical biopharmas with cutting-edge innovations addressing high unmet needs. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States.
    For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on LinkedIn.

    About ReproNovo

    ReproNovo is a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical company identifying and developing innovative solutions to address critical gaps in reproductive medicine and women’s health. Our team is composed of proven experts with deep experience in reproductive medicine, drug development, regulatory affairs and business development who have throughout their careers successfully brought multiple therapies to market. Lead clinical compound, RPN-001 (leflutrozole), is initially being developed to treat male infertility. RPN-002 (nolasiban) is a first-in-disease and first-in-class molecular entity to manage adenomyosis and increase the probability of embryo implantation in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. Both assets are Phase 2 ready. ReproNovo is financed by Jeito Capital, AXA IM Alts, founding investor M Ventures, Ysios Capital and ALSA Ventures. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the company has its primary development team in Copenhagen, Denmark, and an additional development site in Barcelona, Spain. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.repronovo.com.

    Contacts:

    Jeito Capital                                        
    Rafaèle Tordjman, Founder & CEO
    Jessica Fadel, EA
    Tel: +33 6 33 44 25 47

    Maior                                                ICR Healthcare
    Stéphanie Elbaz                                Mary-Jane Elliott / Davide Salvi / Kris Lam
    Tel: +33 6 46 05 08 07                        Jeito@icrhealthcare.com
    Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

                                                    Sean Leous
                                                    sean.leous@icrhealthcare.com  
    Tel: +1 (646) 866 4012


    1EUR/USD exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.1343 USD date May 5, 2025 (source: Banque de France)
    2Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of samples collected globally in the 20th and 21st centuries. Human Reproduction Update. 2022; https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmac035
    3Alson S, et al. Prevalence of adenomyosis features in women scheduled for assisted reproductive treatment, using the Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment (MUSA) group definitions. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2024;103:1142–1152.
    4 Fortune “The global ‘spermpocalypse’ proves infertility is no longer just a women’s problem, says male fertility CEO” (May 2024)

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Wix Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Strong start to year with Q1’25 total bookings of $511 million, up 12% y/y, with very robust top of funnel demand in the quarter and new cohort strength continuing through April and early May
    • Q1’25 total revenue of $474 million exceeded expectations, up 13% y/y, driven by accelerating Self Creators growth accompanied by solid Partners momentum as Studio adoption continued to ramp healthily
    • Launched Wixel, a new standalone AI-powered visual design platform that brings the most advanced creative tools into a single intuitive interface and puts complete visual editing control into the hands of everyone – marking Wix’s milestone foray into creation beyond websites
    • Achieved FCF margin of 30% in Q1’25 as we continued to maintain a resilient operating cost structure amidst robust top-line performance
    • Increased share repurchase board authorization to a total of $400 million under current program

    NEW YORK — Wix.com Ltd. (Nasdaq: WIX) (the “Company”), the leading SaaS website builder platform1, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2025. In addition, the Company provided its outlook for the second quarter and an updated outlook for full year 2025. Please visit the Wix Investor Relations website at https://investors.wix.com to view the Q1’25 Shareholder Update and other materials.

    “This year we are setting out to reimagine and expand the online creation experience and have set the bar high with the milestone release of Wixel, which I believe will democratize digital creation,” said Avishai Abrahami, Wix Co-founder and CEO. “We have been transforming web development since 2006 and are now organically extending our user-first design expertise, AI leadership and focus on accessibility to beyond websites. What you see today is the first version of our standalone next-gen visual design platform, representing the culmination of years of development in advanced design and AI and unifying the best models, intuitive UI, and powerful high-end features into one cohesive platform. Importantly, with Wixel, anyone, regardless of skill level, can now create beautiful visuals with just a few clicks. We have an ambitious roadmap for Wixel ahead and I’m excited to see how Wixel starts to reshape the design world.”

    Lior Shemesh, CFO at Wix, added, “Our strong first quarter results demonstrate the critical value of the Wix platform to anyone and everyone requiring an online presence globally amid an ever evolving macro environment, particularly SMBs. Top of funnel demand was very strong with Q1’25 new user cohort bookings finishing 12% higher than the bookings generated by the Q1’24 cohort in its first quarter. This acceleration in new cohort growth was almost entirely driven by better fundamentals, particularly an increased number of users, as well as product innovation. Encouragingly, these strong cohort trends have continued through April and early May, bolstering confidence in 2H bookings and revenue growth acceleration as additional cohorts layer on through the year. As a result of this new cohort strength and healthy existing user behavior, bookings grew a solid 12% y/y and revenue growth of 13% y/y finished above expectations in Q1. Durability was broad based across our segments with our Partners business delivering 24% y/y revenue growth, fueled by ongoing market share gains driven by Studio, as well as another consecutive quarter of Self Creators growth acceleration as AI continued to remove friction for more users in the website creation journey.”

    Q1 2025 Financial Results

    • Total revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $473.7 million, up 13% y/y
    • Creative Subscriptions revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $337.7 million, up 11% y/y
      • Creative Subscriptions ARR increased to $1.373 billion as of the end of the quarter, up 10% y/y
    • Business Solutions revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $136.0 million, up 18% y/y
      • Transaction revenue2 was $58.9 million, up 19% y/y
    • Partners revenue3 in the first quarter of 2025 was $171.6 million, up 24% y/y
    • Total bookings in the first quarter of 2025 were $510.9 million, up 12% y/y
      • Creative Subscriptions bookings in the first quarter of 2025 were $369.5 million, up 10% y/y
      • Business Solutions bookings in the first quarter of 2025 were $141.4 million, up 15% y/y
    • Total gross margin on a GAAP basis in the first quarter of 2025 was 68%
      • Creative Subscriptions gross margin on a GAAP basis was 83%
      • Business Solutions gross margin on a GAAP basis was 30%
    • Total non-GAAP gross margin in the first quarter of 2025 was 69%
      • Creative Subscriptions gross margin on a non-GAAP basis was 84%
      • Business Solutions gross margin on a non-GAAP basis was 31%
    • GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2025 was $33.8 million, or $0.61 per basic share and $0.57 per diluted share
    • Non-GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2025 was $93.9 million, or $1.69 per basic share and $1.55 per diluted share
    • Net cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2025 was $145.5 million, while capital expenditures totaled $3.1 million, leading to free cash flow of $142.4 million
    • In January, we completed $200 million of share repurchases, repurchasing 868,026 Wix ordinary shares in total at an approximate volume-weighted average price per share of $230.41
    • Total employee count at the end of Q1’25 was 5,275

    Increase to Share Repurchase Program

    Wix’s Board of Directors has authorized an increase to its program to repurchase the Company’s securities (ordinary shares and/or convertible notes) by an additional amount of up to $200 million, on top of the $200 million previously approved by the Board on February 26th, 2025 (which has not been used to date). This approval brings the repurchase authorization under the program to a total amount of up to $400 million.

    ____________________
    1 Based on number of active live sites as reported by competitors’ figures, independent third-party data and internal data as of Q3 2024.
    2 Transaction revenue is a portion of Business Solutions revenue, and we define transaction revenue as all revenue generated through transaction facilitation, primarily from Wix Payments, as well as Wix POS, shipping solutions and multi-channel commerce and gift card solutions.
    3 Partners revenue is defined as revenue generated through agencies and freelancers that build sites or applications for other users (“Agencies”) as well as revenue generated through B2B partnerships, such as LegalZoom or Vistaprint (“Resellers”). We identify Agencies using multiple criteria, including but not limited to, the number of sites built, participation in the Wix Partner Program and/or the Wix Marketplace or Wix products used (incl. Wix Studio). Partners revenue includes revenue from both the Creative Subscriptions and Business Solutions businesses.

    Financial Outlook

    Healthy first quarter results demonstrate impactful product innovation and disciplined execution of our key growth initiatives, including Studio, AI and our focus empowering Self Creators. Notably, new cohort strength remains robust through April and early May against a dynamic macro backdrop. We expect new cohort strength to continue and drive top-line growth acceleration in 2H as additional cohorts layer on throughout the year.

    While we are encouraged by our strong Q1 results and robust top of funnel, we are maintaining full year bookings outlook of $2,025 – 2,060 million, up 11-13% y/y. This reflects conservatism due to macro uncertainty, specifically in our Business Solutions segment, with potential volatility offset by fully dissipating FX headwinds.

    With these same considerations, we are also maintaining our full year revenue outlook of $1,970 – 2,000 million, up 12-14% y/y.

    We expect total revenue in Q2 2025 to be $485 – 489 million, up 11-12% y/y.

    For the full year 2025, we continue to expect non-GAAP total gross margin of ~70% and non-GAAP operating expenses to be 47-48% of revenue for the full year.

    We continue to expect to generate free cash flow of $590 – 610 million, or ~30-31% of revenue.

    As a result, we remain on track to achieve Rule of 45 in 2025 at the high end of our outlook.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information

    Wix will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at https://investors.wix.com/.

    About Wix.com Ltd.

    Wix is the leading SaaS website builder platform1 to create, manage and grow a digital presence. Founded in 2006, Wix is a comprehensive platform providing users – self-creators, agencies, enterprises, and more – with industry-leading performance, security, AI capabilities and a reliable infrastructure. Offering a wide range of commerce and business solutions, advanced SEO and marketing tools, the platform enables users to take full ownership of their brand, their data and their relationships with their customers. With a focus on continuous innovation and delivery of new features and products, users can seamlessly build a powerful and high-end digital presence for themselves or their clients.

    For more about Wix, please visit our Press Room
    Media Relations Contact: PR@wix.com

    Share Repurchase Program

    Under the Board authorized repurchase program, Company securities may be repurchased from time to time using a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, all in accordance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company may also, from time to time, enter into plans that are compliant with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act to facilitate repurchases of its securities under this Board authorization. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of securities, and the repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion. Repurchases under the repurchase program may begin after conclusion of the 30-day period for creditors of the Company to object to the Company’s intent to perform the distribution by way of repurchase in accordance with the Israeli Companies Regulations (Relief for Public Companies Whose Securities are Traded on Stock Exchanges Outside of Israel), 5760-2000 and the Israeli Regulations (Approval of Distribution), 5761–2001. The actual timing, number and value of securities repurchased depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company’s ordinary shares, general market and economic conditions, any objections received by the Company from its creditors, the Company’s financial results and liquidity, and other considerations. The Company expects to fund repurchases with cash on hand and future cash generated from its operations.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Operating Metrics

    To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Wix uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: bookings, cumulative cohort bookings, bookings on a constant currency basis, revenue on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) per share, free cash flow, free cash flow on a constant currency basis, free cash flow, as adjusted, free cash flow margins, non-GAAP R&D expenses, non-GAAP S&M expenses, non-GAAP G&A expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP cost of revenue expense, non-GAAP financial expense, non-GAAP tax expense (collectively the “Non-GAAP financial measures”). Measures presented on a constant currency or foreign exchange neutral basis have been adjusted to exclude the effect of y/y changes in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Bookings is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by adding the change in deferred revenues and the change in unbilled contractual obligations for a particular period to revenues for the same period. Bookings include cash receipts for premium subscriptions purchased by users as well as cash we collect from business solutions, as well as payments due to us under the terms of contractual agreements for which we may have not yet received payment. Cash receipts for premium subscriptions are deferred and recognized as revenues over the terms of the subscriptions. Cash receipts for payments and the majority of the additional products and services (other than Google Workspace) are recognized as revenues upon receipt. Committed payments are recognized as revenue as we fulfill our obligation under the terms of the contractual agreement. Bookings and Creative Subscriptions Bookings are also presented on a further non-GAAP basis by excluding, in each case, bookings associated with long term B2B partnership agreements. Non-GAAP gross margin represents gross profit calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization, divided by revenue. Non-GAAP operating income (loss) represents operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization, acquisition-related expenses and sales tax expense accrual and other G&A expenses (income). Non-GAAP net income (loss) represents net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization, sales tax expense accrual and other G&A expenses (income), amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs and acquisition-related expenses and non-operating foreign exchange expenses (income). Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share represents non-GAAP net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of shares used in computing GAAP loss per share. Free cash flow represents net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Free cash flow, as adjusted, represents free cash flow further adjusted to exclude one-time cash restructuring charges and the capital expenditures and other expenses associated with the buildout of our new corporate headquarters. Free cash flow margins represent free cash flow divided by revenue. Non-GAAP cost of revenue represents cost of revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP R&D expenses represent R&D expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP S&M expenses represent S&M expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP G&A expenses represent G&A expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP operating expenses represent operating expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP financial expense represents financial expense calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for unrealized gains of equity investments, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs and non-operating foreign exchange expenses. Non-GAAP tax expense represents tax expense calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for provisions for income tax effects related to non-GAAP adjustments.

    The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these measures provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

    For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the reconciliation tables provided below. The accompanying tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures. The Company is unable to provide reconciliations of free cash flow, free cash flow margin, free cash flow, as adjusted, bookings, cumulative cohort bookings, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, and non-GAAP tax expense to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort because items that impact those GAAP financial measures are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Such information may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future financial results.

    Wix also uses Creative Subscriptions Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) as a key operating metric. Creative Subscriptions ARR is calculated as Creative Subscriptions Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) multiplied by 12. Creative Subscriptions MRR is calculated as the total of (i) the total monthly revenue of all Creative Subscriptions in effect on the last day of the period, other than domain registrations; (ii) the average revenue per month from domain registrations multiplied by all registered domains in effect on the last day of the period; and (iii) monthly revenue from other partnership agreements including enterprise partners.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This document contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements may include projections regarding our future performance, including, but not limited to revenue, bookings and free cash flow, and may be identified by words like “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “aim,” “forecast,” “indication,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “subject”, “project,” “outlook,” “future,” “will,” “seek” and similar terms or phrases. The forward-looking statements contained in this document, including the quarterly and annual guidance, are based on management’s current expectations, which are subject to uncertainty, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, our ability to attract and retain registered users and partners, and generate new premium subscriptions and additional business solutions as we continuously adjust our marketing strategy and customer care; maintenance of our brand and reputation, and generation of revenue from sources other than premium subscriptions; risks associated with international operations and the use of platform in various countries; risks related to the macroeconomic environment and ongoing global conflicts; security risks and payment risks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; failures of third-party hardware, software and infrastructure on which we rely, or failure to manage the operation of our infrastructure; adverse market conditions, including inflation, interest rates and other adverse developments that may adversely affect our cash balances and investment portfolio; our history of operating losses and inability to achieve sustained profitability; downturns or upturns in sales are not immediately reflected in full in our operating results; our ability to repurchase our ordinary shares and/or 0.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 pursuant to our repurchase program; our ability to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms; risks related to acquisitions and investments, pricing decisions, pandemics, natural disasters and other catastrophic events; our ability to develop and introduce new products and services, as well as maintain third-party products and are ability to keep up with rapid changes in design and technology; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; our ability to attract a diversified customer base and increased competition; our ability to maintain compatibility of our platform and solutions with changes in third-party applications and changes to technologies used in our solutions; our ability to acquire and service small business users; risks related to security breaches and unauthorized access to data, cyberattacks; our expectation regarding the uncertain future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies, taxes, government regulations, and tariffs; our ability to comply with the regulations applicable to our operations, including new governmental regulations regarding the internet, consumer protection, artificial intelligence (“AI”), privacy and data protection laws and regulations, as well as contractual privacy and data protection obligations; risks relating to intellectual property, including infringements, litigation and claims, and our ability to maintain and protect our intellectual property rights and proprietary information; our expectations regarding the outcome of any regulatory investigation or litigation, including class actions; risks related to the development and integration of AI, generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning, and similar tools into our offerings, and comply with the regulatory environment impacting AI and AI-related activities; risks related to activities of registered users or content of their websites, and risks related to domain names and industry regulations; risks related to compliance with laws and regulations, including those related to economic sanctions, tariffs, export controls, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, anti-trust, and consumer protection, and changes in these laws and regulations; risks related to tax, including application of indirect taxes, tax laws, changes in tax laws or changes in provision for income tax and examination of income tax returns; risks related to ordinary shares, activist shareholders, and our status as a foreign private issuer; risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel, including conflicts in the area; our expectations regarding future changes in our cost of revenues and our operating expenses on an absolute basis and as a percentage of our revenues; our planned level of capital expenditures and our belief that our existing cash and cash from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future; and our ability to enter into new markets and attracting new customer demographics, including our ability to successfully attract new partners and large enterprise-level users and to grow our activities, including through the adoption of our Wix Studio product, with these customer types as anticipated and other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2025. The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

     
    Wix.com Ltd.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS – GAAP
    (In thousands, except loss per share data)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Revenues      
    Creative Subscriptions $ 337,676     $ 304,293  
    Business Solutions   135,975       115,483  
        473,651       419,776  
           
    Cost of Revenues      
    Creative Subscriptions   56,067       54,803  
    Business Solutions   95,725       82,494  
        151,792       137,297  
           
    Gross Profit   321,859       282,479  
           
    Operating expenses:      
    Research and development   127,497       124,245  
    Selling and marketing   111,563       107,234  
    General and administrative   45,394       41,330  
    Total operating expenses   284,454       272,809  
    Operating income   37,405       9,670  
    Financial income, net   5,832       18,884  
    Other income, net   64       211  
                   
    Income before taxes on income   43,301       28,765  
    Income tax expenses   9,535       4,763  
    Net income $ 33,766     $ 24,002  
           
    Basic net income per share $ 0.61     $ 0.43  
                   
    Basic weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share   55,708,670       56,098,997  
           
    Diluted net income per share $ 0.57     $ 0.41  
                   
    Diluted weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share   60,384,510       58,647,238  
           
    Wix.com Ltd. 
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
    (In thousands) 
           
      Period ended
      March 31,   December 31,
        2025       2024  
    Assets (unaudited)   (audited)
    Current Assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 653,276     $ 660,939  
    Short-term deposits   112,078       106,844  
    Restricted deposits   793       773  
    Marketable securities   304,555       338,593  
    Trade receivables   47,328       44,674  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   59,132       128,577  
     Total current assets   1,177,162       1,280,400  
           
    Long-Term Assets:      
    Prepaid expenses and other long-term assets   31,343       27,021  
    Property and equipment, net   125,450       128,155  
    Marketable securities   6,183       6,135  
    Intangible assets, net   20,680       22,141  
    Goodwill   49,329       49,329  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets   395,513       399,861  
     Total long-term assets   628,498       632,642  
           
     Total assets $ 1,805,660     $ 1,913,042  
           
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficiency      
    Current Liabilities:      
    Trade payables $ 38,032     $ 47,077  
    Employees and payroll accruals   78,983       143,131  
    Deferred revenues   698,343       661,171  
    Current portion of convertible notes, net   573,674       572,880  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   79,546       63,246  
    Operating lease liabilities   29,369       27,907  
    Total current liabilities   1,497,947       1,515,412  
    Long Term Liabilities:      
    Deferred revenues   96,461       89,271  
    Deferred tax liability   1,066       1,965  
    Other long-term liabilities   19,414       16,021  
    Operating lease liabilities   359,389       369,159  
    Total long-term liabilities   476,330       476,416  
           
     Total liabilities   1,974,277       1,991,828  
           
    Shareholders’ Deficiency      
    Ordinary shares   107       107  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,923,576       1,840,574  
    Treasury shares   (1,225,165 )     (1,025,167 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   641       7,242  
    Accumulated deficit   (867,776 )     (901,542 )
    Total shareholders’ deficiency   (168,617 )     (78,786 )
           
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficiency $ 1,805,660     $ 1,913,042  
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In thousands)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
    Net income $ 33,766     $ 24,002  
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation   6,137       6,442  
    Amortization   1,461       1,483  
    Share based compensation expenses   60,261       58,142  
                   
    Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs   794       790  
    Changes in accrued interest and exchange rate on short term and long term deposits   (224 )     880  
    Amortization of premium and discount and accrued interest on marketable securities, net   3,557       597  
                   
    Remeasurement loss (gain) on Marketable equity         (3,367 )
    Changes in deferred income taxes, net   1       (5,011 )
    Changes in operating lease right-of-use assets   4,803       5,024  
    Changes in operating lease liabilities   (8,763 )     (3,652 )
    Loss (gain) on foreign exchange, net   (2,006 )     553  
    Decrease (increase) in trade receivables   (2,654 )     1,119  
    Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current and long-term assets   58,289       (12,568 )
    Decrease in trade payables   (9,338 )     (2,123 )
                   
    Decrease in employees and payroll accruals   (64,148 )     (2,429 )
                   
    Increase in short term and long term deferred revenues   44,362       41,319  
                   
    Increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities   19,193       2,635  
                   
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 145,491       113,836  
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
                   
    Proceeds from short-term deposits and restricted deposits   107,780       823  
                   
    Investment in short-term deposits and restricted deposits   (112,810 )     (30,162 )
    Investment in marketable securities   (27,693 )     (27,847 )
    Proceeds from marketable securities   58,292       52,805  
                   
    Purchase of property and equipment and lease prepayment   (2,629 )     (7,715 )
    Capitalization of internal use of software   (421 )     (410 )
    Proceeds from sale of equity securities         22,148  
    Proceed from realization of investments in privately held companies   417        
                   
    Purchases of investments in privately held companies   (750 )     (550 )
                   
    Net cash provided by investing activities $ 22,186       9,092  
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
                   
    Proceeds from exercise of options and ESPP shares   22,654       22,628  
    Purchase of treasury stock   (200,000 )     (241,302 )
                   
    Net cash used in financing activities $ (177,346 )     (218,674 )
    Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash   2,006       (553 )
                   
    DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   (7,663 )     (96,299 )
                   
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period   660,939       609,622  
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period $ 653,276     $ 513,323  
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
    (In thousands)
         
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Creative Subscriptions   337,676       304,293  
    Business Solutions   135,975       115,483  
    Total Revenues $ 473,651     $ 419,776  
           
    Creative Subscriptions   369,469       334,637  
    Business Solutions   141,436       122,644  
    Total Bookings $ 510,905     $ 457,281  
           
    Free Cash Flow $ 142,441     $ 105,711  
                   
    Free Cash Flow excluding HQ build out $ 142,441     $ 111,073  
    Creative Subscriptions ARR   1,372,670     $ 1,244,264  
           
           
     
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF REVENUES TO BOOKINGS
    (In thousands)
         
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Revenues $ 473,651     $ 419,776  
    Change in deferred revenues   44,362       41,319  
    Change in unbilled contractual obligations   (7,108 )     (3,814 )
    Bookings $ 510,905     $ 457,281  
           
    Y/Y growth   12 %    
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Creative Subscriptions Revenues $ 337,676     $ 304,293  
    Change in deferred revenues   38,901       34,158  
    Change in unbilled contractual obligations   (7,108 )     (3,814 )
    Creative Subscriptions Bookings $ 369,469     $ 334,637  
           
    Y/Y growth   10 %    
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Business Solutions Revenues $ 135,975     $ 115,483  
    Change in deferred revenues   5,461       7,161  
    Business Solutions Bookings $ 141,436     $ 122,644  
           
    Y/Y growth   15 %    
     
     
     
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF COHORT BOOKINGS
    (In millions)
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Q1 Cohort revenues   9     $ 9  
    Q1 Change in deferred revenues   27       23  
    Q1 Cohort Bookings $ 36     $ 32  
           
           
     
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF REVENUES AND BOOKINGS EXCLUDING FX IMPACT
    (In thousands)
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Revenues $ 473,651     $ 419,776  
    FX impact on Q1/25 using Y/Y rates   4,225        
    Revenues excluding FX impact $ 477,876     $ 419,776  
    Y/Y growth   14 %    
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Bookings $ 510,905     $ 457,281  
    FX impact on Q1/25 using Y/Y rates   7,775        
    Bookings excluding FX impact $ 518,680     $ 457,281  
    Y/Y growth   13 %    
           
           
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS GAAP TO NON-GAAP
    (In thousands)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
    (1) Share based compensation expenses: (unaudited)
    Cost of revenues $ 3,320     $ 3,590  
    Research and development   31,491       31,102  
    Selling and marketing   9,177       10,483  
    General and administrative   16,273       12,967  
    Total share based compensation expenses   60,261       58,142  
    (2) Amortization   1,472       1,483  
    (3) Acquisition related expenses         5  
    (4) Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs   794       790  
    (5) Sales tax accrual and other G&A expenses   699       121  
    (6) Unrealized loss (gain) on equity and other investments   (42 )     (3,367 )
    (7) Non-operating foreign exchange income   (3,079 )     (4,663 )
    (8) Provision for income tax effects related to non-GAAP adjustments         774  
    Total adjustments of GAAP to Non GAAP $ 60,105     $ 53,285  
           
           
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP GROSS PROFIT
    (In thousands)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Gross Profit $ 321,859     $ 282,479  
    Share based compensation expenses   3,320       3,590  
    Amortization   667       667  
    Non GAAP Gross Profit   325,846       286,736  
           
    Non GAAP Gross margin   69 %     68 %
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Gross Profit – Creative Subscriptions $ 281,609     $ 249,490  
    Share based compensation expenses   2,367       2,669  
    Non GAAP Gross Profit – Creative Subscriptions   283,976       252,159  
           
    Non GAAP Gross margin – Creative Subscriptions   84 %     83 %
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Gross Profit – Business Solutions $ 40,250     $ 32,989  
    Share based compensation expenses   953       921  
    Amortization   667       667  
    Non GAAP Gross Profit – Business Solutions   41,870       34,577  
           
    Non GAAP Gross margin – Business Solutions   31 %     30 %
           
           
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME
    (In thousands)
         
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Operating income $ 37,405     $ 9,670  
    Adjustments:      
    Share based compensation expenses   60,261       58,142  
    Amortization   1,472       1,483  
    Sales tax accrual and other G&A expenses   699       121  
    Acquisition related expenses         5  
    Total adjustments $ 62,432     $ 59,751  
           
    Non GAAP operating income $ 99,837     $ 69,421  
           
    Non GAAP operating margin   21 %     17 %
           
           
     
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NON-GAAP NET INCOME PER SHARE
    (In thousands, except per share data)
         
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Net income $ 33,766     $ 24,002  
    Share based compensation expenses and other Non GAAP adjustments   60,105       53,285  
    Non-GAAP net income $ 93,871     $ 77,287  
           
                   
    Basic Non GAAP net income per share $ 1.69     $ 1.38  
                   
    Weighted average shares used in computing basic Non GAAP net income per share   55,708,670       56,098,997  
           
    Diluted Non GAAP net income per share $ 1.55     $ 1.29  
                   
    Weighted average shares used in computing diluted Non GAAP net income per share   60,384,510       60,073,986  
           
           
           
    Wix.com Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
    (In thousands)
         
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 145,491     $ 113,836  
    Capital expenditures, net   (3,050 )     (8,125 )
    Free Cash Flow $ 142,441     $ 105,711  
           
           
    Capex related to HQ build out         5,362  
                   
    Free Cash Flow excluding HQ build out $ 142,441     $ 111,073  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: WISeKey Launches WISe.ART 3.0, One of the World’s First and Largest Web3 Marketplaces for Digital Art, Twins, NFTs, and Crypto Collectibles

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WISeKey Launches WISe.ART 3.0, One of the World’s First and Largest Web3 Marketplaces for Digital Art, Twins, NFTs, and Crypto Collectibles

    Geneva, Switzerland — May 21, 2025 — WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, in partnership with its subsidiary, SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, today announces the launch of  new enhanced WISe.ART marketplace, a revolutionary Web3 platform for digital art, digital twins, NFTs, and crypto collectibles. This next-generation marketplace is one of the first and largest of its kind.

    The WISe.ART 3.0 platform redefines the digital art experience by providing creators and collectors with a secure, traceable, and intelligent environment for trading and authenticating digital assets.

    Key Features of WISe.ART 3.0:

    • Native Web3 support: Users can securely and easily connect their Metamask or Walletconnect wallet to the platform. NFTs can be imported and exported to the marketplace to allow complete control of their digital collection.
    • Refreshed platform & Multi-Device support: The WISe.Art platform has received a complete overhaul of its front-end and back-end structure, allowing users to carry their digital collection with them at all times, as the new platform supports desktop, tablets and mobile devices.
    • Link Between Physical and Digital Assets: WISe.ART NFTs are irreversibly connected to their corresponding physical objects, ensuring tamper-proof authenticity and provenance.
    • Smart Contracts for Monetization: Artists and creators can set automated royalty structures, usage rights, and monetization strategies through embedded smart contracts.         
    • Advanced Cybersecurity & Post-Quantum Resilience: Secured by WISeKey’s and SEALSQ’s digital identity and encryption technologies, the platform safeguards all transactions and digital interactions against present and future cyber threats.
    • Easy purchase with Crossmint support: The Crossmint integration allows for seamless transactions with credit and debit cards, Apple and Google Pay, from anywhere in the world. Users that do not possess a wallet can create a ghost wallet on-the-fly upon checking out.

    For Version 3 we have listened to our users and have added important new functionalities which they requested:

    • Collectors and artists can now import pre-minted NFTs from other platforms as long as they are minted in the crypto we support (such as Hedera, Polygon or Eth) and that the pre-minted NFTs are compatible with our requirements. Those wishing to consolidate their NFT collections into one wallet – it can now be done on WISe.ART. Additionally, artists wishing to leave a certain platform can now join WISe.ART and showcase their complete collections on one platform safely and efficiently.
    • Relisting tokens on the secondary market is still possible but for those who do not have a compatible wallet, it can be created with few simple steps, new prices can be set as the market fluctuates.
    • The user journey for artists and collectors is made simple and intuitive. New FAQ or contact request forms have been integrated for those who seek human interaction. Our white glove service is enhanced throughout the process.

    Since its launch in 2021, WISe.ART, the NFT platform developed by WISeKey, has led numerous high-impact and pioneering NFT projects. Combining trusted digital identity, robust cybersecurity, and environmental consciousness, WISe.ART has redefined how digital art and luxury collectibles are created, verified, and traded. Here are the most significant NFT projects it has executed:

    • ONUART Foundation & United Nations – NFT for Education in Africa: A collaboration with ONUART and the UN led to NFT auctions designed to fund school-building initiatives in Africa, combining philanthropy with digital innovation. In 2023, WISeArt artist were the first to donate generative artworks to the ONUART Foundation in celebration of the 71st anniversary of the UN Human Right Charter.
    • Antonio Banderas Foundation – Pedro Sandoval NFT Drop: A limited-edition NFT by artist Pedro Sandoval was sold to benefit the Antonio Banderas Foundation, showcasing WISe.ART’s support for social causes through cultural art.
    • Swiss Collector Events & WISe.ART Awards: WISe.ART has organized NFT art exhibitions, including the WISe.ART Awards, recognizing digital creators and curators pioneering new frontiers in NFT art.

    Revolutionizing the Future of Art

    WISe.ART 3.0 is democratizing digital expression by empowering billions of people worldwide to create, share, and monetize their artistic visions through a secure and trusted platform. Whether it’s a digitally generated painting, a collectible tied to a physical sculpture, or a new form of cultural expression, WISe.ART enables creators from all backgrounds to participate in the global digital art economy, safely and transparently. A new physical space will open Geneva to represent WISe.ART digital works on May 22. This space aims to bridge the 19th and 21st Century technologies raising awareness among collectors. The showroom will be a case study for the web3 communities to mingle with their cultural heritage.

    Accessible Art Purchasing — Crypto Optional

    To acquire WISe.ART digital artworks, including those linked to NFTs or hosted on blockchains, cryptocurrency is not a requirement. NFTs are available for purchase in USD and other fiat currencies, and transactions can be completed securely via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Additionally, Crossmint facilitates the conversion of fiat money to crypto for users who wish to engage in blockchain-based purchases. While collectors of blockchain-based works typically need a crypto wallet, platforms such as Metamask and WalletConnect make wallet setup simple, intuitive, and user-friendly, enabling purchases with the ease of acquiring a traditional artwork.

    Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey, stated: “Since inception the platform has welcomed an eclectic array of works representing all types of art from physical pieces coupled with digital twins, numeric compositions, ai assisted or generated art, music and film as well as collectibles like real estate, jewelry and design. As technology progresses, we attract artists who are keen to explore the new possibilities and means to convey their message. Technology is a tool – art is a vector for communication.”

    WISe.ART 3.0 opens the door to a future where creativity meets accountability, and where digital assets are as protected and valuable as their physical counterparts. For more information, visit www.wise.art

    About WISeKey

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Disclaimer
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com 
    WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611
    lcati@equityny.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Buys a View: Trump Tower Dubai Embraces Cryptocurrency Payments via Deus X Pay

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Deus X Pay, a licensed institutional stablecoin payment solution setting new standards across the luxury sectors, is now enabling crypto payments for property purchases at the new Trump Tower Dubai, the first Trump International Hotel to be built in the Middle East.

    The new $1 billion Trump Tower Dubai, unveiled through partnership with London-listed Dar Global, marks a breakthrough in global luxury real estate. Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation and son of US President Donald Trump, has recently announced that Bitcoin and other digital currencies will be accepted for condo sales.

    Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said the Trump Tower Dubai is among the most ambitious Trump-branded residential towers globally, reflecting the project’s magnitude, stature, and symbolic significance in the region and internationally.

    Trump previously told Gulf Business that Dubai is where luxury real estate and financial innovation intersect, and projects like Trump Tower Dubai are leading the way. By embracing technologies like stablecoins, buyers gain a faster, cheaper and more transparent way to secure exclusive, high-end properties while reshaping how luxury transactions are conducted.

    Deus X Pay, a licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Lithuania, offers institutional stablecoin payment solutions, enabling luxury sectors such as real estate, aviation and yachting to capitalise on this new era of finance. Deus X Pay CEO, Richard Crook, highlights that Dubai has created an environment where stablecoins can flourish as a practical, secure tool for international transactions (with Crypto Watch reporting that crypto adoption in the UAE is expected to surge 210% in 2025), giving premium buyers faster, frictionless access to high-value assets.

    “Dubai’s forward-thinking stance has unlocked a whole new economy, and the gold standard for transactions of high-value assets. International buyers seek faster settlements, fewer cross-border complications and seamless access to premium developments. This project is a defining moment — not just for Deus X Pay, but for the global real estate sector. We are thrilled to deliver the regulated rails that make it possible for premium property buyers to transact instantly, compliantly and without the traditional delays or friction.”

    The Trump Tower Dubai, an 80-story architectural icon, offers the highest international standards for ultra-high-net-worth travellers and long-stay residents. The exclusive building boasts 2-3 bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom penthouses valued at over AED 73 million, the highest outdoor swimming pool in the world, and has views of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

    This new skyscraper is part of an expanding trend across private aviation, superyachts, and luxury collectables as high-end sectors embrace digital assets as a payment option to future-proof legacy industries.

    For media enquiries, contact:
    Sarah Tran
    Head of Marketing
    media@deusxpay.com

    About Deus X Pay
    Deus X Pay is a regulated provider of institutional stablecoin payment solutions, revolutionising the authorisation, clearing, and settlement of cryptocurrency payments. We enhance global payment options for institutions, businesses, and corporations by seamlessly merging traditional finance with advanced digital payment infrastructure, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and secure transactions.

    Fully compliant and regulated as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, Deus X Pay operates under a license in Lithuania, supervised by the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT), the Czech Republic, supervised by the Financial Analytical Office (FAU), and in Canada, supervised by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

    As a part of the innovative crypto investment firm Deus X Capital, we equip organisations with state-of-the-art financial tools aimed at fostering growth and success in today’s dynamic market.

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Deus X Pay. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4da4d9a6-74af-4322-b030-f4ed0f09eb4f

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: 7.2 million people took part in the Active Citizen project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Active Citizen project has turned 11 years old. Sergei Sobyanin announced this in his blog.

    In 2014, Moscow became a pioneer of digital democracy by creating a project “Active Citizen”. A unique platform gave Muscovites the opportunity to directly influence the development of the best city on Earth.

    “Today, 11 years later, Active Citizen has 7.2 million participants, that is, practically every second resident of Moscow. This is a large-scale community of active citizens who rightfully become full-fledged co-authors of many city projects and transformations. Every month we implement 30-40 decisions supported by Muscovites,” wrote Sergei Sobyanin.

    The project participants make decisions in a variety of areas. Thanks to the voting conducted since 2014, more than two thousand courtyards, streets, parks and embankments have acquired a modern look. New standards for the activities of clinics, libraries and My Documents government service centers have been developed and implemented. More than a million trees and shrubs have been planted on Moscow streets and avenues.

    The capital’s festivals have become more interesting and eventful. Moscow has branded tea and ice cream. More than 130 city objects, including streets, squares and metro stations, have received names. And the baby panda and other pets of the Moscow Zoo, Moskvarium and the City Farm at VDNKh now bear names given to them by city residents.

    Having appeared as a platform for voting, the Active Citizen project has gradually turned into a multifunctional platform where residents can offer their own ideas for improving Moscow, participate in city projects, complete online quests, and learn about various events and news from the life of the capital.

    For active participation in the project, points of the city loyalty program “Million Prizes” are awarded, which residents use to purchase tickets to museums, excursions and exhibitions, souvenirs with project logos or to top up the “Troika” card. If desired, the earned points can be sent to charitable foundations and public organizations (one point is equal to one ruble). Last year alone, donations from participants in city electronic projects amounted to more than 71 million points/rubles.

    In 2025, the online platform “Active Citizen for Children” was launched, created specifically for young Muscovites aged at least six and under 14 years. Now, not only adults can decide what the capital will be like, but also children. The platform invites children to an exciting world of quizzes, games, comics and video stories that introduce children to Moscow and tell about the capital’s initiatives and achievements.

    “Active Citizen” is an excellent example of how, with the right approach, digital technologies can become an effective tool for interaction between the government and society, where the opinion of each person matters, and active participation in the life of the city brings real benefits to everyone,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12762050/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Renovation of old residential communities benefits 120M people

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China renovated 280,000 old residential communities from 2019 to 2024, benefiting more than 120 million people, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Qin Haixiang said Tuesday.

    The nationwide program has benefited 48 million households, Qin said at a State Council Information Office press conference on a set of guidelines regarding the country’s urban renewal efforts.

    The renovation program has upgraded 360,000 km of aging pipelines, added 3.87 million parking spaces, and constructed 78,000 community service facilities for elderly care and childcare, according to official data.

    Local authorities have focused on addressing residents’ most pressing concerns. They also implemented energy-efficiency renovations covering 446 million square meters of residential buildings nationwide.

    Regions across China have also prioritized installing elevators in existing residential buildings as a key livelihood project. This initiative has particularly benefited the elderly and mobility-impaired.

    “This allows elderly people with mobility difficulties and trouble navigating stairs to now conveniently go downstairs to enjoy sunshine and chat with longtime neighbors,” Qin said. “This benefits their physical and mental health and has been widely welcomed by the communities.”

    By the end of 2024, China’s urbanization rate reached 67 percent, with 940 million people living in urban areas, according to official data. The country is intensifying efforts to advance its urban renewal initiative as it strives to build livable, resilient and smart cities, and to bolster high-quality development.

    In its latest push, China on May 15 unveiled a set of guidelines, pledging increased policy and financial support for urban renewal projects, which can range from gas pipe updates and lift installations to the renovation of old factories into commercial zones.

    The guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, are designed to achieve key progress in the country’s urban renewal campaign by 2030. They also aim to improve safety conditions, enhance service efficiency, elevate living environments, develop business models, and preserve cultural heritage.

    “We’re working to improve utilization of existing resources by renovating old factories, inefficient buildings, and traditional commercial facilities,” Qin noted.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 2-for-1: Police bag prolific Auckland shoplifters

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have caught up with two of Auckland’s most recidivist retail crime offenders this week.

    Both men were of interest to the National Retail Investigation Support Unit (NRISU), after allegedly committing more than $10,000 worth of offending in recent months.

    Early this morning, a Waitematā Crime Squad unit came across a vehicle in Massey while carrying out prevention patrols.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie says a traffic stop was carried out on Don Buck Road.

    “It was soon established the man was being sought in relation to a series of shoplifting from retailers across Auckland,” she says.

    “The man will face seven shoplifting charges, with three of those being valued over $1000.”

    The 41-year-old will be appearing in the Waitākere District Court today and will have his bail opposed.

    Meanwhile, further south, Counties Manukau East Police have laid more than 10 charges against a Mongrel Mob member.

    Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook says units were attending a family harm event in Ōtara on Sunday.

    “Staff established one of the parties involved had numerous warrants for his arrest in relation to shoplifting offending in Auckland and Whangārei,” he says.

    “He was also a target for the NRISU given how prolific his offending has been over the past month.”

    Inspector Cook says the 34-year-old man appeared in the Manukau District Court on 10 shoplifting offences.

    “Police successfully applied to have this man’s bail opposed and he has been remanded in custody to reappear in July.

    “It’s a fantastic outcome and the man has been held accountable for thousands of dollars’ worth of offending.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal Crash: State Highway 12, Matakohe

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can advise a person has died following a fatal crash on State Highway 12, near Matakohe.

    The single vehicle crash occurred at around 1.30pm, west of Gallie Road.

    Police extend condolences to the family of the victim.

    A full road closure was put in place while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene examination.

    Police thank motorists for their co-operation.

    An investigation is now underway into the circumstances of the crash.

    ENDS.

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make discovery in early morning traffic stop

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A forbidden driver has added serious drugs offences to his list of woes after a traffic stop in Whangārei this morning.

    Frontline staff patrolling through Whangārei stopped a vehicle travelling along Memorial Drive before 1.30am.

    Whangārei Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom says it was quickly established the 19-year-old was a forbidden driver.

    “The teenager was arrested on the roadside, and in the process of searching the man he was found to be carrying illicit drugs.

    “A further search was invoked on a shoulder bag he was wearing across his body.”

    Inside, Police located more than 21 grams of MDMA and 491 LSD tablets.

    Inspector Nordstrom says a further search inside the vehicle also located additional MDMA.

    Around $150 in cash was also seized.

    The 19-year-old will appear in the Whangārei District Court today on drugs offences including possession for supply of MDMA and possession of MDMA.

    He will also face other driving offences.

    “Possession for supply is a serious offence and carries with it a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment,” Inspector Nordstrom says.

    “It’s another great outcome from our team working overnight keeping harmful substances out of communities.”

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gisborne Police urgently seek man who fled police

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Please attribute to Inspector Soni Malaulau, Tairāwhiti Police:

    Gisborne Police are urgently seeking information as to the whereabouts of a man who fled from rural property this morning.

    Sonny Kennedy was arrested at a Whakarau Road address around 9:30am, and was searched, before being handcuffed at the front of his body.

    An officer was walking the 36-year-old to a police vehicle, before he fled on foot towards Whakarau Road.

    The property is approximately 6km south-east of Matawai, around 26km from the intersection with State Highway 2.

    Kennedy was dressed in a dark-coloured hoodie and light-coloured trousers and sneakers, and may have fled to a nearby bush area.

    Police are working urgently to find him, as there are concerns for his welfare due to his ill-preparedness for the conditions and his potential state of mind.

    Police are asking to the public to help us with any information you can. If you see Kennedy or have information as to his whereabouts, please call 111 straight away with any information, rather than approach him directly.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Managing passenger flows at land boundary control points

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Professor the Hon William Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 21):

    Question:

    It has been reported that during the Labour Day Golden Week holiday on May 2 when a large number of Mainland tourists visited Hong Kong, the mobile network and Wi-Fi system at MTR Lok Ma Chau Station were overwhelmed as a large number of passengers simultaneously used their mobile phones to scan QR code tickets to enter and leave via turnstiles, and thus a significant number of passengers were stranded. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of passengers stranded at Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2 due to the failure of the mobile network and station Wi-Fi system;

    (2) as passengers were being stranded at Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2, whether the Government has communicated with relevant Mainland authorities to notify passengers who intended to enter Hong Kong via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point that they should use alternative boundary control points (BCPs); given that Shenzhen Metro Line 4 is operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), whether the Government has urged MTRCL on the same day to immediately notify passengers travelling on Line 4 of the passenger stranding situation at Lok Ma Chau Station and called on them to cross the border via alternative BCPs;

    (3) whether the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has conducted drills with relevant Mainland authorities regarding unexpected incidents at BCPs and formulated various contingency plans; and

    (4) whether simulation tests have been conducted at all BCPs to establish co-ordination mechanisms and joint response measures between the Mainland and Hong Kong for handling peak passenger flows and potential unexpected incidents (including emergency situations such as malfunctions of immigration systems, baggage and security screening system failures, and railway service disruptions); if so, of the time when such tests were conducted; if not, whether such tests will be conducted in the future?

    Reply:

    President,

    The Golden Week holiday is the peak period of Mainland visitors visiting Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and parties to prepare well for arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs), public transportation, crowd management, etc, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors and offering a high-quality experience to them. In view of this year’s Labour Day Golden Week holiday, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) had made advance preparations by enhancing the train services for cross-boundary railways (including Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Stations of the East Rail Line, and the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station), as well as deploying additional staff and strengthening information dissemination. Meanwhile, the MTRCL maintained close liaison with relevant departments at the BCPs, so as to adjust train services in a timely manner according to the situation at the BCPs, and provide visitors with safe, reliable and convenient railway services.

    In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Transport Department (TD) and the MTRCL, my consolidated reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon William Wong is as follows:

    (1) As observed by the MTRCL, during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week holiday, the number of visitors arriving in or exiting from Hong Kong via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point using the MTR East Rail Line and the total patronage were slightly higher than those of the same period last year. On May 2 (Friday) this year, the peak arrival and departure periods for Mainland visitors were in the morning and evening respectively, during which an average of approximately 7 500 visitors entered and exited Lok Ma Chau Station per hour.

    During the peak departure period in the evening, a relatively large number of passengers used their phones at the same time to activate QR codes at ticket gates, resulting in a sudden surge in mobile data demand within a short period of time; the pressure on the mobile network providers’ provision of mobile data also intensified the passengers’ demand for Wi-Fi capacity at the station. As a result of the overall overloading of mobile data and Wi-Fi networks, passengers needed longer time for connection to the network to retrieve the QR codes, leading to a higher passenger flow at the stations’ entry/exit gates and concourse at certain periods of time. The MTRCL immediately took contingency measures in response to the actual situation, such as diverting passenger queues before the gates, adjusting the operation of individual escalators as appropriate to control the passenger flow, and intermittently allowing passengers to exit the gates without having to tap their cards from approximately 9.45pm to 10.30pm to divert passenger flow. Throughout this period, the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the TD maintained close communication with the MTRCL and promptly urged the MTRCL to enhance services in all aspects to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the station in face of the large patronage. 

    To cope with the peak travelling period for visitors during the Labour Day Golden Week this year, the MTRCL anticipated that there would be an increase in demand for network data capacity by passengers. As such, arrangements were made before the Golden Week to increase the in-station Wi-Fi capacity for supplementary purpose to cater for the needs of passengers who require internet access but do not have mobile network data. In light of the situation that occurred on the evening of May 2, the MTRCL promptly contacted mobile network providers in that same evening to immediately upgrade the mobile data capacity near BCPs as well as further increase the Wi-Fi capacity at Lok Ma Chau Station so as to facilitate the use of QR codes for passengers to take trains.

    In response to the aforementioned situation, the TLB has requested the MTRCL to review its arrangements for future visitor peak periods based on the experience gained this time. The MTRCL will also enhance its publicity efforts on Mainland social media platforms to remind visitors to activate their QR codes for payment in advance, thereby reducing the time spent at the gates. In addition, the MTRCL will promote the use of mobile Octopus for tourists as another payment option that does not require internet connection. The MTRCL will further discuss with relevant parties on how to manage passenger flow more effectively and plan ahead to ensure that the peak passenger flow can be handled more smoothly in future.

    (2) The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre, comprising the Police, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department and relevant parties (including the MTRCL), was activated during the Labour Day Golden Week (i.e. from May 1 to 5, 2025) to monitor the real-time situations at various BCPs. The Joint Command Centre maintained close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanisms, and took timely contingency actions as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

    In addition, relevant departments at BCPs continuously monitored real-time situations at the control points and maintained liaison with the corresponding Mainland port authorities, including immediate mutual notification of the passenger flow situation upon learning about the heavy network traffic at the MTR Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2 this year as well as implementation of appropriate crowd control and diversion measures to facilitate passenger flow and maintain order at the BCP.

    (3) and (4) The HKSAR Government and relevant Mainland authorities have conducted incident drills at various BCPs from time to time, simulating emergencies such as fires, power supply failures, immigration system malfunctions and infectious disease incidents. These drills aim to formulate and practise contingency plans, strengthen co-ordination between departments and various parties and enhance overall response capabilities, thereby ensuring safety and order at BCPs in the event of unexpected incidents. Recent joint exercises include the flooding evacuation drill at the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point in March 2025 and the joint exercise at the Lo Wu Control Point in October 2024 to simulate scenarios of power supply and system network incidents at the Hong Kong Port and contingency measures taken by relevant parties.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-Evening Report: A sculpture made from 80 tonnes of sand, Mirrorscape is remarkable – but too much is left unsaid

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Clarke, Senior Lecturer in English, University of Tasmania

    Mirrorscape (detail), 2025, Théo Mercier.

    Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

    The first impulse is to kick it. After all, it’s a sand sculpture. And as everyone who has grown up near a beach appreciates, if it’s made of sand, then it’s asking to be kicked. But for the wall-high protective glass, Mirrorscape, by the French artist Théo Mercier, may not have survived my visit to MONA.

    On a low, curved stage sits a scene of mundane wreckage. Two utility vehicles serve as centrepieces. One is upturned, its front chassis exposed. It rests on the carcass of a two-seater lounge. A mattress is draped over the upper side of the wreck, a broken log, a signifier of the non-human world in this otherwise secular scene of anthropocentric waste, rests against the lower side.

    The other vehicle is upright but seriously damaged. Another mattress rests against it. A bundle of electrical conduit spills out of the tray. A worker’s boot limps over the bedding like a deflated balloon.

    It’s as though a couple of ute loads of tradies have smashed into a Derwent Park bungalow.
    Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

    Strewn around the battered wrecks are pieces of domestic infrastructure and appliances: bricks, cracked concrete slab, a washing machine, broken joists and beams, snarled corrugated iron sheets.

    It’s as though a couple of ute loads of tradies have smashed into a Derwent Park bungalow and scampered off.

    This scene is framed by a curved wall of brushed metal panelling, lit above by fluorescent light panels, and sealed behind a wall of glass. This glass is both a protector of the delicate eroding sculpture, and another contrasting visual metaphor employing the work’s foundational element, sand.

    Commitment to realism

    Mercier is a sculptor and a stage director, and the controlled composition of this scene of chaos attests to his multiple talents.

    The team of sculptors – Kevin Crawford, Enguerrand David, Sue McGrew and Leonardo Ugolini – have crafted a remarkable piece.

    The commitment to realism is impressive, from the quilting in the mattresses, to the indentations on the utes’ bodywork, to the creases in the sofa cushions, and the sly joke of a finely crafted sandshoe as if discarded by one of the artists as they stepped from the sculptural into the spectatorial space.

    Looking closer, the human objects – utes, mattresses, sofas – merge into or out of sandstone rock faces, like those found along Derwent River, including the peninsula upon which MONA stands.

    The commitment to realism is impressive.
    Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

    What are we to make of the deliberate collapsing of the “natural” and “human-made” in this piece?

    Mercier styles Mirrorscape as a “diorama of catastrophe”. He describes it as:

    a sculpted dystopian landscape […] using 80 tonnes of compacted sand […] inspired by different dark forces, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, bulldozers – the powers of destruction.

    The conflation of “natural” and “man-made” here, and in the composition of the work, grates. While Mirrorscape may reflect a “man-made” landscape of disaster, precisely whose landscape is it, and who ultimately is responsible for it?

    A work about class

    Mirrorscape is superficially a work about class. Its blunt appropriation of the signifiers of working-class labour and domesticity contradicts the claim that the scene is an archetypal landscape, or humanity’s refuse.

    Mirrorscape might be appreciated as a witty piece reflecting on the kind of “treasures” of our age that future archaeologists might excavate in a local tip. But I found it provided little connection to the contemporary subjects of our present-day disasters.

    Mirrorscape is haunted, so to speak, by the figures who drove the wrecked utes, slept on the wasted mattresses. But their identities and complex lives, very much of our own time, are rendered invisible.

    As a meditation on catastrophe and the “powers of destruction,” Mirrorscape offers a conservative reckoning: that the contemporary human tragedies of inequality, alienated labour, class division and the waste these produce are the “natural” order of things.

    Mirrorscape is haunted by the figures who drove the wrecked utes, slept on the wasted mattresses.
    Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

    This is evident in the way the human objects merge into and out of the rock faces, each designed to erode to the common element: sand.

    In interviews, Mercier stresses the work’s debt to locality, and his engagement with the working-class suburbs neighbouring MONA:

    It was really important to me that everything was really strongly locally grounded, so that you can actually see your own mattress, your own car, your own catastrophe […] it’s a landscape that mirrors you.

    But really, how local is this scene, and what value is there in the reflections it provokes? There is little in this sculpture that relates it directly to the place where it is displayed.

    The images Mercier has chosen, while unconventional, are nevertheless generic. This dulls the potential for the kind of reflection on catastrophe that might impel a change in the minds of its viewers.

    Will MONA’s well-heeled attendees recognise their implication in the human catastrophe this work seeks to capture? Will visitors from the suburbs that neighbour MONA appreciate the reflection that Mirrorscape offers?

    If art is to play any role in motivating us to confront the catastrophes that are now upon us, it needs to go beyond the kind of slowly eroding stasis that is Mirrorscape’s defining quality.

    Mirrorscape is at MONA, Hobart, until February 16 2026.

    Robert Clarke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. A sculpture made from 80 tonnes of sand, Mirrorscape is remarkable – but too much is left unsaid – https://theconversation.com/a-sculpture-made-from-80-tonnes-of-sand-mirrorscape-is-remarkable-but-too-much-is-left-unsaid-256813

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Woodside’s Browse carbon dumping plans referred to WA EPA by leading environment groups

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    PERTH, Monday 19 May 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific and the Conservation Council of WA today confirmed they had lodged a joint referral of Woodside’s high-risk Browse carbon dumping project – also referred to as carbon capture and storage (CCS) – to the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

    The environment groups state that the ongoing seismic blasting from the carbon dumping project, and risk of CO2 blowouts, would have immediate impacts on Scott Reef and the surrounding ecosystem. They argue that projects posing significant risk of harm to WA’s environment must be referred to the WA EPA for proper assessment. 

    In October 2024, Woodside referred its carbon dumping plans to the federal government but bypassed the WA EPA. Last week the WA EPA announced it would reopen Woodside’s revised Browse gas proposal for public comment — the amended proposal did not include Woodside’s carbon dumping plans. 

    Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “Carbon dumping is an expensive distraction corporations use to greenwash their emissions, and a diversion from real action to slash climate pollution.

    “Woodside has tried for years to push through carbon dumping for its highly polluting Browse gas proposal, but the federal environment department highlighted the risks of the new technology to our oceans and marine life, as well as the risk of the injection site failing.

    “Woodside’s carbon dumping plans pose a serious risk to the pristine and fragile Scott Reef and its marine life. It is unacceptable for Woodside to bypass state assessment of its carbon dumping plans given the threat to the WA environment — its plans must be properly assessed by the WA EPA.

    “Ultimately, if we are serious about tackling the climate crisis we must stop emissions before they are produced — carbon dumping has not been proven to work at scale anywhere in the world and must be called out for the false promise it is.”

    Matt Roberts, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA, said: “By evading proper, robust environmental assessment of the potential risk this project would pose to the WA marine environment in WA state waters, Woodside is simply attempting to fast-track its approval and bypass due process.”

    “Even in light of revised plans before the WA EPA lodged by Woodside, they are simply tinkering around the edges. In reality, nothing has changed.

    “Carbon dumping is a failed technology — we’ve seen this with Chevron’s Gorgon project where less than 3% of total emissions have been sequestered successfully.There are no examples of carbon pollution dumping that have met dumping targets or been delivered on time or on budget. 

    “Failed offsets should not be used to support the development of new gas projects like Browse. We need much stronger commitments to abate carbon pollution, not false promises of dumping. The only safe way to prevent catastrophic climate change is to phase out the use of fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy.”

    Scott Reef is already subject to multiple environmental pressures, including marine heatwaves, coral bleaching and cyclone activity, driven by the burning of fossil fuels like gas. Woodside’s proposed carbon dumping and gas extraction activities threaten the long-term viability of the reef and the endangered species that rely on it.

    The EPA’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is designed to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposals, including both direct and indirect (secondary) effects. The WA EPA is required to assess the environmental acceptability of any proposal likely to have a significant effect on the WA environment.

    ENDS

    For more information or interviews, contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Expands XBT Provider Platform with Seven New Physical Crypto ETPs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    May 21, 2025 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or “the Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a leading global investment company specializing in digital assets with over $6 billion in AUM, announces the expansion of its Swedish XBT Provider Platform with the launch of seven new physically-backed crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs).

    CoinShares is leveraging its well-established and respected Swedish platform, CoinShares XBT Provider AB, to offer investors access to new digital assets with best-in-class structuration, cost-effective management fees, and staking rewards for proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies. Each product employs physical replication, meaning the underlying cryptocurrencies purchased and directly held in a regulated custodian.

    The seven new products, all denominated and traded in SEK and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, include:

    Name Management Fees Staking Reward
    CoinShares XBT Litecoin 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Chainlink 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Polkadot Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 5.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT Solana Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 3.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT Cardano Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 2.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT XRP 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Uniswap 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto

    Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO of CoinShares, commented on the launch: “We are glad to reinvigorate the CoinShares XBT Provider platform, which made history as the world’s first open-ended crypto ETP when created in 2015 and subsequently acquired by CoinShares in 2016. With this product extension, we’re enabling Swedish investors to access an expanded range of tokens through a pioneering and time-tested crypto ETP platform. The XBT Provider platform has consistently demonstrated its reliability and has become the trusted choice for Swedish investors seeking exposure to digital assets.

    This expansion represents our commitment to developing the Swedish market, providing institutional-grade investment vehicles that can help bridge the adoption gap that currently exists compared to other European markets. By offering these innovative products on a trusted platform, we aim to accelerate digital asset integration within Sweden’s sophisticated financial ecosystem.”

    “We are happy to see CoinShares expand their offering on our markets. The demand for ETPs is continuing to grow and this is an important step for the Swedish market in meeting that demand. With a broader range of locally listed ETPs, we give investors the opportunity to take advantage of cost-effective, transparent investment opportunities.” says Adam Kostyál, President, Nasdaq Stockholm

    About CoinShares 

    CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading and securities to a wide array of clients that includes corporations, financial institutions and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, in the US by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com 
    Company  | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com 
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com 

    PRESS CONTACT

    CoinShares
    Benoît Pellevoizin
    bpellevoizin@coinshares.com

    M Group Strategic Communications
    Peter Padovano
    coinshares@mgroupsc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Analysis – Asia-Pacific card payments market to reach nearly $25 trillion in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    The Asia-Pacific (APAC) card payments market is expected to growth by 4.3% to reach $24.7 trillion in 2025 supported by growing preference for electronic payments. 

    Strong growth in markets like China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia is complemented by rising adoption in emerging economies, supported by infrastructure improvements, regulatory initiatives, and expanding financial inclusion across the region, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that the card payment value in APAC registered a growth of 5.8% in 2023, driven by the rise in consumer spending. The value registered an estimated growth of 4.8% in 2024 to reach $23.7 trillion.

    Ravi Sharma, Lead Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “China, South Korea, Japan and Australia have a robust card payments market with high card payments value. Other markets within the region are also catching up supported by improving payment infrastructure, rising middle-income population, growing financial awareness, and banks offering lucrative benefits in terms of reward programs and instalment facilities.”

    The APAC card payments market is dominated by China, which is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025 to reach $20.3 trillion. It is distantly followed by South Korea with expected card payments value of $984.5 billion, Japan with $866.1 billion, and Australia with $731.4 billion in 2025.

    However, card usage is comparatively low in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. This is mainly due to the limited financial awareness for card payments, inadequate POS infrastructure, and growing popularity of QR-based mobile payments.

    These countries are also gradually pushing card adoption through various financial awareness campaigns as well as by introducing favorable regime. For instance, the central bank of Indonesia capped the credit card interest rate at 1.75%, effective from 1 July 2021, reducing it from existing 2% per month to drive credit card usage.

    Similarly, in India, the government’s move to abolish merchant service fees on RuPay cards (domestic card) effective from 1 January 2020, encouraged the acceptance of RuPay cards among merchants, thereby pushing debit card usage.

    However, high cost involved in POS infrastructure for merchants and high preference for digital wallets among consumers remain challenge for faster growth in card payments in the region. Many consumers in the region leapfrogged from cash to digital wallets skipping card payments. The availability of low-cost smartphones, rising Internet penetration, growing awareness of mobile payments and the proliferation of digital wallets have resulted in Asian countries shifting from cash transactions to mobile digital payments.

    Sharma concludes: “Looking ahead, the total card payments market in APAC is expected to continue its upward trajectory, driven by ongoing government initiatives, improving payment infrastructure and a consumer shift towards electronic payments. However, high preference for mobile payments remains a challenge for their faster adoption. Overall, the card payments value in APAC is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2025 to 2029 to reach $31.1 trillion in 2029.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Media Advisory: Police graduation tomorrow in Porirua

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Media are invited to the 384 Allan Boreham Police recruit wing graduation.

    What:   Graduation of the New Zealand Police Allan Boreham 384 Recruit Wing.
    Who:   For families and friends to celebrate with the newly attested Police officers.
    Why:   Completion and graduation from their initial training course.
    Where:  Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua.
    When:  Thursday 22 May at 2pm – media will need to be in place by 1.45pm.
    How:    RSVP the Police Media Centre if you’re attending: media@police.govt.nz

    Commissioner Richard Chambers will be attending the ceremony, along with Her Worship Anita Baker, the Mayor of Porirua. Also attending will be members of the Police executive and Wing Patron, former Assistant Commissioner Allan Boreham.

    The three top award winners will be deployed to Eastern, Wellington and Tasman Districts. 

    The 384 Wing Patron:

    Allan Boreham is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former head of Youth Justice for Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children. Allan holds the New Zealand Police in very high esteem and is honoured to be the patron for Wing 384.

    He says he is looking forward to supporting the wing members to succeed and gain all the satisfaction a Police career offers. Allan joined Police in 1985 (in Wing 97) and served for more than 33 years. He was also a Deputy Chief Executive in the public service for five years in charge of Youth Justice.

    His Police career was varied and involved completing a wide range of roles in public safety, investigations, and road policing. These included postings in Auckland, Tokoroa, Hamilton and Wellington. He received an award for his leadership in solving the 1997 kidnapping and murder of an Auckland businessman, Graham Kirkwood.

    More details about statistics, prize winners and other recruits will be shared after graduation on Thursday.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – NZNO care and support workers at Parliament for Budget Day

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    Care and support workers who had their pay equity claims dumped overnight after years of work will meet at Parliament tomorrow to voice their frustration at the Coalition Government’s changes.
    The workers are members of New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) and are some of the 3000 aged residential care health care assistants who were party to the claim.
    NZNO care and support delegate Tash Greig says care and support workers were devastated by the changes.
    “The Government chose not to prioritise low-paid women in this year’s Budget. They can find funding for landlords and the film industry, but not for women doing some of society’s toughest jobs.
    “The work we do has been underpaid and undervalued for generations because we are women. Our claim was almost finalised and would have meant our hard work was finally properly recognised.
    “To heap injustice on injustice, these changes were made without warning or consultation. That’s why we are joining the cross-union hui at Parliament tomorrow.
    “We want the Government to treat us with the same dignity and respect we treat our elderly and vulnerable patients with – and reverse these changes,” Tash Greig says.
    When: 1-2pm, Thursday 22 May 2025
    Where: Parliament Lawn.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CM discussed at WHO assembly

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau spoke at a panel discussion session and met World Health Organization (WHO) officials yesterday as he continued his attendance at the WHO’s 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

    In the morning, Prof Lo and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam listened to remarks made by State Council Vice Premier Liu Guozhong at the assembly’s “High Level Segment”.

    Prof Lo commented: “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government spares no efforts to complement the nation’s strategies to contribute to the building of a global community of health for all.”

    Prof Lo and Dr Lam also attended a side event themed “Improving Universal Health Coverage through the implementation of WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034”, which was hosted by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine along with the health authorities of Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles.

    In a panel discussion, Prof Lo spoke about Hong Kong’s experiences in promoting high-quality and high-standard Chinese medicine (CM) development.

    He said: “The Hong Kong SAR Government will leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in its healthcare system, regulatory framework, standard-setting, clinical research, trade, and more to develop the city into a bridgehead for the internationalisation of CM.”

    In terms of CM practice, he explained that the Hospital Authority has accumulated extensive experience through its integrated Chinese-Western medicine services over the years. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong is developing a “Hong Kong model” that includes pure CM, CM-predominant, and integrated Chinese-Western medicine clinical services, with a view to promoting CM at an international level.

    With regard to CM drugs, Prof Lo said Hong Kong’s Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute is actively advancing scientific research, education and international exchanges on CM drug testing. This includes developing internationally recognised reference standards and testing methods for CM drugs, and promoting the commercial application of such methods, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international hub for CM testing and quality control.

    Prof Lo and Dr Lam also met the WHO’s Director of Nutrition & Food Safety Luz María De Regil to discuss strategies and interventions for obesity and weight management. Prof Lo said that the Hong Kong SAR Government will strive to halt the rise of obesity by implementing life-course interventions.

    The delegation will arrive back in Hong Kong tomorrow.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: 78 Combined Regional Measurement Assurance Program (C-RMAP)

    Source: US Government research organizations

    You will need a government-issued photo ID (e.g., passport or driver’s license) when you check into the Visitors Center at the entrance of NIST and if bringing a vehicle onto the NIST campus, a vehicle registration card.

    PLEASE NOTE: Effective July 21, 2014, under the REAL ID Act of 2005 (https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-frequently-asked-questions), agencies, including NIST, can only accept a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for access to federal facilities if issued by states that are REAL ID compliant or have an extension. NIST currently accepts other forms of federally issued identification in lieu of a state-issued driver’s license, such as a valid passport, passport card, DOD’s Common Access Card (CAC), Veterans ID, Federal Agency HSPD-12 IDs, Military Dependents ID, Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC), and TSA Trusted Traveler ID. See Visitor Information for the latest information.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What flowering plants can be found in the capital at the end of spring

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The end of spring is a unique time when nature pleases with bright colors and unique aromas. Specialists of the capital Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talked about the plants that bloom during this period.

    There is usually a strategically thought-out mechanism behind the external beauty. According to experts, the color, shape, smell and size of the plant’s flower are designed to attract the attention of pollinating insects.

    Flowers have nectaries – glandular organs that secrete nectar. However, the plant is ready to “treat” not every insect with it, but only the one that, thanks to its morphological structure, can reach the secret glands, taking pollen with it for another flower. Thus, flies and small bees pollinate early coltsfoot. Bumblebees are mass pollinators of the first forest flowers, such as creeping bugleweed and ground ivy.

    Beetles pollinate large rosehip and elderberry flowers well. But honey bees are very selective about the amount of sugar in the nectar, so in spring their main food source is flowering willows, various types of maples and caragana arborescens.

    The next productive honey harvest awaits bees on raspberry flowers. Its fruit is a complex drupe, and in order for the berry itself to be juicy, tasty and beautiful, pollination of all the ovaries, which serve to capture pollen, is necessary. For this reason, a large number of bees are required. Raspberries secrete quite a lot of nectar, bees fly to them even after sunset, so as a result, the hive becomes several kilograms heavier. The beginning of raspberry blossoming with a barely perceptible honey aroma is an indicator of the end of spring and the onset of summer.

    The capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection reminds that all plants are important for the Moscow ecosystem, so experts urge city residents to admire the greenery and not harm it.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154090073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Cipher Mining Prices Convertible Senior Notes Offering and Hedging Transaction to Place Borrowed Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR) (“Cipher” or the “Company”) today announced the pricing of its public offering of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”) in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The issuance and sale of the notes are scheduled to settle on May 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Cipher also granted the underwriters of the notes offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $22,500,000 aggregate principal amount of notes solely to cover over-allotments. Morgan Stanley is acting as sole bookrunning manager for the offering. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company is acting as co-manager for the offering.

    The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Cipher, and will accrue interest at a rate of 1.75% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2025. The notes will mature on May 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Cipher will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Cipher’s election. The initial conversion rate is 224.9213 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $4.45 per share of common stock. The initial conversion price represents a premium of approximately 30.00% over the $3.42 public offering price per share of common stock in the concurrent delta offering referred to below. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

    The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at Cipher’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 22, 2028 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Cipher’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

    If certain corporate events that constitute a “fundamental change” occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date. In addition, unless Cipher has previously called all outstanding notes for redemption, noteholders may at their option require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash on May 15, 2028 at a repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

    The net proceeds from the offering, before offering expenses, will be $145,875,000 (or $167,756,250 if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional notes), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions. Cipher intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to complete Phase 1 of the Black Pearl data center project (“Phase 1”), including: (i) purchasing at a discount the remaining balance of mining rigs required for Phase 1; (ii) paying expected tariffs and shipping costs for the mining rigs to be used for Phase 1; and (iii) paying other infrastructure-related capital expenditures in connection with Phase 1, and for general corporate purposes. On May 16, 2025, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Cipher Mining Infrastructure LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Cipher Black Pearl LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into an Amendment Agreement and Deed of Novation to the Future Sales and Purchase Agreement (the “2025 Amendment”) with Bitmain Technologies Delaware Limited, which amends the Company’s existing Future Sales and Purchase Agreement, dated December 16, 2023, as amended by the Supplemental Agreement, dated June 5, 2024, the Amendment Agreement, dated July 10, 2024 and the Notice of Exercise dated February 5, 2025 (together, the “Original Agreement”). The Original Agreement has been amended to include an updated delivery schedule that allows for rig delivery by June 23, 2025. Through such amendment, the Company aims to accelerate its rig deployment timeline and offset a portion of expected tariffs. The Company also received a 10% reduction in cost in exchange for the Company’s early payment of the remaining balance outstanding under the Original Agreement. The amendment also provides the Company with additional incremental value from BTC-linked call options.

    Concurrently with the offering of the notes, Morgan Stanley, acting on behalf of itself and/or its affiliates (in such capacity, the “delta offering underwriter”), intends to offer, in a separate, underwritten offering, 17,540,000 shares of Cipher’s common stock borrowed from third parties (the “concurrent delta offering”), to facilitate hedging transactions (whether physical and/or through derivatives) by some of the purchasers of the notes. The delta offering underwriter will initially offer the shares of Cipher’s common stock to the public at a price of $3.42 per share and subsequently offer the shares of Cipher’s common stock for sale in one or more transactions on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale. The concurrent delta offering is scheduled to settle on May 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The completion of the offering of the notes is contingent on the completion of the concurrent delta offering, and the completion of the concurrent delta offering is contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes.

    The offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Each of the offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the respective prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. You may find these documents on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of these documents can be obtained by contacting: Morgan Stanley, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities referred to in this press release, nor will there be any sale of any such securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC acted as financial advisor to the Company.

    About Cipher

    Cipher is focused on the development and operation of industrial-scale data centers for bitcoin mining and HPC hosting. Cipher aims to be a market leader in innovation, including in bitcoin mining growth, data center construction and as a hosting partner to the world’s largest HPC companies. To learn more about Cipher, please visit https://www.ciphermining.com/.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the United States. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, such as, statements about the completion of the notes offering and the concurrent delta offering, the use of proceeds from the notes offering, the effect of the hedging activities related to the notes offering on the market price of our shares of common stock, our beliefs and expectations regarding our future results of operations and financial position, planned business model and strategy, our bitcoin mining and HPC data center development, timing and likelihood of success, capacity, functionality and timing of operation of data centers, expectations regarding the operations of data centers, potential strategic initiatives, such as joint ventures and partnerships, and management plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “future,” “forecasts,” “opportunity,” “predicts,” “potential,” “would,” “will likely result,” “continue,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cipher and our management, are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: volatility in the price of Cipher’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and regulated industry in which Cipher operates, Cipher’s evolving business model and strategy and efforts we may make to modify aspects of our business model or engage in various strategic initiatives, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Cipher’s business, and the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2025, and in Cipher’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Cipher assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contacts:
    Investor Contact:
    Courtney Knight
    Head of Investor Relations at Cipher Mining
    courtney.knight@ciphermining.com

    Media Contact:
    Ryan Dicovitsky / Kendal Till
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    CipherMining@DLPR.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Between Paris and Moscow: Double Portrait in the Interior of the Era

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Exhibition of artists Alexandra Koltsova-Bychkova and Sergey Koltsov “Between Paris and Moscow”— is a cinematic walk. Its geometry is built like a city: wide squares are given over to monumental canvases, and narrow alleys lead to chamber works, sculptures, personal items and photographs. The laconic color scheme: his — deep green and hers — delicate lilac — emphasizes the dialogue of two creative universes. The exhibition is open at the Museum of Moscow until August 24.

    Double Portrait of (Not) Forgotten Artists

    “This exhibition was created following the previous project, ‘Muscovite. Women of the Soviet Capital in the 1920s and 1930s,’ which took place exactly a year ago,” says curator Ksenia Guseva. “One of the heroines was Alexandra Koltsova-Bychkova. Visitors asked questions: ‘Who is she? Why did no one know about her? How did she end up in Paris?’”

    This is how the idea of a personal exhibition was born, which turned into a double portrait – of Alexandra and her husband, sculptor Sergei Koltsov.

    These two artists did not shout about themselves, did not join groups, were not the “main” artists of the era, but perhaps they reflected it most accurately – not in manifestos, but in details and halftones.

    Two retrospectives in one space

    The exhibition has a geography and a clear storyline. The cities act as co-authors. “The story of a married couple is connected with two cities,” explains Anna Trapkova, General Director of the Museum of Moscow. The exhibition begins with revolutionary Moscow, and at its culmination takes the viewer to seething Paris. “This is a combination of a person’s biography, the life of the city and a creative path,” adds Anna Trapkova.

    The exhibition unfolds like a literary script for a good film, divided into four chapters.

    “Obretenie” – Moscow, 1910s, Stroganov School. He is a budding sculptor, in love with the Renaissance, she is a little older – a master of embroidery, unlike her avant-garde peers in red scarves and overalls, feminine and graceful.

    “Paris” is a business trip in the late 1920s, where they discovered the freedom of European modernism and understood that an artist can create for himself and about himself.

    “Outside the Current” – return to the USSR. Koltsov’s recognition – successes in monumental creativity. Koltsova-Bychkova’s rejection of art for the masses.

    “Solitude” – Koltsov leaves life. Creativity became a way to transform loneliness into solitude and contemplation.

    Each of the four sections has its half and its half. And, like in a good movie, there is a plot, a climax, a denouement. There is a general line – the artists’ biographies, their main works. There are details – documents, even Alexandra’s student card from Stroganovka, personal photos: chamber, intimate cards – she in a cambric shirt on a balcony on vacation in Crimea… A beautiful woman who loved to be photographed. She loved to paint her self-portraits and loved it when her husband painted her. She was a muse for him and for herself.

    The exhibition’s graphic design also works to tell the story of two artists who reflected each other in their work. “The inverted titles live in an interesting way – this is a hint at mirrors. You can notice in the writing of the chapters that the capital letters are of an atypical design,” notes graphic designer Rustam Gabbasov, who said that he was inspired by the variety of fonts on Koltsova-Bychkova’s Parisian business card.

    Sergei Koltsov: from Stroganov’s student to sculptor

    The son of a skilled cabinetmaker, Koltsov entered the Stroganov School at the age of 15. During his student years, he created plaster bas-reliefs in the spirit of the Renaissance, a bronze St. George the Victorious, a wooden pagan Bacchus, and showed that he was not afraid of experiments and masterfully worked with different materials.

    The curator points to the only surviving sculpture from the 1920s — a sketch for a monument to Mikhail Frunze. If you remove the Budyonovka, we will see a work that refers to the masters of the Renaissance. “He masterfully juggled various historical styles. Each of his monuments, created in the context of socialism, has a similar source of inspiration,” Ksenia Guseva emphasizes.

    Alexandra Bychkova: Muse, Embroiderer, Artist

    Bychkova came to Stroganov as an experienced craftswoman: she was much better at embroidery than her fellow students. Her diploma work, a panel with three melancholic muses in a flower garden, is a reference to either the Pre-Raphaelites or Borisov-Musatov. In the 1920s, she worked as a costume designer at the theater and headed the embroidery workshop. Among the key exhibits were the elegant hats that Bychkova decorated. Her signature style and color scheme were discernible in them. The hats were brought in worn out, and Alexandra gave them a second life and turned them into art objects rather than wardrobe details. After Stroganov, she entered VKHUTEMAS, but chose the painting department, which determined the direction of her work.

    Unity and independence

    In 1924 they got married, and the exhibition features a touching exhibit – a surviving marriage certificate. She took a double surname – Koltsova-Bychkova, emphasizing their unity and her independence.

    “It’s surprising, but these are completely different artists, sometimes diametrically opposed,” notes Anna Trapkova, director of the Museum of Moscow. “But they are obviously in dialogue.”

    Their dialogue was especially dynamic in their portraits of each other. Koltsova-Bychkova often depicted her husband, drawing parallels, as modernists loved. For example, she paints him with a bandage after an operation, making a reference to Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with a Cut-Off Ear and a Pipe.” Among Koltsov’s surviving paintings is a portrait of Alexandra: she stands with a brush and palette, immersed in her work.

    Of interest is Koltsova-Bychkova’s still life with a sculpture of her husband, “Portrait of a Wife,” which the Moscow Museum acquired at auction on the eve of the exhibition.

    “Koltsova-Bychkova depicts herself through the eyes of her husband in a sculptural embodiment. This piece is significant in terms of how their creative destinies intersected and what their love story was,” notes Anna Trapkova.

    Moscow – Paris – Moscow

    In the 1920s and early 1930s, long trips abroad for Soviet artists were not uncommon. Koltsov spent two years in Paris on the orders of the People’s Commissariat of Education, his wife stayed for four. He painted pictures of Parisian life – he shared the views of the French socialists. The largest work of that period is presented at the exhibition – “Parade of the Disabled in Paris”: together with the artist, we observe the annual meeting of veterans of the First World War – the atmosphere and color of the work are tense.

    Koltsova-Bychkova is in demand in Paris. She creates embroideries, prints for fabrics, textile panels. The panels are also at the exhibition – bright, contrasting and at the same time very harmonious.

    After Paris…

    When the couple returned from France, Moscow greeted them with a different city. The NEP was replaced by industrialization, the city was being built dynamically. Artists created frescoes, monumental sculptures, ceramic panels – art was supposed to become part of the architecture. Koltsov was looking for a balance between monumentality and chamber, personal art. And his wife completely immersed herself in painting, as she understood it, without looking back at trends.

    “In Paris, they realized that an artist might not owe anything,” notes curator Ksenia Guseva. “After her return, Alexandra withdrew from professional life, but immersed herself in painting.”

    A monumental artist without a monumental legacy

    Koltsov became a sought-after monumentalist: he supervised the creation and installation of sculptures on the roof of the Lenin Library, and participated in the post-war restoration of Moscow. Ironically, almost none of the monumental heritage was preserved or was not implemented. In the 21st century, during restoration, his sculptures were removed from the facade of the Bolshoi Theater – their subsequent fate is unknown. But the chamber works presented at the exhibition surprise with their diversity: the figure of an old fisherman, a female torso made of wood, a bronze sculpture “Motherhood”, paintings, sketches – the master was interested in different aspects of life, styles, materials.

    They loved living outside the city. For him, the dacha became an escape from endless orders, for her, a place of artistic discoveries. She paints a self-portrait in a dacha hat with a reference to Van Gogh, and draws colorful and complex still lifes with flowers that she grew herself.

    (Not) The Finale. Solitude…

    After her husband died of heart disease in 1951, Koltsova-Bychkova continued to paint the same subjects, but the colors became deeper: instead of fresh light green and pink, they were burgundy, violet, and dark crimson. She began the main late cycle with her husband, and finished it alone — views from the balcony of their apartment.

    “This tragic part is reflected in the exhibition: Koltsova-Bychkova remains alone, continues to live in the famous Pertsov House, sees how the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is being demolished, watches how the House on the Embankment grows. In a series of works, we see changes from the same point in different time periods, in different seasons,” says Anna Trapkova.

    This is a reference to Monet, to his views of the Rouen Cathedral. She devoted 30 years to this series of landscapes.

    Return…

    After her husband’s death, the artist devoted herself to preserving his legacy. She donated her works to museums, and in 1974, she organized her first solo exhibition, bringing back interest in the work of Sergei Koltsov. She painted until the end of her days and, according to her relatives, was a “tough nut to crack.” The archive was preserved by her niece Marina Medvedeva, and then by her children. The Koltsova-Bychkova family helped the creators of the exhibition and attended the opening. “These people were devoted to art their entire lives, and only amazingly talented people — my family — could write and create so much,” says Elena Krugova, Koltsova-Bychkova’s niece.

    Absolutely unlimited artists

    For most, Soviet art is Alexander Deineka, Vera Mukhina, Yuri Pimenov — the mastodons of that era. But there is another layer. “I am interested in looking at the Soviet history of art in a non-standard way. Our task is to discover forgotten names, to look at what was happening with art not from one point of view, but from different ones. These are absolutely unlimited artists,” sums up the exhibition curator Ksenia Guseva.

    The exhibition is an example of a multi-layered approach to revealing the artists’ work. The selection of works, the geometry of the space, and even the unusual fonts tell a long story of great love for art, two cities, and each other.

    Buy tickets for the exhibition “Between Paris and Moscow” you can on mos.ru.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Useful knowledge and contacts: the My Career center has prepared a program for the Russian Entrepreneurship Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialized employment center “My career” has prepared a program dedicated to the Russian Entrepreneurship Day. It will be held on May 26 at 10:00 at the address: ulitsa Sergiya Radonezhskogo, dom 1, bldg. 1. Self-employed Muscovites and representatives of small businesses will be able to develop a strategy for promoting their services on the market, obtain systematized knowledge in the field of business development and make useful contacts.

    “The Moscow Employment Service not only helps residents find suitable work, but also provides comprehensive support in starting and developing their own business. This year, we again invite city residents to a unique event to develop skills for successful business management. Participants will enjoy an interactive format: a platform for presenting goods and services of the self-employed, speeches by experienced businessmen with real cases and an entrepreneurial quiz. This approach makes the training lively and engaging: visitors learn knowledge in a relaxed atmosphere, analyze mistakes and find unexpected solutions. The entire program is aimed at developing key competencies, promoting startups, and revealing the personal potential of aspiring businessmen,” said Roman Nikitin, First Deputy Director of the Moscow Employment Service and Head of the Professions of the Future Center.

    Thus, the participants will be treated to the event “Entrepreneurs’ Standup”. Experts will share their cases, and viewers will be able to adopt their experience, analyze their own projects and find new ideas for application in their field.

    In addition, a quiz will be held for guests – an exciting game during which you can test your business savvy and learn interesting facts from the history of entrepreneurship. The quiz will help you acquire teamwork skills and gain useful knowledge about developing your business.

    Muscovites will also be treated to business games and speed dating. Aspiring entrepreneurs will be able to exchange experiences and find business partners. A fair will open for guests, where self-employed people will present unique handicrafts.

    Participation is free, but prior registration is required. register.

    The number of self-employed in Moscow has exceeded 1.9 millionMore than 150 capital entrepreneurs had their security payments cancelled

    The Moscow City Employment Service is the largest state personnel operator that helps residents of the capital find work. Its structure includes employment offices. Many of them are located in the My Documents government service centers. The flagship centers are open at the following addresses: Kuusinen Street, Building 2, Block 1, and Shabolovka Street, Building 48. The specialized employment center My Career is located on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street (Building 1, Bldg. 1).

    In the center “Professions of the Future” on Shchepkina Street (38 Building 1) you can master one of 75 in-demand professions in various sectors of the economy in a maximum of three and a half months. Career mentors will help you find a job after completing your training. The center’s partners include more than three thousand employers. In addition, a comprehensive career guidance program is implemented here for ninth-grade students.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Walking trails have been updated and viewing balconies have been created in Moskvoretsky Park

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Moskvoretsky natural and historical park, on the section of the Moskva River embankment from the Moscow Ring Road to the Stroginsky Bridge, walking paths have been updated and viewing balconies have been made. This was reported by the Moscow City Services Complex. The work was carried out as part of the improvement and rehabilitation of the park territory. The sites were equipped with canopies where you can take shelter from precipitation and enjoy views of the river in any weather.

    Before the work began on the embankment of the Moscow River, there were already small sections with walking paths along the shore of the large peninsula in some places. But the decking eventually became unusable, the surfaces were damaged, the handrails were crooked, and in some places they were completely absent. In addition, there were no ramps for visitors with limited mobility.

    Now new decks have been installed here on a pile foundation. Viewing balconies have been built into them, and separate viewing platforms have been set up.

    The walking trails are located in scenic areas, in areas with complex terrain and in waterlogged areas. The total length of the decks is approximately 300 meters. Their main task is to protect the soil and vegetation from trampling and damage. At the same time, the decks mark the route and are convenient to move along.

    During the landscaping work, screw supports were installed without the use of heavy, large-sized equipment. This allowed the soil not to be sealed and the damage to the natural environment to be minimized, migration routes for animals to be preserved, and the nature of this place to be preserved as much as possible.

    All entrances to the new decks are at the same level as the adjacent paths, making them convenient for park visitors with limited mobility to move around. In addition, fences have been installed to ensure safe movement.

    There are three viewing platforms on the decks in the form of rectangular balconies measuring four by 6.5 meters, and another balcony is installed separately. They are equipped with benches and urns, as well as polycarbonate awnings so that visitors can shelter from precipitation. Here you can watch animals and birds, take beautiful photos, relax after a walk, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet.

    There are now also two round observation platforms with a diameter of 16 meters on the coastline near the water. They are equipped with urns and sun loungers for sunbathing or contemplating the water surface of the river. Four more observation platforms in the form of balconies appeared on the bank of the Maly Stroginsky backwater.

    The viewing balconies and platforms blend harmoniously into the natural environment and are a good example of a modern approach to organizing recreation in park areas.

    Part of Moskvoretsky Park has been put in order

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Nhill welcomes new light tanker and field command vehicle

    Source:

    Nhill Fire Brigade has officially received the keys to their new light tanker and field command vehicle, celebrating the additions to the engine bay alongside fellow members.

    Nhill Captain Robert Schneider who has been involved with the brigade for 18 years, said it’s a real privilege to receive two vital appliances to our fleet.   

    “These vehicles are more than just an upgrade, they are a direct investment in the safety and resilience of our community,” Robert said.  

    The light tanker is a low-profile and lightweight firefighting vehicle, equipped with up-to-date safety features and a generous water carrying capacity of 2000 litres.  

    “We often get called out to spots where the terrain is rugged, areas are narrow, and access is tricky,” Robert said.   

    “The new light tanker will help us move safely and comfortably across the challenging landscapes we are often called to, in a timely manner.”  

    “The stability and reliable handling of the tanker also improves our response to incidents.” 

    The replacement Field Command Vehicle (FCV) is a four-wheel-drive, off road vehicle built for effective operation in bush environments.  

    “It’s a massive upgrade to our fleet. It’s purpose-built, reliable and suited to support us in the tough conditions we work in,” Robert said.  

    “It gives us the ability to direct our fire trucks to get right where we need to be.” 

    “This will support us in doing what matters most, which is serving our community in critical moments.”  

    District 17 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Eagle congratulated the brigade on their new additions.   

    “With Nhill’s dense trees and challenging terrain, the features of both vehicles will assist with greater and efficient incident response,” Chris said.  

    “Both vehicles will be valuable assets for incident response and in keeping our members and community safe for years to come.”  

    The new light tanker and field command vehicle were made possible through the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) and significant contributions from the community.  

    Submitted by CFA Media

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: How a farmer – participant of the fair in Mitino helps SVO fighters

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Participants of Moscow fairs continue to help fighters of the special military operation (SVO). Among those who are not indifferent is farmer Anatoly, who brings honey and other bee products from his nomadic family apiary to the fair in Mitino.

    Even as a child, from the age of 10, he always helped his elders in the family business. Anatoly is a representative of the fourth generation of beekeepers in the family from the Semenovka farm in the Rostov region. When a special military operation began and his fellow villagers went to the front line, he had only one question: how to support them. The man believes that you just need to help others, and there is no need to talk about it.

    “We regularly donate our honey and, together with other villagers, chip in money when needed. They use it to buy construction materials for trenches and household items that the soldiers need. My father’s friends take care of organizational issues, and our family simply tries to always respond when help is needed,” the farmer shared.

    The capital’s fairs feature products from more than 40 regions of Russia. Each supplier guarantees the quality and freshness of the goods, and specialists Veterinary Committee of the City of Moscow check the products before sending them to the shelves.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Biotechnology and all living things: two natural science museums of VDNKh celebrate their third anniversary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On May 21, VDNKh will celebrate three years since the opening of the modern biotechnology center “Biotech Museum” and the K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum in pavilions No. 30 and 31. Both exhibitions are located within the walls of restored cultural heritage sites of federal significance.

    Pavilion No. 30 “Microbiological Industry” was built in 1939. Initially, it was dedicated to oil crops, as evidenced by the surviving wooden carved pediment with images of oil plant flowers, including sunflowers. In 1954, the pavilion housed the “Cotton” exposition. In the mid-1960s, the pavilion was repurposed again and received its current name. The exposition told about the study and widespread use of microorganisms in the national economy and healthcare.

    In 2019–2022, a comprehensive restoration of the historic building was carried out. The fountain next to the pavilion, which had not worked for over 40 years and was almost completely destroyed, was also restored. During the restoration, specialists laid new utility lines and replaced the fountain equipment.

    The restored pavilion No. 30 “Microbiological Industry” now houses the center of modern biotechnology “Museum “Biotech”. Its exhibition is a visual story about biotechnology and its practical application in everyday life.

    Here you can get acquainted with the history of the development of the domestic microbiological industry, modern biotechnologies that are used in the food industry, medicine, agriculture, waste recycling and other industries that are no less important for humanity. Visitors can learn about the creation of vaccines, genetics, city farms, bioreactors, as well as other innovative and familiar technologies. Seminars, master classes, lectures, conferences and other educational events are regularly held for them. Since its opening, the museum has been visited by more than 62 thousand people.

    Pavilion No. 31 “Geology”, built in 1954, was called “Flax, Hemp and Other Bast Crops” until 1956. In 1956-1957, its name was “Bast and Wool Industry”, in 1958 – “Linen and Wool Industry” and only since 1959 – “Geology”. The author of the pavilion is one of the most versatile Soviet architects Leonid Pavlov. He also designed several stations of the Moscow metro and the V.I. Lenin Museum in Gorki Leninskiye.

    In 2017, during restoration work in the pavilion, archival films from the 1950s-1980s were discovered, telling about the achievements of Soviet science, technology and agriculture. At one time, these films were used as a support by local guides: after the end of the tour, they showed thematic films to guests in small cinema halls that were opened in many VDNKh pavilions.

    Three years ago, the K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum was opened in the restored pavilion. In May 2022, a permanent exhibition “12 Signs of Living Things” opened here, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the museum’s founding. Its exposition tells about what life is from a scientific point of view. The exhibition presents 12 sections that correspond to the 12 main signs of a living being. These are the unity of chemical composition, diversity of life, metabolism and energy, movement, reproduction and others. Here you can see works of contemporary art made specifically for the exhibition. Since the opening of the museum, it has been visited by more than 133 thousand people.

    The opening of new entertainment and museum facilities corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The development of the Museum City at VDNKh is a key part of the strategy for promoting the capital’s hospitality industry and the strategy for developing VDNKh until 2030.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Assault reignites Christchurch Hospital parking woes

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) is concerned that after-hours attacks on Christchurch Hospital staff returning to their cars have continued without a proper long-term solution to parking in sight.
    It follows the recent assault on a student midwife going back to her car from Kurawaka Waipapa.
    NZNO Christchurch delegate Al Dietschin says staff have raised concerns about parking at the hospital for more than a decade, possibly longer, and while there has been some action from Te Whatu Ora, it is not nearly enough to prevent the assaults from persisting.
    “How many incidents do we need to have before the employer acts in the interest of staff in accordance with the Health and Safety Employment Act?
    “They have to provide a safe work environment. They always say health and safety of staff is important, but these after-hours assaults continue to happen.”
    Al Dietschin says the Tū Waka Waipapa building that opened opposite the hospital in November 2023 provides parking, but costs about $25 a day, which is unaffordable for most workers.
    In wake of many assaults in the past, the hospital provides a minibus shuttle between 9pm and 1am, but staff are often made to wait too long for this arrive.
    “Staff are reportedly walking to their cars because they’re made to wait 30 minutes or more after working the late shift for the shuttle to arrive. Staff don’t feel safe walking to cars after their shift or early morning in the dark, but they’re sometimes forced to.”
    Another shocking decision recently limits emergency department parking for lead maternity carers (community midwives) to five hours, he says.
    “This used to be available for unlimited time. Now they’re forced to ask core staff to relieve them in the middle of a patient’s labour so they don’t get fined. That’s not good for the safety of their patients.”
    Al Dietschin says the solution is simple from the staff’s perspective.
    “Staff only want safe after hours parking close to hospital, and we don’t want to break the bank for this to happen.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Wednesday, 21 May 2025 – Volume 784 – 001480

    Source: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

    Question No. 10—Housing

    10. TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP (Te Pāti Māori—Tāmaki Makaurau) to the Associate Minister of Housing: What role, if any, have the Government’s policies and decisions played in contributing to the 53 percent increase in homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau between September 2024 and January 2025, particularly for rangatahi?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing): Homelessness is a symptom of a broken housing system and a broken mental health system, and fixing these crises are both important for this Government. Government target No. 8 was to reduce the number of households in emergency housing by 75 percent, and we’ve achieved that in 15 months. One priority was to ensure that children were not growing up in that catastrophe that we know as emergency housing, and our decisions and mahi have led to around 3,000 children leaving emergency housing and coming out of emergency housing over the past 18 months. We’re very proud of that. The December 2024 homelessness insights report states it is not possible to determine the extent to which changes in homelessness numbers reflect broader economic, social, and health contexts or are attributable to policy changes.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: What specific actions is the Government taking to prevent homelessness among rangatahi Māori, particularly to those exiting State care or youth justice systems, and how will these outcomes be measured?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: As this House has been told in the past, rangatahi-supported accommodation and youth-transitional accommodation continue to be supported. In addition to that, there are a number and a range of services—whether or not those are housing support products, housing first, transitional housing, and other pathways—for those people, including youths, who have some significant housing deprivation challenges.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: How does the Minister justify the 2024 Budget decision to cut $40 million from Māori housing providers and $20 million from transitional housing for rangatahi?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: As we will recall, a number of agencies had to ensure that there were appropriate savings that came through Budget 2024 to enable and support ongoing delivery of better public services, such as health, education, defence, and the Police. But it was absolutely enthusing and energising for us to be in Toitu Tairawhiti last week in Gisborne where we saw the mahi, the good mahi, that has been undertaken by the people in Toitu Tairawhiti to construct around 150 new homes, with a priority on single mamas and tamariki.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: What steps is the Government taking to empower kaupapa Māori and Māori- and community-led housing and support services, such as Mā Te Huruhuru, in Tāmaki-makau-rau in line with its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: This House may recall that recently we announced around $200 million of Māori housing tautoko to build 400 homes right throughout the country. Whether or not that’s up in Kaitāia or in Tūranga and Toitu Tairawhiti with the good mahi they are doing, and Ka Uruora throughout the North Island and others throughout the country, we continue to be very proud of the mahi that we are doing to support Māori housing and also the mahi that Minister Penk has been undertaking around granny flats and some of the ongoing mahi and good work being undertaken to look at papa kāinga.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: Supplementary. [Interruption]

    SPEAKER: Just wait for the House to gather itself a bit. Thank you.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: What is the Government doing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of rangatahi placed in emergency motel accommodation, and when will it invest in safe, culturally grounded, long-term, alternative, led-by-Maori communities?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: Let’s get back to some data points. In December 2023, there were around 3,438 children in emergency housing—that moral, fiscal, social, and cultural catastrophe. As of the end of March, there were around 516—many, many of whom were Māori that have left and exited as a result of the priority one decision that was taken by this Government to expedite those households and whānau who have been living in emergency housing for over 12 weeks. Now, we are very proud of the decisions that we have taken to expedite those whānau and tamariki out of those difficult and exposed lives in emergency hotels, particularly in places like Ulster Street in Hamilton West.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Would the Minister have any idea as to how many homeless Māori the $80 million – plus profits the Waipareira Trust could house if the money was applied to them properly?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: There is a lot of mahi to do, and we’re getting on and doing the mahi here in this Government.

    Takutai Tarsh Kemp: Will the Government commit to increasing funding for Māori housing and wraparound services for providers in Thursday’s Budget, in light of the 53 percent increase in homelessness in Tāmaki-makau-rau?

    Hon TAMA POTAKA: As the “mana pūtea” Minister Willis will say, one more version of “Hine E Hine” to come. Kia ora tātou.

    Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: A point of order, please, Mr Speaker. The question was quite specific, and I just wonder if the Speaker can advise, where the member asked “Will the Government commit to increasing funding”, based on a 53 percent increase in Tāmaki-makau-rau—we’re not clear on what that answer was or whether it was actually directed to the actual question.

    SPEAKER: I took it to mean that the—[Interruption] I’m speaking. I took it to mean that the Budget’s being delivered tomorrow and that he was not going to be releasing Budget information ahead of the delivery tomorrow.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News