At the ARVO 2025 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City presented on the LUCIA and LUGANO phase 3 pivotal trials for EYP-1901 against aflibercept for the treatment of wet macular degeneration At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2025 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City Editor's note: The below transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and Mass Eye and Ear ophthalmology departments I'm here presenting the LUCIA and LUGANO phase 3 pivotal trials for EYP-1901 against aflibercept for the treatment of wet macular degeneration It's a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that works intracellularly to inhibit pan-VEGF and VEGFR One of the benefits of this is it does go away and fully bioerodes It's 94% medication and only 6% vehicle It's only one–five-thousandth the volume of the eye The study that we're doing is we're characterizing this against aflibercept dose every 8 weeks These are 2 sister studies run in parallel have aflibercept started monthly for 3 months you also get a sham injection every 8 weeks The control group maintains aflibercept every 8 weeks with the primary end point best corrected visual acuity with secondary end points being central subfield thickness as well as number of injections and safety So if the patient loses a certain amount of letters or if there's an increase in retinal thickness there are options to dose patients with aflibercept in the control group as a rescue medication One of the benefits of this treatment is it's really a paradigm shift in the way we treat wet macular degeneration This is the first intravitreal injection implant that offers zero-order kinetics and sustained release without a surgical technique So it offers our patients a point of difference and a possible new treatment for wet macular degeneration And we're looking forward to the study results The treatment-naive patients are still eligible to be enrolled and we've already finished enrollment of the previously treated patients Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews Subrata Batabyal, PhD, receives 2025 Carl Camras Translational Research Award from ARVO Foundation California dreaming: 2025 Glaucoma 360 brings celebration, innovation, and education to San Francisco Editorial Advisory Board members to present at Retina World Congress 2025 Connect, learn, and innovate in a family-friendly atmosphere: What to expect at EnVision Summit 2025 ASCRS 2025: Visual and patient-reported outcomes following bilateral Odyssey implantation Regeneron to highlight real-world efficacy of aflibercept 8 mg (Eylea HD) in wAMD, DME, and DR 609-716-7777 In the vault at Lugano Diamonds’ headquarters in Newport Beach CEO Moti Ferder unlocks one of dozens of drawers holding millions of dollars of jewelry to reveal a stunning necklace featuring 168 carats of diamonds cut to resemble snakeskin “You need the light to break exactly the same from every direction creating something that’s comfortable to wear No one custom-ordered this $1.3 million necklace which Lugano jewelers spent some 400 hours creating It’s one of those pieces that the 55-year-old Ferder refers to as a “yellow Lambor­ghini,” meaning it’s never the first vehicle a person buys He knows that finding the right buyer may take years of nurturing in which “crafting exceptional experiences” is the secret to success Lugano’s private club where members (a.k.a The elegant 8,500-square-foot Newport Beach club features black walnut floors furniture by Ceccotti Collezioni and Poltrana Frau and paintings by noted contemporary artists For the wealthy Orange County families who drop by for a quiet dinner made by Privé’s private chef or a bottle of wine from its vast collection “it’s meant to feel like an extension of your home,” says Lugano president Josh Gaynor who spent years as the head of high jewelry at Bulgari North America Lugano’s eight “salons”—in spots such as Aspen Palm Beach and Houston—feel more like an intimate living room than a jewelry boutique and are the heart of Ferder’s ingenious marketing network There is also a traveling equestrian show to lure new customers With revenue up 53% to $471 million in the past year Lugano is surging thanks in large part to Ferder’s unique magic trick of convincing his ultrarich clientele that he’s not just in it for the money The A-Plus List: Unlike jewelry houses that pay millions to celebrity ambassadors Lugano focuses on a philanthropist clientele—including Georgina Bloomberg and Sheila Johnson—who are interested in giving back it’s not enough just to be a well-heeled jewelry buyer; you must also be a generous supporter of charities who charges tens of thousands of dollars to belong to Privé and we believe that people do business with people they want to do business with.” Lugano has donated more than $30 million to dozens of nonprofits including Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Aspen Art Museum Orange County Art Museum to make admission free for ten years That gift helped boost annual visitors from 20,000 to 250,000 and endeared Lugano to major art collectors including philanthropist Jane Holzer who was one of Andy Warhol’s many muses in the 1960s Other Lugano members include Sheila Johnson who backs the Aspen Institute and Trust for the National Mall; and Georgina Bloomberg (daughter of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg) Ferder grew up immersed in Tel Aviv’s diamond business in which his father dealt in rough dia­monds Following his mandatory Israeli army service Ferder apprenticed under master cutters while going to school at night for business and gemology he spent several years sour­cing diamonds from Russia and even had a factory there To survive increasing competition from cutters and wholesalers so he decided to immigrate to the United States inspired by the Swiss lake town renowned for its understated luxury When the Ferders drove into Newport Beach in 2005 they knew they had found a home for their family and Lugano Little wonder: Newport Beach is one of the most expensive Zip codes in the country with a median home price of nearly $3.5 million but Ferder knew that if he really wanted to build the business he sold 60% of the company to Compass Diversified a Connecticut-based publicly traded holding company At the time Lugano was genera­ting $30 million a year of operating income (Ebitda) with an average sale price of $79,000 Lugano has grown to $192 million in Ebitda with an average sale of $450,000 it will soon unbalance Compass’ balance sheet and the diversified holding company will look either to spin it off or sell to a luxury giant such as LVMH Ferder has opened five more salons and expanded Lugano’s workforce Lugano has also grown an inventory of gemstones and finished jewelry worth hundreds of millions so Ferder can meet expected demand growth over the next few years The posh equestrian world has also proven to be a fertile ground for finding new Lugano clientele Ferder’s family had a horse farm in Israel and his brother competed internationally in show jumping Lugano is now among the biggest sponsors of international horse shows with its brand more prominent in equine arenas than perennial timekee­ping sponsor Longines In tandem with the opening of its London salon in April 2024 Lugano is a new sponsor of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and she frequently attends its private dinners “mixing us riders with others who might not normally come to a horse show,” says Bloomberg who supports a pediatric hospital in Ghana Bloomberg says she doesn’t like to wear showy baubles but she was recently featured bejeweled in a Lugano advertisement wearing a 2.63-carat cushion-cut vivid blue diamond ring with more than three carats of diamonds “They make you feel like it’s not just about selling jewelry,” she says This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2024) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that Sebastian Pelzer has been named Chief Sports Officer of partner club FC Lugano Pelzer joins FC Lugano after serving as the Fire’s Technical Director for the past five seasons "I’m incredibly grateful for my time with the Chicago Fire I truly appreciate the support that I’ve received from Joe Mansueto and fans over the past five years,” said Pelzer “I wish the Fire all the best for the future and look forward to seeing the partnership between the two clubs continue to grow I’m excited to begin this new chapter with FC Lugano and help build on the success the club has achieved." “I’d like to thank Sebastian for his hard work and contributions to the Fire,” said Chicago Fire FC Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto we are excited that Sebastian will continue working within our network of clubs His efforts in developing FC Lugano’s roster have been a key part of their success and I look forward to seeing the team continue to grow and progress under his leadership.” and was responsible for overseeing the Club’s global scouting network while also helping to manage the relationship between the Fire and FC Lugano the Club enhanced its player recruitment efforts and placed a greater emphasis on developing and promoting players from the Chicago Fire Academy the Fire signed 10 Homegrown Players and transferred three players to top-five leagues Jhon Durán and Gaga Slonina’s transfers are among the most significant outgoing moves in MLS history Chicago Fire FC II advanced to the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs in two out of three seasons and the Academy established itself as one of the top youth development programs in the United States winning two National Championships in four years (2021 represented his country at the youth level and made more than 350 appearances as a professional He played for seven clubs in Germany and England over the course of 16 years: FC Kaiserslautern Pelzer served as captain for seven seasons at Dynamo Dresden and F.C In addition to his distinguished club career spent five years on the players’ council of the German Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Try a different filter or a new search keyword Streaming and Download help Redeem code supported by 22 fans who also own “Live Lugano 1984 There is a classical grandeur to Taylor’s playing here spinning gothic arches of sound that never stop rising to the heavens even as they push up undaunted through Oxley’s richly textured hailstorms of percussion Many delicate moments which Oxley lets breath Some of Cecil’s most accessible moments of glittering beauty supported by 21 fans who also own “Live Lugano 1984 Not familiar enough with the mechanics of ZIM and the liner notes are pretty oblique about those but ample on the poetics and the humor (yes!) of this music A high water mark for Braxton's music supported by 20 fans who also own “Live Lugano 1984 At a few places I keep asking myself: Was this composed by Arnold Schönberg (or his disciples) I'm all for skilled musicians exploring the boundary (if one exists) between jazz and classical It’s hard to say exactly what SIM CARD HØLDER is it plunges you deep into a terrifying world of shadow and space A previously unreleased LP from Hermeto Pascoal A mix of structured compositions and improvised work this jazz classic from pianist Paul Bley gets a reissue courtesy of BYG—still stunning after all these years Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp Marion Brown’s “Why Not” Is a Sweet Glimpse of Midcentury Free Jazz Backxwash joins the show to discuss her recent release Seasoned portfolio manager Corrado Capacci is to launch his own firm Capacci leaves Lugano-based Compass Asset Management after over 25 years to found his own venture he announced this morning via a LinkedIn post.  Capacci worked the majority of his tenure at Compass Asset Management as a portfolio manager During his early career he also worked at a number of locations and roles at Credit Lyonnais.  John Lugano was sitting at his desk that Tuesday morning when the airplane crashed into the first tower a sales trader for Keefe Bruette and Woods on the 88th floor of Tower Two Sean told his older brother that he was almost directly across from the building and could see flames John reached Sean on the phone and told him another plane had gone down “They’re telling us to just sit tight,” Sean said You gotta get out of there,” John told him Find a way out of there.” He described the images from TV and told Sean which side of the building looked cooler Then John heard his 28-year-old brother say I’m not going to die this way.” Later that afternoon as Sean’s four siblings searched Manhattan’s hospitals John heard that a woman who had worked with Sean was in a particular hospital “There was fog and ash floating all around Everyone was walking around with the posters [showing pictures of missing relatives],” John recalled “I ran past the front door of the hospital She was in the elevator when the second plane hit She described how Sean and a group of men had offered their spots on the elevator to a group of women the Lugano family started looking for ways to memorialize their son and brother They raised money for a scholarship at Xavier High School Then they raised money at his grammar school Then some of Sean’s former Greyhounds rugby teammates came to the family with an idea Why not name something for Sean—maybe a rugby field—in the athletic complex Loyola was planning to build whose sister Stephanie Lugano McCuin graduated from Loyola in 1997—was an avid rugby player and an All-American three years in a row Ridley and others at Loyola wanted to honor those lost on Sept Among the other members of the Loyola family who died that day were Michael R The Loyola leaders asked for the help of Sean’s family and friends They agreed that if the Lugano family could raise $1 million every year the family held a cocktail party fundraiser on the first Friday in February They hit their $1 million goal in four and a half years When the Ridley Athletic Complex opened in March 2010 the Sean Lugano Memorial Field was dedicated in his memory the Luganos have continued to use the party to raise funds for other causes donating money to organizations such as the World Trade Center Tribute Center telling visitors about her son—the second of her five children “It helps her talk about who he was,” John said But it is his magnetic personality his family and friends miss “He was an everybody’s friend kind of guy It didn’t matter what kind of clique you were in and that was one of the really sad things about him not being around,” John said “That’s one of the really great things about the party Now we’re all back together again.” Chicago Fire FC have loaned forward Georgios Koutsias to Swiss Super League side FC Lugano The year-long loan lasts through December 2025 and has a purchase option The deal opens a U22 Initiative and international roster spot for Chicago Koutsias has 5g/3a in 57 appearances (18 starts) with Chicago The 20-year-old Greek youth international was acquired in February 2023 from Greek Super League club PAOK "We're excited to see Georgios continue his development with our partners at FC Lugano," said director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter "He expressed a desire to return to Europe and this move gives him the opportunity to continue growing in a highly competitive league It also provides us with increased roster flexibility as we work to build a strong team for the 2025 season." Chicago and Lugano are both owned by Joe Mansueto facilitating regular movement between the clubs recently departed Chicago sporting director Georg Heitz works closely with Lugano Lugano's roster features several former Fire FC players midfielder Ousmane Doumbia and winger Ignacio Aliseda READ MORE: MLS Transfer Tracker presented by Avant Switzerland.Photo: Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links located in Switzerland’s only Italian-speaking canton of Ticino gracefully straddles a fine line between two identities—it is at once firmly rooted in Switzerland’s famous efficiency and pastoral beauty while also boasting a very Italian sense of style An overlooked jewel hugging its very own lake—Lake Lugano—the city has long been a haven for writers and artists drawn to its palm tree-lined beauty northern Swiss travelers were drawn to the city and its sense of remove (as well as drastically different weather from the rest of the country) in increased numbers Today the spark of energy ignited by its recent increase in domestic popularity continues and Lugano has slowly been drawing visitors from further and further afield and its contemporary gallery scene began to swell “It is a very small city with a concentration of art spaces,” Daniele Agostini “A transformation happened some years ago now and there’s been the development of a more exciting art scene in Lugano.” That transformative spirit has worked its way into Lugano’s wine-growing hills the area’s unique microclimate also garnered more European and global attention in recent years gives us a microclimate that has some Alpine and some Mediterranean traits at the same time,” Bendetta Molteni which gives us a unique and elegant Merlot and other vineyards that are very rich in limestone and some of the county’s award-winning restaurants Lugano is a city enjoying a quiet renaissance has now woken up—and established itself as a destination unto itself lakeside hotel has been Lugano’s most formidable and luxurious address since it opened in 1887 Today the hotel retains its allure of the late 19th century’s gilded age of travel with glamorous common spaces and generously sized guest rooms swathed in heavy drapery and with wallpaper that matches the bedspreads There is little modern about Hotel Splendide Royal—save for the addition of a small pool and spa—but indeed The five-star hotel has a timeless feel most notable at the main restaurant which serves a sumptuous Champagne breakfast buffet and formal dinners attended by a small army of servers it serves a cuisine drawn from the flavors of two souths: southern Italy and southern Switzerland Photo: Courtesy of Relais Castello di MorcoteIn the hills above Lake Lugano surrounded by streets so quiet you might think you’re deep in the countryside the three-story stone building housed nuns for over 300 years before a brief chapter as an architecture school in the 1980s a local family began an extensive renovation of the historic building charging architect Francesca Neri Antonello with the meticulous transformation The work paid mindful attention to the building’s impeccable bones preserving the original 17th-century painted coffered ceilings and today the estate grows and produces four varieties of wine including Switzerland’s rarely exported white Merlot The tasting room echoes the hotel design—both historic and modern built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan Both the wine estate and the hotel are popular with guests with their own transportation (Morcote is about a 15-minute drive to Lugano’s city center) yet Switzerland’s excellent public transportation means a car rental is far from a necessity Switzerland is the country that gave the world fondue And while these mountain staples can be found throughout Lugano—most authentically in small restaurants in the hills outside of town—the fact that the city is in the small county’s Italian-speaking canton means you can find pasta and pizza that rivals any in tourist-heavy Como It’s Lugano’s embrace both the Swiss and Italian sides of its identity that form the basis of its food scene you’ll find grotto cuisine served in an elegant space Dishes like wild boar ragout and risotto stewed with pumpkins are served inside by a large wood-burning fire in the winter or outside in a meadow in the summer a family-run spot that feels very much of a different era the best seating is outside on a patio built over the lake It’s fiercely unchanged from the mid-century and you’ll find cigarette holders still in place in the restrooms—both at the urinals in the men’s room and at the sink in the ladies and has a dining room overlooking the lake Photo: Courtesy of Villa Principe LeopoldoMeanwhile, Grand Café Al Porto in downtown Lugano first opened in 1803 and was known as a gathering place for writers the elegant café is the city’s most charming spot for an espresso or cappuccino the latter of which is served the Italian style with a small glass of water a small street in downtown Lugano where fairy lights hang like chandeliers and locals walk by as if on a runway Take a table outside to watch the world go by with a popular route being the roughly 15-minute journey to the lakeside village of Gandria A well-marked hiking trail leads to the top of the roughly 3,000-foot mountain the funicular runs daily and late into the evening Sweeping 360-degree view offers vantage points of the city which is home to a fresco by Bernardino Luini contemporary galleries showcase rotating exhibitions has helped LAC transform the city into a small hub of the arts Recent exhibitions have included shows of Chagall as well as individual shows of works by Alexander Calder and the photographer Luigi Ghirri The Danish Home Lighting Trend That Can Improve Your Mental Health In America’s Cities, Saunas Are Becoming the Hottest Social Spot Millie Bobby Brown Shares Her Favorite Paella Recipe—and Details About Her Wedding to Jake Bongiovi A Day-by-Day Guide to Hiking the Legendary Nakasendo Trail in Japan Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month Today, the city of Lugano in Switzerland unveiled an incredible statue honouring Satoshi Nakamoto I found this tribute incredibly inspiring and beautiful The statue was revealed at Lugano’s Plan B conference turning heads with its clever invisible design it disappears entirely – representing Satoshi’s own anonymity This is an artistic masterpiece perfectly encapsulating his mystery Of course, some bitcoiners like Mandrik found it underwhelming this statue brilliantly captures Satoshi’s ephemeral essence using visionary sculpture techniques And Lugano was the perfect setting as a leading Bitcoin hub with over 100 merchants accepting Lightning payments After visiting Lugano last month and living the Bitcoin life using Lightning while there I’m ecstatic to return now that it houses this iconic Satoshi monument JUST IN: 🇨🇭City of Lugano reveals the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto. pic.twitter.com/YYHnjdg5ky — Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 25, 2024 This is only the second Satoshi statue globally after Budapest’s impressive effort We need more inspiring Satoshi tributes to spread his peaceful ideals worldwide This article is a Take Opinions expressed are entirely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin Magazine is the oldest and most established source of trustworthy news information and thought leadership on Bitcoin Young is a medical journalist who earned her BA in English from Samford University in Birmingham Young has worked in medical publishing since 2022 She is currently an online content editor for Healio EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced that the first patient has been dosed in the global, phase 3 LUGANO clinical trial of Duravyu, formerly EYP-1901 as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration The company also plans to initiate a second phase 3 trial “The initiation of the LUGANO and LUCIA phase 3 program is a major milestone for retina specialists,” Carl D chief of retina service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and clinical trial investigator a potent and selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor as a solid bioerodible insert using the sustained-release Durasert E technology.” “Vorolanib brings a new mechanistic approach to the treatment of VEGF-mediated retinal diseases as a pan-VEGF receptor inhibitor and has the potential to maintain wet AMD under control for at least 6 months.” both LUGANO and LUCIA trials will enroll about 400 patients with active wet AMD who will be randomly assigned a 2.7 mg dose of Duravyu or an on-label aflibercept control Those in the treatment arm will receive an intravitreal injection every 6 months The primary endpoint of both trials is the average change in best corrected visual acuity at weeks 52 and 56 compared with baseline percentage of eyes free of supplemental aflibercept injections and OCT-measured anatomical results Duravyu demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy data and a favorable safety profile in the phase 1 DAVIO and phase 2 DAVIO 2 trials more than 80% of patients with wet AMD were free of supplements or had received only one anti-VEGF injection 6 months after treatment with Duravyu “Dosing the first patient in the global phase 3 LUGANO trial represents a significant milestone for EyePoint and Duravyu underscoring our leadership in sustained-release ocular drug delivery and commitment to developing innovative therapies for patients with serious retinal diseases,” Jay S “We have entered phase 3 leveraging learnings from our robust DAVIO and DAVIO 2 clinical trials to facilitate accelerated enrollment so that wet AMD patients may receive this potentially paradigm-shifting treatment as fast as possible.” Press Release Get the latest news and education delivered to your inbox The email address associated with your Healio account is: If you would like to edit or change the email address that your subscriptions and alerts are sent to You'll receive reminders to complete your saved activities from Healio CME All photos and videos courtesy of the IBSA Foundation for scientific research we offer highly targeted executive and continuing education Scientific Director of the ‘Villa Santa Maria’ Institute of Italy covering topics ranging from happiness from a corporate perspective to promising practices in policymaking and science translation to the measurement of happiness across countries and disciplines Holt-Lunstad emphasized the need to invest in policies and interventions to support the development and maintenance of social connections in order to foster happiness and resilience in society Next, Director Viswanath, in his talk emphasized the importance of social factors to happiness He argued for the need to incorporate social and collective well-being into our definitions of happiness as personal well-being is deeply interconnected with societal health and cohesion Viswanath defined collective well-being as “an idea that individual happiness is nested within larger collectives within which individuals experience positive emotions and feelings and find meaning and purpose in life” Dimensions of collective well-being include community well-being He argued that shifting our focus from individual to collective well-being is particularly important now due to factors such as the digital revolution Following Viswanath’s talk, he moderated a Q&A with Julianne Holt-Lunstad Holt-Lunstad discussed the complex role of social media in young people’s social lives noting its potential benefits for marginalized individuals as well as its small negative mental health effects She highlighted the need for schools to foster connections and community involvement Both Holt-Lunstad and Viswanath stressed the importance of evolving educational models to support social needs and adapting to new technologies like AI The next event featured John Helliwell, DPhil, editor of the World Happiness Report. Helliwell discussed the findings of the 2024 World Happiness Report explaining that happiness levels vary significantly by age The gender gap is not significant in Western Europe Helliwell went on to share that over the past decade Central and Eastern Europe and East Asia have seen significant happiness improvements across all age groups and North Africa have experienced a decline Next year’s World Happiness Report will focus on social connection and the following year’s report will focus on social media and artificial intelligence’s impact on global happiness Another expert who spoke on the first day of the forum was Garth Graham Head of Healthcare and Public Health at Google and YouTube Graham argued that information significantly impacts health He contended that this became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic where both information and misinformation had significant impacts on health outcomes the quality and accessibility of health information is crucial and it is important to think collectively about solutions stated that their goal is to improve global health and happiness by providing credible and actionable health information and adapting to evolving communication technologies a political and communication research company They explored factors influencing happiness and life satisfaction and social media’s mixed effects on youth mental health Burger emphasized the benefits of urban planning to promote social interaction while Bieri noted the rising mental health issues among youth partly attributing these changes to systemic challenges and social media Both highlighted the need for inclusive decision-making and youth engagement in politics Taran and Guggenheim discussed the importance of promoting happiness through mindfulness and pro-social behaviors Later in the day, Enzo Grossi a home for children and adolescents suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders spoke about the significant impact of cultural participation on well-being Highlighting studies from the past two decades Grossi demonstrated that engaging in cultural activities was a major determinant of well-being including an innovative experiment measuring well-being among adolescents with autism at a museum visit and another involving stress reduction through art viewing Stakeholders need to be informed and involved in this inspiring revolution.” the project engages adolescents as well as their families Litynski spoke about her journey as a Chief Happiness Officer emphasizing the challenges and importance of integrating happiness into the workplace As the forum concluded, the leaders of the three organizing bodies came together to give closing remarks and City of Lugano Cultural Division Director Luigi Di Corato expressed their deep gratitude towards all participants and organizers for their contributions and dedication and Di Corato highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in addressing complex topics like happiness and well-being and emphasized the need for inclusivity and consensus-building in public discourse Director Viswanath concluded with a view towards the future stating “This is the starting point for the conversation Stay connected with newsletters on climate communication — and the latest from Harvard Chan School Kent Farrington is now two-for-two in five-star action at Wellington International (Florida) 3 rider clinched a second consecutive CSI5* victory Saturday in the $500,000 Lugano Grand Prix aboard his 2024 FEI World Cup Final partner Greya during the Winter Equestrian Festival Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) built a testing track that saw seven pairs advance to a tie-breaking jump-off Keenan set a steady jump-off standard of 45.47 seconds with her FEI World Championship horse Argan De Beliard Their lead held until Farrington and Greya—an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus—Contessa 128 Contender) owned by Kent Farrington LLC—used speed and precision to steal the lead in 40.24 seconds her foot speed is so high across the middle where there’s a sprint to the next fence and that’s where she makes up a lot of ground which makes her very hard to catch,” Farrington said and she’s an incredible competitor—a great modern show jumper.” Despite back-to-back wins at the five-star level against Olympic combinations Farrington maintains that Greya has yet to fully peak.  “She’s coming of age now where she can really compete and I’m proud of what she’s showing she can do I’ve always thought a lot of the horse since she was young “She’s an alpha horse,” Farrington continued and part of making those horses great is allowing them to keep that character and be who they are That’s ultimately what makes them great fighters in the ring.” Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny put forth a huge effort to catch Farrington in the jump-off but came up short by just under a second in 41.22 “I think even if I did seven less [to the double] I wouldn’t have beat Kent,” he admitted after clocking a podium result with Eddy Blue a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol A “He’s a different type than Kent’s horse; he has a massive stride so for me in a jump-off there needs to be somewhere I can do less strides than Kent He’s jumped clear in the last eight or nine five-star grand prix.”Watch a side-by-side of Kent Farrington’s winning jump-off around and Darragh Kenny’s second-placed effort Kenny set the Lugano Grand Prix as a goal this season and while celebrating the top finish recalled the journey with Eddy Blue—one that interestingly also took place alongside Greya “Kent and I were both jumping 1.30 meters at Spruce Meadows with Eddy Blue and Greya It’s quite nice to see them finish first and second in a grand prix like this after that start.” Keenan held on for third with her 15-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Chansonette Farm “He’s my reliable partner,” she said of Argan De Beliard “I’ve jumped a lot of Nations Cups for Team USA with him He’s the kind of horse that you can walk your plan and he sticks to it; he’s incredibly traditional He gave me everything once again tonight.” was awarded the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500.  See complete results here you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse Copyright © 2025 The Chronicle of the Horse We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative 2024) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has loaned forward Georgios Koutsias to FC Lugano the move will be a year-long loan with an option for a permanent transfer at the conclusion of the deal The loan deal opens both a U-22 Initiative slot and an International Roster spot for the Fire Chicago will retain the right to recall Koutsias at any point subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines "We're excited to see Georgios continue his development with our partners at FC Lugano,” said Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter “He expressed a desire to return to Europe It also provides us with increased roster flexibility as we work to build a strong team for the 2025 season.” originally joined the Fire from PAOK FC in Greece on Feb Koutsias made 57 appearances (18 starts) and recorded five goals and three assists in MLS regular season play the young striker added two goals in five Leagues Cup appearances during the 2023 and 2024 editions of the tournament Koutsias has represented Greece at the U-17 He currently serves as the captain for Greece’s U-21 team and has scored four goals in 13 appearances during UEFA Euro U-21 Championship qualification Transaction: Chicago Fire FC loans forward Georgios Koutsias to FC Lugano In an interview with David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times discusses the Phase 3 LUGANO trial for EYP-1901 in treating wet age-related macular degeneration Abbey discusses the trial’s non-inferiority objectives patient outcomes like reduced treatment burden particularly among those wanting fewer injections though recruiting treatment-naive patients may be challenging potential FDA approval could occur within 3 to 4 years This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity David Hutton: I’m David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times The first patient was recently dosed in the Phase 3 LUGANO clinical trial of Duravyu for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration principal investigator of the LUGANO clinical trial what are the key points in the latest data from this clinical trial which we can use to guide our approach in the Phase 3 trial we now have a full year of data showing a significant reduction in treatment burden for patients who received EYP-1901 the implant currently being used in the Phase 3 trial in the nearly 200 patients treated with EYP-1901 we haven’t seen any significant differences in adverse events between EYP-1901 therapy and standard injections which was the comparator in the DAVIO 2 trial Many patients with the implant did not require any rescue injections for about 6 months after treatment in the DAVIO 2 trial David Hutton: Can you explain the main objectives and design of the LUGANO clinical trial and what distinguishes it from previous studies MD: The LUGANO clinical trial is primarily a non-inferiority trial The main goal is to demonstrate a non-inferior change in visual acuity compared with the current standard of care with three loading doses followed by every-other-month dosing the control arm will receive aflibercept in that regimen while the treatment arm will receive a higher dose of EYP-1901 Patients in the treatment arm will receive 3 loading doses of anti-VEGF injections Both groups will then be monitored monthly for rescue treatment needs with aflibercept available as a rescue option for up to 2 years The secondary endpoint is the reduction in treatment burden which is essential because EYP-1901 might allow for every-six-month dosing with supplemental anti-VEGF injections only as needed EYP-1901 will be administered every 6 months for the treatment group for the full two years David Hutton: What are the key patient outcomes being measured and how will you use these metrics to assess treatment efficacy MD: A key outcome will be maintaining visual acuity we saw that 1 dose of EYP-1901 was non-inferior to standard aflibercept dosing over a year We hope to see similar outcomes in the LUGANO trial with every-6-month dosing The reduction in treatment burden while maintaining good visual acuity is crucial specifically central subfield thickness and fluid on OCT EYP-1901 is designed to provide zero-order kinetic release offering a consistent release of medication over 6 to 9 months This should help stabilize vascular leakage and reduce anatomical fluctuations which are linked to worse visual outcomes over time We hope that with consistent EYP-1901 treatment we may see better long-term visual outcomes David Hutton: What unique challenges have you faced during this trial it’s been relatively easy to enroll patients Many who have been treated with anti-VEGF injections but can’t go beyond 6 to 8 weeks between doses are eager to reduce their treatment burden These patients are highly interested in the possibility of only needing an injection every 6 months only 25% of the trial participants will be previously treated patients we’ll need to recruit treatment-naive patients emphasizing the potential for fewer treatments should help attract participants David Hutton: Based on the data collected so far are you seeing any promising trends or findings including a stable central subfield thickness over time In contrast to every-other-month dosing with Eylea EYP-1901 has shown a more stable trend over 6 months to a year Achieving dry retinas with fewer injections would be a successful outcome and reduced anatomical fluctuations may lead to a better long-term visual prognosis MD: LUGANO will likely continue enrolling patients over the next year to year and a half which will run in parallel internationally we might see potential FDA approval in the next 3 to 4 years J&J gene therapy treatment fails primary endpoints Retinal thinning may serve as early biomarker of genetic risk for schizophrenia Innovation Series: Expanding access to eye care, advice for aspiring innovators from DMEI ophthalmology residents (part 3) 4D Molecular Therapeutics receives RMAT designation for 4D-150 for the treatment of diabetic macular edema AI-enhanced imaging offers cellular resolution of RPE in standard eye clinics The Swiss City of Lugano has issued a CHF 120 million ($139m) digital bond The city now issues its bonds exclusively via the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) There was sufficiently high demand that the nine year 1% coupon bond was issued above par it listed the bond on SDX and the main SIX exchange And the bond can be held in the SDX digital central securities depository (CSD) and the SIS conventional one “Lugano has optimized its debt management strategy obtaining more cost-effective financing than expected that will help support Lugano’s financial strength in the medium and long term,” it said in a statement The City was the first non-financial institution to use the SDX when it issued its first CHF 100 million digital bond in 2023 It was the first digital bond that the Swiss National Bank (SNB) incorporated as part of the SNB General Collateral Basket This may have been a world first for a central bank to allow the use of digital bonds in central bank repurchase agreements (repos) The joint lead managers for the issuance were Basler Kantonalbank exclusive experiences and our expertly curated destination guides reviews of rare spirits and delicious cocktail recipes pioneering yacht builds and boundary-pushing private jets Explore the worlds of haute horology and fine jewelry as well as carefully selected style guides Explore the finest properties on the market standout interior styling and architectural wonders From science-backed retreats to traditional spas Be inspired by our conversations with Leaders in Luxury Elite Collections is a trusted distinction of excellence Get insider access to luxury’s best-kept secrets and exclusive offers Elevate your inbox with the best in refined living Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.You will recieve a confirmation shortly High Jewelry Lugano Diamonds has been doing things differently since 2004 We speak to founder Moti Ferder about bringing its one-of-a-kind creations to life Ferder launched the Newport Beach-based brand in 2004 with his wife Idit with the aim of not just creating fine jewelry multifunctional and intriguing — despite the value Lugano pieces are intended to be picked up There are no white gloves in a Lugano showroom “My philosophy is that jewelry should be worn,” Ferder says “So the combination of having a three-carat pink diamond… which in many places would be a big deal… putting in ebony [hardwood] completely tones it down and makes it fun.” how can we get the most value out of it?’” Ferder says With a family background in Antwerp’s diamond industry Ferder was born into the business and went on to undergo gemologist training Despite being CEO of the international organization (there are seven stores — or ‘salons’ in Lugano lingo — in the States and a new one over in London) he still has a heavy hand in the creation process and personally oversees the small team of designers as well as the extended line up of craftspeople takes place under one roof in Lugano’s Newport Beach HQ “It’s almost like a pharmacy,” Ferder says [jewelry workshops] are not very appealing places… they’re dirty and scruffy They all sit there with their microscopes — it’s quite an incredible environment.” While the stone is the starting point for each piece Ferder thinks about his clients from the get-go: “I start with a vision of Is it bringing something new and different?’ You don’t invent the wheel for every single piece but what really differentiates Lugano from other brands is the evolution We’re creating about 150 new pieces every month and you’re constantly learning and evolving and bringing something new,” Ferder explains Sometimes the designs come straight from Ferder’s hands it’s his direct instructions that end up creating the design: “I sit with the design and production team and give them instructions of what I want.”  3D mockups are created before the final design is handed over to a jeweler “We choose who is the craftsman for every piece,” Ferder says “Each one of them has different things that they’re great at we can decide who’s going to execute it For every jeweler there is some element of artistic touch that they add and you can tell the finish between one and another.” While a lead jeweler is chosen for each project a piece might pass through 10 hands before it’s ready The individuality of Lugano’s jewelry also means that there’s no exact time frame for creating pieces: “We have a sense of what the labor should cost but we don’t have a set time… one could take 10 hours There are some projects that take a year to do While Lugano’s stamp is on each piece that leaves the Newport Beach workshop the most important story around a necklace Pieces often have secret details included that might only be known to the wearer such as a hidden gemstone on the inside of a bracelet or the back of a pair of earrings “There’s always a surprise in there,” Ferder says.To Lugano the marker of a ‘successful’ piece of jewelry is really how a client feels when wearing it She puts something on and she knows if it’s good or not I see that reaction with women trying on [our jewelry] a lot.” Clients are often surprised by the backlog of pieces and the different materials and the different way of doing things but we have more than 5,000 unique pieces in the company,” Ferder says “This depth helps create inspiration as to why to even buy jewelry It’s a differentiating factor and something that clients really appreciate.” making the jewelry is only a small fraction of the Lugano process — the real process comes when they’re ready to be bought The brand’s ‘salons’ are less retail space more like the home of a friend; you’ll often find no jewelry on display at all “We actually changed what return on investment meant to us,” Ferder explains inspiration.’ I would say that nine times out of ten [a client has] no idea what to expect — and the element is creating the inspiration.” Edited Press Release UPPERVILLE, Va., March 10, 2025 – The 2025 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ is thrilled to welcome back Lugano as the Co-Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 FEI CSI4* $200,000 Upperville Jumper Classic The Jumper Classic will take place on Sunday when top riders from around the nation will compete As a dedicated supporter of the UCHS and returning sponsor the international jewelry brand will also have an onsite pop-up salon in the UCHS 1853 Club “We are very excited to continue our support of the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and contribute to the show’s high-quality programming,” said Moti Ferder, CEO of Lugano “Everything we do at Lugano is done with passion. From curating the rarest and most precious gemstones to hand-crafting one-of-a-kind pieces. We thoughtfully approach the design of each piece we create and take great pride in our commitment to excellence.” The Upperville Colt & Horse Show, June 2-8, is the oldest horse show in the U.S., celebrating its 172nd year this year Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with thousands of equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs and juniors compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm—the same location since 1853 The UCHS is an FEI CSI4* event that attracts hundreds of world-class equestrians year after year The equine and human athletes compete in disciplines ranging from international level show jumping, hunters and equitation to local ponies, in-hand conformation classes, and women in traditional the competition boasts Premier Hunter and Jumper Rating Six classifications with US Equestrian is sanctioned by the Virginia Horse Shows Association and the Maryland Horse Shows Association and is a World Championship Hunter Rider recognized show UCHS is also one of a handful of qualified Heritage Horse Shows across the United States The week-long show culminates on June 8 with the excitement of the $200,000 Upperville Jumper Classic CSI4* featuring top world-class equestrians The day’s entertainment includes junior and amateur riders competing in both Hunter and Jumper disciplines vendors offer a variety of food as well as equestrian, sporting, and fashionable clothing, milliners, tack and leather goods, jewelry, art and hand-crafted gifts The venue is beautifully located in the heart of Virginia’s hunt country Parking and general admission are free again this year for spectators Additional sponsors of the 2025 Upperville Horse Show include Lugano For more information and the weeklong show schedule, visit www.upperville.com The Plaid Horse is a print and digital publishing company providing exceptional coverage for the hunter/jumper/breeding disciplines at reasonable rates and suppliers to the industry through horse show and event coverage Contact us: news@theplaidhorse.com Sign up for The TPH Newsletter and receive fresh inspiration from the hunter jumper world I would like to receive emails from The Plaid Horse Magazine has unveiled a striking statue celebrating the anonymity of Satoshi Nakamoto The grand reveal took place at the third annual Plan ₿ Forum, an event co-hosted by the city and Tether’s ambitious Plan ₿ project with the sleekly designed figure aiming to capture Satoshi’s enigmatic legacy Lugano Mayor Michele Foletti lauded the statue as a symbol of the city’s bold embrace of digital progress underscoring Lugano’s rise as a premier hub for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation Source: X This creation honors not just Nakamoto as an individual but the far-reaching impact of his creation—Bitcoin—on the global financial landscape The statue is a tribute to the spirit of decentralization embodying the same borderless potential that blockchain offers and highlighting how the pseudonymous Nakamoto ignited a financial revolution the statue isn’t merely symbolic; it’s a marker of the city’s ongoing transformation into a digital ecosystem with blockchain as its backbone says the statue shows Satoshi sitting in a typical hacker position on a laptop “The statue disappears in front of the audience and what’s left of Satoshi is visible “between the lines” (of the code) for all the Bitcoin users.” Source: X and digital enthusiasts from around the world to discuss the future of blockchain This annual forum has become a focal point for blockchain advocates the unveiling of Nakamoto’s statue firmly positioned Lugano as a key player in the blockchain universe it reflects the city’s commitment to leveraging blockchain for economic growth a sentiment echoed by leaders and speakers from Tether’s Plan ₿ team who see Lugano as a microcosm of what blockchain-enabled cities could become Source: Plan B Lugano’s transformation into a crypto-friendly city didn’t happen overnight the city has crafted an environment where digital enterprises can thrive As one of the leading issuers of stablecoins Tether’s Plan ₿ project aligns seamlessly with Lugano’s vision pushing for greater adoption and integration of blockchain technologies in public and private sectors alike they’ve set a new precedent for the power of collaboration in shaping digital ecosystems The statue’s design itself is a clever nod to the essence of Nakamoto’s anonymity conceptualized to appear invisible when viewed head-on leaves spectators in awe—much like Nakamoto’s enduring mystery remains at the core of Bitcoin’s very identity a testament to the intangible yet indelible impact Nakamoto has left on the world As a visible symbol of Lugano’s dedication to digital innovation the Nakamoto statue is poised to attract blockchain talent The city’s gesture cements its status as a pioneer in the blockchain realm and positions it as a welcoming space for fresh ideas Lugano not only honors the past but also paves the way for future generations to pursue breakthroughs in blockchain Brave New Coin reaches 500,000+ engaged crypto enthusiasts a month through our website, podcast, newsletters, and YouTube. Get your brand in front of key decision-makers and early adopters. Don’t wait – Secure your spot and drive real impact in Q2. Find out more today! |2025-05-05T06:03:34+12:005 May 2025|News| |2025-05-05T06:00:26+12:005 May 2025|News| |2025-05-04T19:10:01+12:004 May 2025|News| |2025-05-04T19:05:54+12:004 May 2025|News| |2025-05-04T15:25:07+12:004 May 2025|News| Auckland / Melbourne / London / New York / Tokyo 13 November, 2024 — Plan ₿, an initiative founded in collaboration with Tether and the City of Lugano to promote the use of Bitcoin and blockchain technology proudly concluded the third annual Plan ₿ Forum on October 25-26 marking a significant milestone in their collaborative journey toward financial democratization The Lugano-based event saw record attendance of around 2,900 participants from over 60 countries a notable 70-80% increase from its inaugural year in 2022 and a 25-30% rise from 2023’s turnout A major highlight of the 2024 forum was the unveiling of a life-sized statue of Satoshi Nakamoto in front of Lugano’s Villa Ciani the statue plays with perception and appears to vanish from view as observers change their perspective symbolizing Nakamoto’s mysterious retreat after sparking a decentralized financial revolution This tribute serves as a reminder of the principles of decentralization and financial sovereignty that continue to inspire Lugano’s journey to becoming a blockchain epicenter This year’s Plan ₿ Forum also witnessed a substantial surge in Bitcoin and USD₮ payments in Lugano further establishing the city as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption Lugano recorded 6,121 transactions totaling $160,200 in Bitcoin Lightning and USD₮ payments.  These figures reflect the robust adoption of crypto payments among local businesses and highlight Lugano’s commitment to making digital currency a practical tool for residents and visitors alike “This year’s Plan ₿ Forum has been nothing short of remarkable with record attendance and incredible enthusiasm from participants around the world It’s inspiring to witness Lugano emerge as a beacon for blockchain innovation and we are excited about the momentum this brings not only for our city but also for global adoption of digital assets,” said Michele Foletti “The future of Lugano as a leader in blockchain innovation looks brighter than ever and we look forward to seeing the positive impact grow in the years to come.” “The extraordinary attendance and energy at Plan ₿ Forum 2024 reflect the powerful momentum behind bitcoin and digital assets,” said Paolo Ardoino “Lugano has truly become a vibrant meeting point for global innovation embodying a vision of financial freedom and decentralized technology We are thrilled to help drive this movement forward supporting a future where blockchain can unlock unprecedented opportunities This is just the beginning of an exciting journey.” Following the success of this year’s forum the Plan ₿ Initiative will host two upcoming events to continue the discussion in 2025: coupled with significant advancements in cryptocurrency adoption and digital payments infrastructure underscores the Plan ₿ Initiative’s success in positioning Lugano as a blockchain epicenter With two premier events already underway for next year the Plan ₿ Initiative is poised to continue to grow blockchain adoption in 2025 and beyond For more details on the Plan ₿ Initiative, including the upcoming forums in El Salvador and Lugano, visit planb.lugano.ch/planb-forum (TI) today published its Q1 2025 attestation a top-five global independent accounting firm The report confirms the accuracy of Tether’s Financials Figures and Reserves Report (FFRR) and offers a transparent breakdown of the assets backing Fiat Denominated stablecoins as of March 31 a global technology company and strategic investor today announced the successful acquisition of a 70% controlling stake in Adecoagro S.A a leading sustainable production company in South America This milestone represents a major step in Tether’s broader strategy to expand beyond digital finance […] Tether Gold (XAU₮) maintains its position as the highest market-cap and compliant tokenized gold product in the market With the product now regulated in El Salvador we are proud to publish the first official attestation specific to XAU₮ under this new regulatory framework spoke with Modern Retina about the ASRS 2024: The DAVIO phase 2 trial and upcoming LUGANO phase 3 trial at the annual ASRS meeting in Stockholm spoke with Modern Retina about the DAVIO phase 2 trial and upcoming LUGANO phase 3 trial at the annual ASRS meeting in Stockholm I'm one of the retina specialists at NYU Langone in New York City We're here at in Stockholm at the ASRS conference or talking about a wonderful presentation given by Veeral Sheth on some of the EyePoint data this was focused on the DAVIO 6-month data these patients were loaded with aflibercept injections And it ultimately looked at the stability of this medication and the need for rescue treatment one of our take home messages was that 6 months after implantation of the device 60% of your patients going 6 months without rescue I think that's a really outstanding result we are now in a marketplace where we have you know what some would consider third generation anti VEGFs with faricimab but many of those patients are not likely in treatment previously-treated patients to go out 6 months So I think the entire marketplace of TKIs is certainly one that can lower the potential burden of treatment for these patients so some 12 month data has been presented in short snippets is some of that data looks equally as promising where you still have a large percentage of patients going out up to 10 months from the time of their injection what's interesting about the DAVIO study was that the control arm could also be rescued So that is if patients were getting aflibercept every 8 weeks but they fulfilled the criteria for rescue they would get injections at shorter intervals And something like at the end of the 1 year study something about 25% of patients ended up getting rescue in the control arm too So really goes to show you a couple of things The TKI implants are being implanted in patients with heavy treatment burden and are demonstrating excellent durability out to 10 months after the implant what's going to happen is these patients are going to be dosed every 6 months So now we're starting to understand how we may be using this potentially in clinical practice where if there's positive results from the phase 3 study we may be sort of using this as sort of a basal level 0 order kinetics injection every 6 months and then potentially doing rescue treatment with anti-VEGF as well these are all patients who were previously treated The average number of injections in the year prior to treatment was about 10 injections These are going to be patients that could be previously-treated or treatment-naive And rather than waiting until the point where they need rescue treatment in the DAVIO study these patients are going to be reduced every 6 months So that's sort of a critical difference between the LUGANO study and the DAVIO study Keep your retina practice on the forefront—subscribe for expert analysis and emerging trends in retinal disease management ARVO 2025: Editorial Board Members set to present data Integrating AI to manage DR in a primary care setting AI-powered biomarker segmentation enhances precision in monitoring nAMD What to expect from virtual AAO 2020 Aflibercept: Applications for dosing duration and additional indications pending decision with FDA and EMA Biocon, Regeneron settle to launch aflibercept biosimilar, Yesafili in the US The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup SUI concluded today after three days of competition in Lugano marking the end of the fourth round of the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup Trophy the event brought together 102 sailors from 10 countries The regatta kicked off with three races in light south winds of 5-7 knots The second day was marked by shifty conditions and long waits both onshore and on the course allowing only one race per fleet before the wind exceeded 25 knots a northern breeze of 5-10 knots enabled three additional races bringing all fleets to a total of seven races The podium in all classes and categories were finally as follows; Full Results Photo Galleries The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup Trophy will go on in one month with the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup FRA, set to take place in Maubuisson, France. The event is scheduled to run from May 1-4 and the registration closes on April 20th – Enter now here! For further information about our annual competition around Europe Get the latest news from EurILCA in your inbox Lugano municipality in Switzerland has issued its third bond using distributed-ledger technology (DLT) just under two years after its pioneering first such issuance The city authority issued a six-year ‘digital native’ bond valued at CHF 100 million (about £90m/$114m) in January 2023 the new offering – valued at CHF 120 million (about £107m/$139m) – has a dual listing on the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) and the traditional SIX Swiss Exchange infrastructure (SIX is Switzerland’s principal stock exchange) the new offering (which took place on 31 October) is capitalising on the Swiss National Bank (SNB)’s wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) ‘Project Helvetia’ pilot programme Settlement will take place via wholesale CBDC on 25 November Speaking today (8 November) about Lugano’s latest issuance city administration’s deputy chief financial officer Paolo Bortolin’s enthusiasm for blockchain bonds was undimmed But he described “widespread adoption by the public sector and other issuers” as “still pending” RELATED ARTICLE Swiss city Lugano issues blockchain bond with settlement in wholesale CBDC – a news story (14 February 2024) on the city administration’s second blockchain bond issuance there’s no difference in experience,” Bortolin told Global Government Fintech “Our latest issuance further demonstrated that investors are ready to buy digital bonds I strongly encourage other issuers to join us in embracing the digital future of finance,” he said we ventured into this innovative blockchain-based platform “It took a few months to fully understand the process and align with all stakeholders subsequent bond issuances have been much easier we realised this technology can represents the future of finance and we committed to continuing with digital bond issuances on SDX.” enabling the municipality to “leverage favourable market conditions” and “achieve lower financing costs than anticipated” in the administration’s 2025-2028 Financial Plan “This proactive debt management strategy will support Lugano’s long-term financial health and aligns with our goals of controlling future borrowing costs managing expiring bonds effectively and addressing new capital needs at competitive rates.” RELATED ARTICLE Swiss city issues blockchain bond – our news story (27 January 2023) on Lugano’s first digital bond issuance almost two years ago The February bond issuance took place in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank It had a 10-year tenor and coupon of 1.415% The new issuance involved the same three banks Bortolin highlighted that Safra Sarasin is not a member of SDX “This demonstrates that any bank with a DCM [dept capital markets] desk could participate in the bidding – provided they join a lead manager within the SDX platform,” he told Global Government Fintech “This process now establishes a clear standard for the public sector on how to conduct bond issuances with competitive bidding on SDX It’s another step forward with a transparent and clear process.” “We will continue to lead the way in digital bond issuance driving innovation and setting new standards for efficiency and transparency in the market,” he continued “As we expand our digital offerings on SDX we’re paving the path for broader adoption enabling the public sector and other market players to benefit from the speed security and seamlessness of blockchain-based solutions We’re excited to shape the future of finance and encourage others to join us in this digital transformation.” RELATED ARTICLE Blockchain bonds: digital issuance breakthroughs build buzz – a write-up of a webinar (convened by Global Government Fintech on 23 March 2023) asking ‘Blockchain-based bonds: what potential for the public sector?’ in which Paolo Bortolin was the opening panellist Project Helvetia has been investigating how central bank money can be used for settlement in a world where securities and other financial assets shift from centralised financial market infrastructures to decentralised or tokenised platforms for trading and post-trading activities The first Project Helvetia report, published in conjunction with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub, was published almost four years ago. The second phase added commercial banks to the experiment integrated wholesale CBDC into the core banking systems of the central bank and commercial banks and ran transactions ‘from end to end’ involved the SNB moving its wholesale CBDC activity from test environments into production with banks carrying out transactions on SDX as intermediaries for issuers and investors In June the SNB announced that Helvetia would be continued for ‘at least two more years’ and its scope ‘broadened’ The pilot programme has enabled the SNB to ‘play a globally leading role in deploying wholesale CBDC in a live production environment’ adding that it ‘hopes that additional financial institutions will participate over time and that wholesale CBDC can be made available for a wider range of financial transactions.’ The SNB has emphasised that Helvetia does not constitute a commitment to introduce wholesale CBDC on a permanent basis TrendingCommercialChicagoALugano Diamonds to bling out Amancio Ortega’s Gold Coast retailCalifornia-based luxury jewelry salon concept has deal for first Chicago store Lugano Diamonds is nearing a deal to secure its first store in Chicago’s Gold Coast shopping district The luxury brand, led by co-founder and CEO Moti Ferder, has a deal to occupy 100-104 East Oak Street, Crain’s reported the real estate investment arm of Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega The property has been a fixture of Oak Street’s retail scene since 2014 when it was redeveloped from the former Esquire Theater into a 54,000-square-foot commercial space JLL’s Peter Caruso and Jose Gonzalez represented Ponte Gadea USA in lease negotiations The building’s previous tenants are vacating French boutiques Maje and Sandro occupied 4,700 square feet at 100 and 102 East Oak Street Mediterranean restaurant Fig & Olive took up 12,400 square feet at 104 East Oak and is closing after this weekend The Newport Beach-based jeweler has built a reputation for exclusive and luxurious shopping experiences often tailored to the individual preferences of its affluent clientele Connecticut; South Florida; Houston; and Washington It recently opened its first international store in London SIGN UPThe Chicago location is expected to follow the company’s successful “salon” concept its move into Oak Street would cement the area’s status as a premier shopping destination Despite challenges faced by other retail districts in the city Oak Street has maintained a low vacancy rate Chicago-based Stone Real Estate estimates the vacancy at under 10 percent “It’s fundamentally luxury and contemporary brands having their moment and those brands either require wealthy customers or customers who are willing to spend,” Stone Principal John Vance said emphasizing the resilience of the Gold Coast shopping corridor but his comments highlight the appeal of Oak Street for high-end brands like Lugano Diamonds Other luxury brands to set up shop on Oak Street in recent years include Burdeen’s Jewelry, a Chicago-based fine jewelry shop that open a two-story location at 120 East Oak Street, as well as  the family behind Razny Jewelers securing th 6,300-square-foot building at 107 East Oak for $16.4 million Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala © 2025 World of Showjumping - All rights reserved Powered by Artionet - Generated with IceCube2.Net When in search of extraordinary, rare, and art-inspired treasures, jewelry aficionados know to look no further than Lugano Diamonds the American high jewelry company founded in 2004 The esteemed brand is headquartered in Newport Beach the brand has opened its first international outpost in London Fittingly located in the upscale Mayfair district the new salon spans 3,600 square feet of a multi-story townhouse on Albemarle Street Setting itself apart from many jewelry boutiques the interior design supports Lugano’s multi-prong mission to not only showcase exceptional jewelry but also provide opportunities to build community and create social impact through philanthropic endeavors The sumptuous interior design scheme is vision of Idit Ferder the brand’s chief operations officer who co-founded the business with her husband a master gem-cutter whose family has roots in the diamond business in Antwerp “The whole process started by me wanting to have interactions with people,” Ferder tells Galerie “The philosophy of the business itself is all about interactions and creating relationships It is not about so much about the transaction I wanted to create a place that would make people feel like they’ve come home—like I have invited them into my living room and they’re surrounded by beautiful art and inspirations.” Rendered with Lugano’s signature soothing palette of blue the furniture throughout the space is by Ceccotti Collezioni and Porada Everything is designed with comfort and lounging in mind—think plush armchairs The original classic English elements of the former house have been beautifully preserved with a modern twist “One of the first things I noticed was the gorgeous spiral staircase that has these metal rosettes on it and a leather banister that I was able to bring back to life who also added panels on the walls with a modern fabric she has used in past projects Ferder places art front and center of the Lugano experience tapping her extensive network of artist friends and collaborators to create pieces for the store Among the highlights is a striking lighting fixture that was commissioned to Romanian artist Andreea Braescu hanging above the large the installation features hundreds of handcrafted ginkgo-leaf-shapes that give an impression of fluttering in the wind (Braescu was also tapped to create the light at the Connecticut salon.) “It is like a canopy hanging down from these super high-vaulted ceilings from the 1700s,” she says and she tolerates my crazy and allows me to ask her to create all these different installations.” “I believe that art helps to bring us all together in a world that’s filled with controversy” art “is a right and not a privilege,” and this bold philanthropic mission drives everything that she does Lugano is the principal sponsor of Yinka Shonibare’s new exhibition at the Serpentine in London this season and the British-Nigerian artist has lent one of his tapestry works depicting endangered species of birds to go on view at the new Lugano London boutique during the show’s run “I believe that art helps to bring us all together in a world that’s filled with controversy It makes you smile and it makes you feel a shared experience.” © 2023 Hudson One Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We like how the burner cup sits elevated in the rechaud so the heat source is kept away from the table surface We simply love the rustic aesthetic of this fondue set Germany’s Christian Kukuk has been partnered with Just Be Gentle for about two years after taking over the ride from fellow German rider Philipp Weishaupt and I was in a lucky situation that I had an owner who wanted to keep the horse for me,” he said “It’s not just gambling—we always have to work really hard for our success I’m in a lucky situation that I have a few people believing in me and trusting me and supporting me.” the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Tyson—Be Gentle who’s owned by Ludger Beerbaum Stables and Stal Knijnenburg BV has started to pick up some solid five-star results and Kukuk brought her to the World Equestrian Center-Ocala this week to ride on the German team for the Longines League of Nations winning the $350,000 Lugano Grand Prix after besting eight other pairs in the jump-off who was the 2024 Paris Olympic individual show jumping champion on Checker 47 Kukuk was second in a four-star grand prix at WEC Ocala then competed in a five-star grand prix in Wellington He dropped the mare down a level before heading back to WEC this week “Last week I felt ready to come back here and ask her to do the grand prix and Nations Cup,” he said I was first to go—it’s always quite difficult in a jump-off and I probably added one or two too many to the last jump because I flew a little bit to the second to last and didn’t see one honestly The pair were second in big grand prix classes in London and Rotterdam (the Netherlands) last year There are days where she’s sometimes losing the concentration because she is so focused on everything around then everything is possible in the right moment Today I felt like that—she wants to go fast Ireland’s Cian O’Connor slid into second place behind Kukuk on Karlswood Partners’ 12-year-old Zangersheide Iron Man (Charisma Z—Dindy-Blue He’s had the ride on the gelding for about six months “It took a while for the partnership to develop,” he said “He goes differently to some of my other horses At the start we were OK in smaller classes He was fifth in a 1.50-meter; he was double-clear last week in a four-star in Wellington [Florida] I was so pleased because it was the first time I went a little bit more against the clock on him Christian’s obviously who is he—the Olympic champion—and his horse is very quick who’ll be competing in the League of Nations as well on Saturday, said he’s learned a lot from riding Iron Man who’s a reminder that every horse should be treated as an individual “We have to meet these horses in the middle—we can’t just get up and ride them all one way,” he said “He’s taught me that he wants to be ridden in a very different way than I want to ride naturally He doesn’t like that; he likes to be close to it It’s a funny feeling because you think you’re going to knock it down.” O’Connor was perhaps the rider in the top 3 with the most familiarity for Irish course designer Alan Wade’s track “He knows that when he builds a course tonight he doesn’t really make the combinations too tricky maybe there’s some more experienced horses in that so I’d say it will be a little bit harder than today.” Rounding out the top three was France’s Nina Mallevaey on Nikka Vd Bisschop a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Emerald—Havanna Vd Bisschop Nabab De Reve) owned by Tara Dow-Rein and the Rein Family LLC “I’m over the moon tonight to just be near these riders,” the 25-year-old said “I’ve been dreaming to be on the podium in these classes I’m lucky to have a horse like ‘Nikka’ who makes me do well.” She’d shown the mare for about six months in 2021 before Canada’s Beth Underhill took on the ride Canadian Erynn Ballard then competed her in 2024 and went to the Paris Olympics before Mallevaey got the ride again this year She’ll be riding on the French team for the League of Nations and hopes to be selected for the FEI European Show Jumping Championships (Spain) this summer “She always wants to try her best to please you I feel really lucky to have her and to ride her.” For full results, click here Follow along with the Chronicle on Instagram and Facebook Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour It was an evening of world-class showjumping sport on Thursday at Santa Anita Park for the Lugano DiamondsSplit Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Santa Anita CSI5*-W in partnership with 1/ST as 73 horse-and-rider combinations took on the $125,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m Welcome CSI5*-W it came down to the final pair and they delivered – Lillie Keenan (USA) and Kick On (Warrior x Caretino Glory) left no stone unturned as they clocked in nearly a second ahead of the previous leaders to clinch the victory The compact indoor-inspired arena saw 16 jumping efforts set by Anderson Lima of Brazil challenging the 73 starters with a fairly tight time-allowed of 74 seconds that would deny six combinations a spot in the jump-off who were otherwise fault-free over the fences The same area of the arena that proved troublesome on Wednesday evening once again tested competitors with an oxer set just out of the corner going away from the ingate past the scoreboard.  Despite some of the technical elements of the course the first clear round came from the first pair in the ring Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) with his Paris Olympic mount A jump-off was not guaranteed until fifteen rounds later when Callie Schott (USA) and Garant matched their effort The clear rounds began to flow as Shawn Casady (USA) Olympic silver medalist Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Longines Jumping FEI World Cup™ North American League leader Daniel Bluman (ISR) joined the good list Keenan would follow ten rounds after Bluman while none of the 18 remaining combinations behind her could match the clear effort to keep an eight-horse jump-off Alrajhi once again led the way with a clear round however his time left room for improvement as he clocked in at 37.70 seconds Schott would follow and find the time with an impressive 36.59-second finish would execute some tight turns around the track to overtake Alrajhi’s lead with a new time-to-beat of 36.85 seconds Kraut gave a valiant effort on Tres Bien Z but came in just off the pace with a finish time of 37.33 seconds Jarvis Insurance 1.45m Special Two Phase CSI5* winners Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Naomi van het Keizershof (Cardento 933 x For Pleasure) edging their way ahead of Kraut yet still behind Anthony at 37.26 seconds but Keenan still remained as the final athlete to tackle the challenge “My turn to the [double] combination was on the edge of risk,” Keenan reflected of her ride that clocked in at 35.91 seconds for the win “My horse is incredibly game and I came in quite hot I planned on bending the one stride [combination] which was a bit of a questionable risk Anthony would settle for second place while Springsteen returned to the podium in third Kraut finished fourth and Alrajhi took fifth place.  Thursday’s competition qualified athletes for the week’s feature event the $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles CSI5*-W November 23 where they will look to gain qualifying points towards the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals for a possible spot at World Cup Finals in Basel you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly Slides and Webcasts from all ESMO Preceptorships are reserved to ESMO Members and registered participants according to the presenters' agreement to release them ESMO thanks the authors for their generosity The copyright protected educational resources from this event are for personal usage only and not to be shared with any third parties Supported by an independent grant from Boehringer Ingelheim and supported by Novartis.Supporters have no influence over the content of ESMO courses Login to your ESMO account to sign up for ESMO newsletters and 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All rights reserved 6 August 2024 – Tether the largest company in the digital asset industry and the Swiss city of Lugano announced the elite line-up of thought leaders who will headline the third annual Plan ₿ forum This year’s line-up includes the Assange family who will be addressing the profound significance of freedom of speech and the far-reaching implications it holds worldwide The Forum offers its participants two days of insightful panels and events that underscore the importance of the democratization of finance via cryptocurrency adoption The inclusion of the Assange family adds particular significance in light of the recent release of Julian Assange and activist whose name is synonymous with defending freedom of information Julian’s work with WikiLeaks has been at the forefront of these discussions raising crucial questions about transparency and information access the Assange family will discuss the future of communication and censorship in our digital age The event will take place on 25-26 October 2024 with the aim of celebrating Bitcoin and blockchain technology’s role in securing financial freedom for individuals It also plays an important role in boosting cryptocurrency transactions taking place in the city.  Tether and The City of Lugano collaborated on the Plan ₿ initiative to make Bitcoin and USD₮ Tether and The City of Lugano have driven efforts to boost awareness around digital assets to ultimately shape Lugano into the blockchain epicenter of Europe.  Lugano has also hosted students and entrepreneurs from across the globe for the Plan ₿ Summer School an intensive 10-day blockchain education program co-organized with some of the region’s most prestigious universities Lugano launched its first incubator dedicated to supporting blockchain start-ups with the mission of attracting the most innovative Web3 pioneers and developers Lugano is also home to the vibrant Plan B Co-working Hub crypto and peer-to-peer communication technologies The Hub serves as a platform to facilitate discussions and collaborations for professionals and individuals new to these cutting-edge technologies.  the Swiss City of Lugano has positioned itself to be the heart of blockchain technology in Europe.  “We are thrilled to announce the third annual Plan ₿ forum with such illustrious figures such as the Assange family The past conferences in Lugano were a massive success that blew all expectations and we are so excited to do it again this year,” said Paolo Ardoino “ By bringing together leading voices in the industry we aim to foster discussions that will shape the future of communication As a result of the Plan B initiative across Lugano and LVGA are accepted at shops and restaurants across the city enabling residents and travellers to use cryptocurrency to purchase goods ranging from coffee to yoga lessons Many of these merchants have held cashback promotions offering customers rewards as high as 30% for those paying with cryptocurrency.   “It has been an honor to welcome so many great speakers and guests from across the world to our city these past two years and we are thrilled to once again host the third Plan ₿ forum in October 2024,” said Michele Foletti “Our collaboration with Tether has been instrumental in driving awareness around the transformative power of digital assets and we look forward to continuing this journey towards making Lugano a blockchain epicenter in Europe.” Ticketing details for the third Plan ₿ forum can be found at https://planb.lugano.ch/planb-forum   Lugano’s Plan ₿ is a joint initiative between the City of Lugano and Tether to accelerate the use of and leverage bitcoin technology as the foundation to transform the city’s financial infrastructure 2024 Disappearing Satoshi statue in Lugano took 21 months to create became a Bitcoiner in 2012 and has been an activist artist since News COINTELEGRAPH IN YOUR SOCIAL FEEDA disappearing statue honoring Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto took 18 months of study and three months to build Valentina Picozzi, the artist behind the Satoshigallery handle on X, said the project had a goal of connecting people to Bitcoin (BTC) culture through art She said her latest creation took 21 months to complete because of its special features The statue of a faceless figure working on a laptop can only be observed clearly from the side while those looking from the direct front or rear will get a see-through effect due to its slit design The “statue disappears in front of the audience,” and “what’s left of Satoshi” is visible “between the lines of the code,” said Picozzi first found Bitcoin in early 2012 and has since been working as an activist artist Made from 304 stainless steel and corten blocks the statue is located in front of Lugano’s Villa Ciani It was unveiled as part of Plan B’s annual forum in Lugano government officials and Bitcoin enthusiasts in the city Source: Satoshigallery The event has been held for the last three years, and Picozzi says the statue is also a celebration of the event and the mayor of Lugano, who has been heavily involved in trying to bring blockchain tech to the city Michele Foletti, mayor of Lugano, said the statue symbolizes the city’s ongoing commitment to digital innovations “Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading hub for digital innovation but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city,” he said “Lugano embraced and welcomed Bitcoin since three years and it’s now called the Bitcoin city It was the first and we need to celebrate that we can find open mind politicians like Michele Foletti Related: Inside Lugano’s crypto revolution — A documentary The statue won’t always be at this location as a final resting place for her art is still to be decided It will remain a part of the permanent collection of Parco Ciani in Lugano This isn’t the first time a city has decided to erect a statute of the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator; another bronze depiction of Satoshi Nakamoto was built at Budapest’s Graphisoft Park in 2021 Source: Global Statistics  Sculptors Gergely Réka and Tamás Gilly intentionally designed the figure with a hoodie to have a mirrored face By: Wellington International | February 24 The USA’s own Kent Farrington is now two-for-two in five-star action at Wellington International 3 rider clinched a second consecutive CSI5* victory in the $500,000 Lugano Grand Prix aboard his 2024 FEI World Cup™ Final partner Greya during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on February 22 Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition and four five-stars WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington Keenan set a steady jump-off standard of 45.47 seconds with her FEI World Championship horse Argan de Beliard Their lead held until Farrington and Greya—an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender)—showcased speed and precision to steal the lead in 40.24 seconds her foot speed is so high across the middle where there’s a sprint to the next fence and that’s where she makes up a lot of ground which makes her very hard to catch,” recalled Farrington after securing the victory “She’s ultra careful so you can run at the jumps at speed and she’s an incredible competitor—a great modern show jumper.” Farrington maintains that Greya has yet to fully peak She’s coming of age now where she can really compete and I’m proud of what she’s showing she can do I’ve always thought a lot of the horse since she was young and I’m happy how she turned out “She’s an alpha horse,” continued Farrington of Greya’s overall character She’s very confident in herself and part of making those horses great is allowing them to keep that character and be who they are a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Chacco-Blue) owned by Carol A He’s jumped clear in the last eight or nine five-star grand prix.” Kenny set the Lugano Grand Prix as a goal this season and while celebrating the top finish recalled the journey with Eddy Blue—one that interestingly also took place alongside Greya “Kent and I were both jumping 1.30m at Spruce Meadows with Eddy Blue and Greya Keenan held on for third with her 15-year-old Selle Français gelding (MyLord Carthago HN x Ahorn) owned by Chansonette Farm “He’s my reliable partner,” she said of Argan de Beliard Keenan has grown up riding at Wellington International after first competing on ponies “Whenever you get to ride in front of a big crowd like this it makes it that much more fun and meaningful for all of us It makes the horses and the riders better.” Denise Moriarty was awarded the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care and preparation of Greya Alessandra Volpi (USA) was also presented with the Martha Jolicoeur Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award in recognition of her consistent performances throughout the week To view full results from the $500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix, click HERE. Top Five Results: $500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix For over 50 years Horse Sport has been the voice of equestrian competition in Canada and breeders who are highly involved in the equine marketplace Developed by The Web Developer LLC