Latest news with #Hamilton-based
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Super Rugby playoffs set: Chiefs and Blues to face off again
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The pieces of the playoffs puzzle in Super Rugby locked into place match by match during the last round of the regular season. The Hamilton-based Chiefs sealed first place and the defending champion Blues claimed sixth while Moana Pasifika's best-ever season ended in defeat. The Chiefs and Blues will now meet next weekend in a repeat of last year's final. Matches on Friday decided the top-three places which carry home advantage in next weekend's first playoff round, while Saturday's games sorted fourth to sixth place, setting up a series of competitive semifinals. The second-placed Crusaders will meet the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday; the Chiefs will host the Auckland-based Blues in a contest between neighboring teams Saturday and the ACT Brumbies will face the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. History shows home advantage is a key factor in Super Rugby playoffs. The last-placed Highlanders gave the first-placed Chiefs an unexpectedly tough time Friday before losing 41-24. The Chiefs scored three tries and rushed out to a 19-0 lead in better than even time. But a lengthy injury break around the 20th minute when Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea suffered a head injury broke the Chiefs' momentum and the Highlanders scored two tries to cut the lead to five points at halftime. The Highlanders trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining and went close to scoring another try which would have made the final minutes tense. But lock Tupou Vaa'i scored his third try in the 80th minute to inflate the Chiefs' winning margin. While the Highlanders finished last, the losing margin was less than seven points in eight of its 11 defeats. Crusaders leap Brumbies The Crusaders scored a contentious late try to beat the Brumbies 33-31 in Canberra to take second place and consign the Brumbies to third. The Brumbies have now qualified for the playoffs in eight of the last nine full Super Rugby tournaments. They last qualified in first place in 2004, a year they went on to win the title. 'It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. 'It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semifinal but that's out of our control now.' Moana Pasifika falls short The Hurricanes beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 to take fourth place. Moana Pasifika won six matches in a season for the first time, beating the Blues and Crusaders and finishing five points short of the playoffs. The Moana Pasifika players and fans celebrated the end of their season with enthusiasm, led in song by captain Ardie Savea. 'You know, everyone doubted us, God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together and we brought people together. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six but that wasn't meant to be.' The Blues started the last round in seventh place and moved into the playoffs with a 46-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs who also were in playoffs contention. Their clash with the Chiefs next weekend repeats last year's final in which the Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10. This year, the Chiefs start as firm favorites. The Reds beat the Fijian Drua 52-7 in the final match of the regular season and finished fifth. The Drua won four matches in the regular season but lacked the ability to win away from home. ___ AP rugby: recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Super Rugby playoffs set: Chiefs and Blues to face off again
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The pieces of the playoffs puzzle in Super Rugby locked into place match by match during the last round of the regular season. The Hamilton-based Chiefs sealed first place and the defending champion Blues claimed sixth while Moana Pasifika's best-ever season ended in defeat. The Chiefs and Blues will now meet next weekend in a repeat of last year's final. Matches on Friday decided the top-three places which carry home advantage in next weekend's first playoff round, while Saturday's games sorted fourth to sixth place, setting up a series of competitive semifinals. The second-placed Crusaders will meet the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday; the Chiefs will host the Auckland-based Blues in a contest between neighboring teams Saturday and the ACT Brumbies will face the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. History shows home advantage is a key factor in Super Rugby playoffs. The last-placed Highlanders gave the first-placed Chiefs an unexpectedly tough time Friday before losing 41-24. The Chiefs scored three tries and rushed out to a 19-0 lead in better than even time. But a lengthy injury break around the 20th minute when Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea suffered a head injury broke the Chiefs' momentum and the Highlanders scored two tries to cut the lead to five points at halftime. The Highlanders trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining and went close to scoring another try which would have made the final minutes tense. But lock Tupou Vaa'i scored his third try in the 80th minute to inflate the Chiefs' winning margin. While the Highlanders finished last, the losing margin was less than seven points in eight of its 11 defeats. Crusaders leap Brumbies The Crusaders scored a contentious late try to beat the Brumbies 33-31 in Canberra to take second place and consign the Brumbies to third. The Brumbies have now qualified for the playoffs in eight of the last nine full Super Rugby tournaments. They last qualified in first place in 2004, a year they went on to win the title. 'It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. 'It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semifinal but that's out of our control now.' Moana Pasifika falls short The Hurricanes beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 to take fourth place. Moana Pasifika won six matches in a season for the first time, beating the Blues and Crusaders and finishing five points short of the playoffs. The Moana Pasifika players and fans celebrated the end of their season with enthusiasm, led in song by captain Ardie Savea. 'You know, everyone doubted us, God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together and we brought people together. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six but that wasn't meant to be.' The Blues started the last round in seventh place and moved into the playoffs with a 46-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs who also were in playoffs contention. Their clash with the Chiefs next weekend repeats last year's final in which the Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10. This year, the Chiefs start as firm favorites. The Reds beat the Fijian Drua 52-7 in the final match of the regular season and finished fifth. The Drua won four matches in the regular season but lacked the ability to win away from home. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Super Rugby playoffs set: Chiefs and Blues to face off again
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The pieces of the playoffs puzzle in Super Rugby locked into place match by match during the last round of the regular season. The Hamilton-based Chiefs sealed first place and the defending champion Blues claimed sixth while Moana Pasifika's best-ever season ended in defeat. The Chiefs and Blues will now meet next weekend in a repeat of last year's final. Advertisement Matches on Friday decided the top-three places which carry home advantage in next weekend's first playoff round, while Saturday's games sorted fourth to sixth place, setting up a series of competitive semifinals. The second-placed Crusaders will meet the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday; the Chiefs will host the Auckland-based Blues in a contest between neighboring teams Saturday and the ACT Brumbies will face the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. History shows home advantage is a key factor in Super Rugby playoffs. The last-placed Highlanders gave the first-placed Chiefs an unexpectedly tough time Friday before losing 41-24. The Chiefs scored three tries and rushed out to a 19-0 lead in better than even time. But a lengthy injury break around the 20th minute when Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea suffered a head injury broke the Chiefs' momentum and the Highlanders scored two tries to cut the lead to five points at halftime. Advertisement The Highlanders trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining and went close to scoring another try which would have made the final minutes tense. But lock Tupou Vaa'i scored his third try in the 80th minute to inflate the Chiefs' winning margin. While the Highlanders finished last, the losing margin was less than seven points in eight of its 11 defeats. Crusaders leap Brumbies The Crusaders scored a contentious late try to beat the Brumbies 33-31 in Canberra to take second place and consign the Brumbies to third. The Brumbies have now qualified for the playoffs in eight of the last nine full Super Rugby tournaments. They last qualified in first place in 2004, a year they went on to win the title. Advertisement 'It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. 'It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semifinal but that's out of our control now.' Moana Pasifika falls short The Hurricanes beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 to take fourth place. Moana Pasifika won six matches in a season for the first time, beating the Blues and Crusaders and finishing five points short of the playoffs. The Moana Pasifika players and fans celebrated the end of their season with enthusiasm, led in song by captain Ardie Savea. Advertisement 'You know, everyone doubted us, God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together and we brought people together. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six but that wasn't meant to be.' The Blues started the last round in seventh place and moved into the playoffs with a 46-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs who also were in playoffs contention. Their clash with the Chiefs next weekend repeats last year's final in which the Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10. This year, the Chiefs start as firm favorites. The Reds beat the Fijian Drua 52-7 in the final match of the regular season and finished fifth. The Drua won four matches in the regular season but lacked the ability to win away from home. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Who is the next James Bond? It's anyone's guess. But a luxury watchmaker just shifted the odds
The rumour mill is both shaken and stirred at the prospect of the next James Bond star being inadvertently — maybe — leaked. Speculation has been swirling online in recent days that British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the star of films like 2024's Kraven the Hunter and the 2022 hit Bullet Train, is poised to take on the role of the world's most beloved and admired spy after Swiss watchmaker Omega announced the 34-year-old is its new global brand ambassador. Both Taylor-Johnson and Omega shared images over the past week of him sporting its watches and touring its factory. Why is that a big deal you ask? The luxury brand has adorned Agent 007 for 30 years, worn in films and ads by recent Bond actors Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, which is why fans and oddsmakers — yes, you can place your bets on the next Bond — took note of the Taylor-Johnson/Omega marriage. While Taylor-Johnson has been on several lists of potential actors who could portray the suave and sexy super spy in the franchise's 26th instalment, Bond is a fixture in popular culture like few others and predicting who and what's next for him is somewhat of a sport in its own right. And because it's the "off season" for fans right now, it's the perfect time to watch for any indication of a big announcement, says Lisa Funnell, a Hamilton-based scholar and author who has been researching Bond books, film and culture for more than 20 years. It's been nearly four years since the last film of the Craig era, No Time to Die, was released — which was delayed more than a year due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The longest period between Bond films was six years, after Roger Moore's last turn in 1989's Licence to Kill and Brosnan taking the torch in 1995's GoldenEye. "I think until we get a full announcement coming at us, we're not going to know. We're only going to be speculating, which is kind of fun," she said. Taylor-Johnson has a lot going for him, says British writer and and Bond aficionado Mark O'Connell, adding that he has met the actor and is cheering for him. "He's definitely in my top three or five Bond contenders," he said. "He looks great on screen. The camera loves him. Maybe the box office doesn't yet, Kraven didn't do so well, but the box office and the magazine covers... really love him." But O'Connell isn't taking the Omega partnership as a sign of anything, pointing to the fact another contender, Academy Award-nominated Irish actor Barry Keoghan, is also affiliated with the brand. LISTEN | Bond's legacy, from the page to the screen: It may also be worth noting that Taylor-Johnson was sporting an Omega Speedmaster watch in the photos the company posted on social media, while Keoghan was sporting one of its Seamaster series, which is the line that Bond wore in the last nine films. But, moving on. O'Connell thinks Taylor-Johnson stands a solid chance not just because of his looks and acting chops but because he's not too big of a star yet. He says the franchise has typically casts actors who aren't household names. Both he and Funnell agree that a superstar like Superman franchise heartthrob Henry Cavill, whose name has been tossed around and who certainly has the look, is just too big for Bond. That's something that could also count out someone like Jonathan Bailey, whose star is soaring with the blockbuster Wicked and the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth. One thing O'Connell believes is a sure bet is that the next Bond will be British (sorry Canadian, American and Australian actors). The Hollywood Reporterpredicted in December that the next Bond would be Josh O'Connor, known for last year's Challengers and his Emmy-winning turn as Prince Charles in the Netflix series The Crown, suggesting longtime series producer Barbara Broccoli "has always led from the gut, not caved to popular opinion." But here's the thing: She's no longer has creative control of the franchise her family has helmed since its inception in the 1960s. Amazon and MGM Studios are now in charge (MGM owns the rights to the film franchise, Amazon now owns MGM), after striking a deal earlier this year and has already tapped Amy Pascal and David Heyman to produce the film known, for the moment, as Bond 26. That shift left a lot up in the air, says Funnell. "We're entering into brand-new territory," she said. The new producers, she says, could go in a new direction that might not necessarily "fall in step with all the rules that the Bond franchise has had up to this point." LISTEN | What happens when 007 goes to Amazon: Funnell suggests Amazon has an advantage by having so much streaming data and information about what's being watched by which demographics, and that could help inform its decisions of both what kind of star it wants — possibly someone who will attract younger audiences — and the style of Bond movie it makes. She says Amazon also has to take into account the success of other Bond-esque films that have filled the void since the last feature, including two Mission: Impossible movies. She's personally keen to see a return to a more classic style; movies more about the missions and lots more of the gadgets. "I want things that explode, exploding pens, whatever," she said — rather than the more style-driven and and "deeply personal" storylines of the Craig era. O'Connell doesn't think Amazon will shake things up too much because it's "really keen to get it right." As for a big star reveal, he says it likely won't happen until the next writer and director are announced, noting many eyes have been on Oscar-winning Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Gravity). But that, too, is speculation. WATCH | Bond creator Ian Fleming speaks with CBC in 1964:
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
New Subcutaneous Formulation of OPDIVO® Approved in Canada for Use Across All Authorized Solid Tumour Indications Français
Subcutaneous option of established immunotherapy offers potential to reduce time in clinic and ease infusion burden New formulation supports adaptable care delivery in oncology settings with limited capacity or remote patient populations , May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - – Bristol Myers Squibb Canada (BMS) today announced that Health Canada has approved OPDIVO ® SC (nivolumab for subcutaneous injection) across all currently authorized solid tumour indications in monotherapy, in the maintenance phase following combination with ipilimumab (YERVOY ®), and in combination regimens with chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, consistent with the indications approved for the intravenous formulation. This new subcutaneous formulation is administered every two, three, or four weeks. OPDIVO ® SC should not be used in combination concurrently with YERVOY ®. 1 The approval of a new formulation expands the administration options for an established immunotherapy, offering a subcutaneous alternative with a comparable safety profile. This additional treatment delivery method provides clinicians and patients flexibility and convenience across multiple tumour types, including melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and other solid tumours. "The burden of traveling long distances for care can be significant, particularly for individuals living in northern or rural communities," said Sault Ste. Marie-based medical oncologist, Dr. Silvana Spadafora. "Having a subcutaneous option of OPDIVO ® offers patients and their care teams a potentially more flexible treatment approach that may support more equitable access to care." The subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab is designed to reduce administration time for eligible patients which may help ease infusion chair demand and potentially allow patients to spend less time at the clinic and more time on their day-to-day lives. This is particularly beneficial in settings where capacity is limited, or patient volumes are high. "This approval represents a meaningful advancement for patients with solid tumours and the teams that care for them," said Hamilton-based medical oncologist, Dr. Sebastien Hotte. "Subcutaneous delivery of nivolumab has the potential to help reduce pressure on clinic resources and streamline workflows, offer added convenience to patients, and facilitate administration of immunotherapy especially in the maintenance phase of treatment plans." "As an oncology nurse, I've seen how time-consuming IV treatments can be for patients and families—especially when treatment appointments can stretch into several hours at the clinic, often requiring time off work or travel from out of town," said Michelle Forman, RN, CON(C), Burnaby, BC. "Having a subcutaneous immunotherapy option that's available across multiple tumour types is a welcome development that could make a real difference in patients' lives." For BMS, the approval of OPDIVO ® SC reflects a long-standing commitment to innovating not only in treatment science, but in how cancer care is delivered. "From redefining the oncology landscape with the first immunotherapy approvals over a decade ago to today's advancement, BMS is proud to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cancer care," said Elaine Phillips, General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb Canada. "OPDIVO ® SC builds on the clinical experience with IV nivolumab, offering a new approach to treatment delivery that reflects our ongoing commitment to evolving care and supporting the needs of patients and providers alike." Clinical Trials Overview and Regulatory Context OPDIVO SC ® (nivolumab 1,200 mg) was evaluated in CHECKMATE-67T, a randomized, multicentre Phase 3 trial in advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A total of 495 patients were randomized to receive either OPDIVO ® SC (n = 248) or intravenous (IV) nivolumab (n = 247). The study demonstrated that subcutaneous administration was noninferior to IV nivolumab in both pharmacokinetics and efficacy measures. For the two primary pharmacokinetic measures—C avgd28 (time-averaged nivolumab serum concentration over 28 days) and C minss (minimum steady-state serum concentration)—the geometric mean ratios were 2.10 (90% CI: 2.00–2.20) and 1.77 (90% CI: 1.63–1.93), respectively. Additionally, as a key secondary endpoint, the objective response rate (ORR), was 24% (95% CI: 19–30) in the subcutaneous nivolumab arm and 18% (95% CI: 14–24) in the IV nivolumab arm. 1 In the CheckMate-67T trial, the safety of nivolumab administered subcutaneously was similar to the known safety profile of the intravenous formulation of nivolumab. Local injection-site reactions were low grade, mostly grade 1, and most resolved without treatment. The most common local site reaction was injection-site erythema. 1 In a pooled dataset of nivolumab as monotherapy administered intravenously across tumour types (n = 4646) the most frequent adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were fatigue (44%), musculoskeletal pain (28%) and diarrhea (26%). The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate (Grade 1 or 2). The incidence of Grade 3-5 adverse reactions was 44%, with 0.3% fatal adverse reactions attributed to the study drug. 1 Across multiple tumour types, use of OPDIVO ® SC is supported by: Pharmacokinetic and safety data confirming comparability to IV formulation Clinical bridging to existing, well-controlled trials of IV nivolumab Regulatory authorization in Canada includes both Notices of Compliance (NOC) and conditional approvals (NOC/c), depending on the specific indication. Tumour types with supported use of OPDIVO ® SC : Renal cell carcinoma (CHECKMATE-67T, -025, -214, -9ER) Melanoma (CHECKMATE-238, -76K, -066, -067, -037) Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (CHECKMATE-816, -017, -057) Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (CHECKMATE-141) Urothelial carcinoma (CHECKMATE-274) MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CHECKMATE-142) Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers (CHECKMATE-577, -648) Gastric, GEJ, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (CHECKMATE-649) 1 For more information about OPDIVO ® SC, including prescribing and safety information, please consult the Canadian product monograph here. About Bristol Myers Squibb Canada Co. Bristol Myers Squibb Canada Co. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb Company, a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb Canada Co. employs close to 300 people across the country. For more information, please visit About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
