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, /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Oncology, Inc. ("Citius Oncology" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTOR), a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted oncology therapies, today reported business and financial results for the fiscal full year ended . "Reflecting on 2024, Citius Oncology has achieved pivotal milestones that underscore our commitment to advancing cancer therapeutics," stated , Chairman and CEO of Citius Oncology. "The FDA's approval of LYMPHIR for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma marks a significant advancement in providing new options for patients battling this challenging disease. It is the only targeted systemic therapy approved for CTCL patients since 2018 and the only therapy with a mechanism of action that targets the IL-2 receptor. Additionally, the successful merger forming Citius Oncology, now trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CTOR, strengthens our position in the oncology sector. We expect it to facilitate greater access to capital to fund LYMPHIR's launch and the Company's future growth. With a Phase I investigator-initiated clinical trial combining LYMPHIR with pembrolizumab demonstrating promising preliminary results, indicating potential for enhanced treatment efficacy in recurrent solid tumors, and preliminary results expected from a second investigator trial with CAR-T therapies in 2025, we remain excited about the potential of LYMPHIR as a combination immunotherapy." "These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our team and the trust of our investors. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to develop innovative therapies that improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide," added Mazur. R&D expenses were for the full year ended , compared to for the full year ended . The increase reflects development activities completed for the resubmission of the Biologics License Application of LYMPHIR in , which were associated with the complete response letter remediation. G&A expenses were for the full year ended , compared to for the full year ended . The increase was primarily due to costs associated with pre-commercial and commercial launch activities of LYMPHIR including market research, marketing, distribution and drug product reimbursement from health plans and payers. For the full year ended , stock-based compensation expense was as compared to for the prior year. The primary reason for the increase was due to the amounts being realized over 12 months in the year ended , as compared to three months post-plan adoption in the year ended . Net loss was , or per share for the year ended , compared to a net loss of , or per share for the year ended . The increase in net loss was primarily due to the increase in our operating expenses. Citius Oncology specialty is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel targeted oncology therapies. In , its primary asset, LYMPHIR, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory CTCL who had had at least one prior systemic therapy. Management estimates the initial market for LYMPHIR currently exceeds , is growing, and is underserved by existing therapies. Robust intellectual property protections that span orphan drug designation, complex technology, trade secrets and pending patents for immuno-oncology use as a combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors would further support Citius Oncology's competitive positioning. Citius Oncology is a publicly traded subsidiary of Citius Pharmaceuticals. For more information, please visit This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius Oncology. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, and, unless noted otherwise, that apply to Citius Oncology are: our ability to raise additional money to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months as a going concern; our ability to commercialize LYMPHIR and any of our other product candidates that may be approved by the FDA; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; risks related to research using our assets but conducted by third parties; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; market and other conditions; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by any future public health risks. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our SEC filings which are available on the SEC's website at , including in Citius Oncology's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended , filed with the SEC on , as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. 908-967-6677 x113 STiR-communications -- Financial Tables Follow –
Jay-Z was in the house to watch the Washington Commanders face off against the Dallas Cowboys . The 54-year-old music mogul, whose Roc Nation has a partnership with the NFL , attended Sunday’s (Nov. 24) game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., alongside Fanatics founder/CEO Michael Rubin. Ahead of the matchup, Jay-Z — dressed in a sleek black sweater, long gray coat, dark pants and a large beanie — was spotted chatting on the sidelines with Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Before the Commanders were sold in 2023, Jay was among several high-profile figures, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media mogul Byron Allen, who expressed interest in purchasing the team, according to Sports Illustrated . Ultimately, the team was sold to investor Josh Harris for a reported $6.05 billion. Jay-Z’s presence at the game left many fans on social media curious about his allegiance. “Jay-Z at a Commanders game is random, but I’m not surprised,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another posted , “Jay-Z at the Commanders vs Cowboys game... wild. I wonder who he’s rooting for?” That sentiment was echoed by another user, who asked on X , “When did Jay-Z become a Commanders fan???” Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Jay and the NFL are continuing their partnership. At the NFL owners’ meeting in Atlanta on Oct. 15, Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “It’s been a mutually positive relationship, I’m not sure either one of us really spend much time talking about contracts. Jay is happy. Desiree Perez is happy. I’m happy, so we’re all good.” According to ESPN , Roc Nation’s previous deal with the NFL, valued at $25 million over five years, has included overseeing the Super Bowl Halftime Show and supporting the league’s social justice initiative, Inspire Change, which has awarded $375 million in grants. The partnership has sparked its share of controversy since its announcement in the summer of 2019. Jay-Z faced backlash for aligning with a league that had been accused of blackballing former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality. More recently, Jay-Z faced criticism from some in the hip-hop community after it was announced that Kendrick Lamar — not Lil Wayne — would headline this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. Under Jay-Z and Roc Nation’s stewardship, the Super Bowl Halftime Show has featured a string of hip-hop centric acts, including Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Dr. Dre and friends, Rihanna and Usher. This year’s show, featuring Lamar, is highly anticipated as he aims to cap off a stellar year with a headline performance.
WASHINGTON - Scott Bessent, the veteran hedge fund manager whom Donald Trump picked to become the next Treasury secretary, wants tariffs, a shadow chair for the Federal Reserve and possibly a weaker dollar. If confirmed by the Senate, he will have a sprawling remit: overseeing public financing, economic sanctions and the Internal Revenue Service; engaging in international economic diplomacy; and helping ensure the smooth functioning of financial markets. Bessent, who currently runs the macro hedge fund Key Square Group LP, will be crucial in implementing the president-elect’s agenda, which includes renewing some of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts that expire next year and loosening financial regulations. Below is a roundup of what Bessent has said over the past year about policies that will influence the U.S. economy. Federal Reserve Trump has said a president should have some say over interest rates and monetary policy, a move that would undercut the longstanding independence the central bank has enjoyed from the executive branch. Bessent doesn’t seem to disagree with Trump and even criticized the Fed himself in September after its jumbo rate cut. - “If you were concerned about the integrity of the institution, you would not have done it. You especially would have not done a jumbo cut. In reputation, everything is optics ... tell me on what planet is it conceivable that waiting two months is make or break, versus the integrity of the institution.” - Bloomberg News, Oct. 11. Bessent will also help Trump choose a replacement for Fed Chair Jerome Powell when his term expires in May 2026, as well as at least three other appointments to the board in the next four years. Trump has flirted with the idea of firing Powell before, but Bessent has floated a fresh idea. - “You could do the earliest Fed nomination and create a shadow Fed chair. And based on the concept of forward guidance, no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore.” - Barron’s interview, Oct. 9. - “If you believe forward guidance is good, why can’t you give forward guidance on who the Fed chair is going to be. You could do one of two things: The current Fed chair could be reappointed, so you’ve created a path there. Or the new Fed chair nominee would give forward guidance beyond the current Fed chair’s sell-by date.” - Bloomberg Radio, Oct. 11. Tariffs Trump has vowed to impose massive new tariffs, eyeing a duty of 10% to 20% on all foreign goods and 60% or higher on goods coming from China. On the campaign trail, he also made threats of even higher rates on specific countries and products. While Bessent has at times suggested that Trump is signaling a maximalist approach as a negotiation tactic, in a Nov. 15 op-ed for Fox News, he signaled strong support for tariffs. - “For too long, the conventional wisdom has rejected the use of tariffs as a tool of both economic and foreign policy. However, like Alexander Hamilton, we should not be afraid to use the power of tariffs to improve the livelihoods of American families and businesses.” - “Tariffs are also a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” Markets Treasury secretaries have traditionally refrained from attributing market gains to the work of their bosses since that would mean taking the blame for a downturn - not to mention that the stock, currency and bond markets move for often unrelated and even inexplicable reasons. But when markets go up, Trump enjoys boasting. In a Nov. 11 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal under the headline “Markets Hail Trump’s Economics,” Bessent did the job for Trump. - “Asset prices are fickle, and long-term economic performance is the ultimate measuring stick. But recent days prove markets’ unambiguous embrace of the Trump 2.0 economic vision. Markets are signaling expectations of higher growth, lower volatility and inflation and a revitalized economy for all Americans.” - “The rally in equities was particularly unusual given that interest rates also moved higher. The combination of the steepening yield curve, stable inflation expectations and the rise in stocks indicates that markets expect the Trump agenda to foster noninflationary growth that will drive private investment.” Dollar policy It’s no secret that Trump likes the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve asset and the accompanying economic and geopolitical power. But he also wants a weak enough foreign exchange rate to buoy the U.S. manufacturing sector. The dueling forces may become a pillar of his administration’s economic agenda, and as Treasury chief, Bessent will oversee U.S. currency policy. - “The reserve currency can go up and down based on the market. I believe that if you have good economic policies, you’re naturally going to have a strong dollar.” - Oct. 13 interview in Financial Times. - “It’s a market reaction, and he understands that tariffs cause a stronger dollar, so a weaker dollar with tariffs is an economic abnormality. We could see what’s called the dollar smile. What we have now is high-interest rates and (a) high deficit and inflation above target. If you get inflation down ... interest rates could come down, and you would have a market-based dollar depreciation. But in terms of an over-weak dollar policy, I wouldn’t expect that at all.” - Nov. 5 Bloomberg TV interview. - “Trump’s election drove the largest single-day increase in the U.S. dollar in more than two years, and (the) third largest in the last decade. This is a vote of confidence in U.S. leadership internationally and in the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.” - Nov. 11 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. Debt and taxes Bessent will also oversee management of the government’s nearly $29 trillion debt pile. He’s said Trump will aim to shrink federal budget deficits to 3% of gross domestic product, from roughly 6.2% at the end of the latest fiscal year. - “I think we’re going to do it through deregulation, energy dominance and re-privatizing the economy. ... I think a priority is going to be turning off the (Inflation Reduction Act). ... I don’t think anyone is going to have a problem with slowing down or cutting off this IRA.” - Nov. 6 interview with CNBC. - Issuing ultra-long-term bonds “would have been a great idea,” Bessent said in a June 7 Bloomberg interview. “When rates are very low, you should extend duration,” he said. “I think it’s very unfortunate what Secretary Yellen’s doing. She’s financing at the front end, and she’s making a bet on the carry trade, which is not good risk management.” Bessent will also play a key role in shepherding the extension of Trump’s signature 2017 tax cuts, many of which are set to expire in 2025. - “I’ve already been in conversations with a lot of the Republicans who will chair those committees, and I can tell you in the Republican Congress, especially in the House, there’s a big appetite for pay-fors. So it will be a negotiation.” - Nov. 6 CNBC interview. With assistance from Saleha Mohsin.
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Bill Belichick had just been introduced Thursday as North Carolina's next football coach when chancellor Lee Roberts came armed with a gift: a short-sleeved gray hoodie — a bit of a trademark from Belichick's NFL coaching days — bearing a blue interlocking “NC” logo. It was the visual confirmation, which will take some getting used to, that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach whose name became synonymous with NFL success has taken an unexpected first dive into college coaching. He now leads a program at a school with a national name brand but one that has been unable to sustain fleeting pockets of high-level success when it comes to football. “I've always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said during his introductory campus news conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK.” The school's trustees approved terms of the deal to hire Belichick as the new football coach earlier Thursday. Specific terms have yet to be released, though the school said Wednesday there was a five-year agreement. Belichick arrived wearing a dark suit, a light blue dress shirt and a tie bearing a white-and-light-blue pattern. He sat between Roberts and athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who paid his own tribute by donning a suit jacket with the sleeves cut off to mimic Belichick's cut-off sideline look. “I’m here to, as Bubba said, teach, develop and build a program in the way that I believe in,” Belichick said. Moving on from the 73-year-old Mack Brown to hire the 72-year-old Belichick means UNC is turning to a coach who has never worked at the college level, yet had incredible success in the NFL alongside quarterback Tom Brady throughout most of his 24-year tenure with the Patriots, which ended last season. Belichick holds 333 career regular-season and postseason wins in the NFL, trailing only Don Shula’s 347 for the NFL record, while his 31 playoff wins are the most in league history. He had been linked to NFL jobs in the time since his departure from the Patriots, notably the Atlanta Falcons in January. That’s why word of Belichick’s conversations with UNC — first reported by Inside Carolina and confirmed by the AP last week — stirred such surprise as an unexpected and unconventional candidate. There’s also at least a small family tie to the UNC program for Belichick; his late father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55. When asked about fan concerns that he might leave quickly for the next NFL job, Belichick said: “I didn't come here to leave." And when asked how long he might want to keep coaching, he quipped: “It beats working. My dad told me this: when you love what you do, it's not work. I love what I do. I love coaching." He’s arriving on campus at a time of rapid changes in college athletics, from free player movement through the transfer portal and athletes’ ability to cash in on endorsements to the looming arrival of revenue sharing. And he's taking over a program that for a school with a national name-brand — particularly as a tradition-rich blueblood in college basketball — has never sustained elite football success in its long history. RODRIGUEZ RETURNING TO WEST VIRGINIA Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater. Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring on Thursday, 17 years after Rodriguez made a hasty exit for what became a disastrous three-year experiment at Michigan. “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home,” Baker said in a statement. “Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program.” Rodriguez, who is the current coach at Jacksonville State, an architect of the spread offense and a polarizing figure in his home state, replaces Neal Brown, who was fired on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons, including 6-6 this year. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University,” Rodriguez said. “My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!” Rodriguez, 61, will be tasked with restoring a consistent winning climate at West Virginia, which hasn’t been ranked or had back-to-back winning seasons since 2018. The Mountaineers have yet to qualify for the Big 12 championship game since joining the league in 2012. Its best finish was a tie for second place in 2016. Success was a standard at West Virginia under Rodriguez, who went 60-26 from 2001 to 2007 after replacing Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen. With star players such as quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton, Rodriguez led the Mountaineers to four Big East titles in five years and one of the greatest victories in school history, an upset win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl following the 2005 season. But many in the West Virginia fanbase remain jaded over his long-ago exit. Needing a win in their 2007 regular season finale to advance to the BCS national championship game, the Mountaineers lost at home to heavy underdog Pittsburgh, 13-9. “We picked an awful time to have our worst offensive game in years,” Rodriguez said after the game. Despite earning a berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma as a consolation prize, Rodriguez was gone two weeks later, taking some of his assistant coaches and recruits with him to Michigan. Rodriguez has insisted the Pitt loss had nothing to do with him leaving. He has said promises made by the school’s administration were not kept and his request for more money for his assistant coaches was rejected. Rodriguez said his relationship with then-athletic director Ed Pastilong had disintegrated by August 2007 to the point that the two men barely spoke.By LINDSEY BAHR Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s Cinematrix game every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to Turner Classic Movies all day and make a point of organizing Oscar polls at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile. But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the “Juror No. 2” release or the merits of “Megalopolis” with said person, they don’t have to be hard to buy gifts for. The Associated Press has gathered up some of the best items out there to keep any movie lover stylish and informed. While Christopher Nolan dreams up his next film, fans can tide themselves over by revisiting his modern classic “Interstellar,” which will be back in IMAX theaters on the weekend of Dec. 6, followed by the home release of a new collector’s edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ($59.95). A third disc in the set, available Dec. 10, contains more than two hours of bonus content, like a never-before-seen storyboard sequence, and new interviews with Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and famous fans Peter Jackson and Denis Villeneuve . Elaine May does not give interviews anymore. But thankfully that didn’t deter writer Carrie Courogen, who did a remarkable job stitching together the life of one of our culture’s most fascinating, and prickly, talents. “Miss May Does Not Exist” is full of delightful anecdotes about the sharp and satirical comedian who gained fame as one half of Nichols and May and went on to direct films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mikey and Nicky.” Courogen writes about May’s successes, flops and her legendary scuffles with the Hollywood establishment. It’s a vital companion to Mark Harris’ biography of Mike Nichols . Macmillan. $30. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has an exclusive new “Matrix” sweatshirt for sale in conjunction with its Cyberpunk exhibition. Brain Dead Studios designed and created several items, including the black hoodie ($140), a white rabbit tee ($54) and a pint glass ($18). If you can’t make it to Los Angeles to check out the “Color in Motion” exhibit for yourself, the Academy Museum also has a beautiful new companion book for sale ($55) charting the development of color technology in film and its impact. It includes photos from films like “The Red Shoes,” “Vertigo,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and images of rare prints from the silent era. The Academy Museum Store is having a sale (20% off everything) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts Want to look like a real film festival warrior, the kind who sees five movies a day, files a review and still manages to make the late-night karaoke party? You’re going to need the ultimate status tote from the independent streaming service MUBI . Simple, to-the-point and only for people in the know. $25. Film magazines may be an endangered species, but print is not dead at The Metrograph . Manhattan’s coolest movie theater is starting a biannual print publication “for cinephiles and cultural connoisseurs alike.” The first issue’s cover art is by cinematographer Ed Lachman (“Carol”), and contributors include the likes of Daniel Clowes, Ari Aster, Steve Martin and Simon Rex. There’s also a conversation with Clint Eastwood. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be in bookstores Dec. 10 for $25 ($15 for Metrograph members). This is not a book about filmmaking styles, camera angles and leadership choices. It’s literally about what directors wear. “How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet” ($40) has over 200 archival photos of filmmakers in action: Spike Lee in his basketball caps, Sofia Coppola in her Charvet button-ups, Steven Spielberg’s denim on denim and many more. With a forward by the always elegant Joanna Hogg and writing from some of the top fashion journalists, it’s a beautiful look at how filmmakers really dress for work — and might even be a source of inspiration.
Contrarian investors are searching for dividend stocks that could deliver attractive total returns over the next few years. The trades near its record high, but some top Canadian dividend stocks are down in recent months, offering some decent potential upside. Canadian Natural Resources ( ) is down about 15% from the 2024 peak due to a pullback in energy prices. The company owns and operates a range of production assets, including oil sands, conventional heavy oil, conventional light oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. CNRL tends to own most of its operations outright or is the majority partner. This gives management the flexibility to move capital around the portfolio quickly to take advantage of beneficial changes in commodity prices. CNRL has a strong balance sheet and is a giant in the Canadian energy patch with its current market capitalization near $100 billion. This gives management the financial firepower to make large acquisitions that only a few competitors would be able to digest. For example, CNRL recently announced a US$6.5 billion deal to buy assets from Chevron Canada. Once the deal is completed, CNRL expects to see a nice boost to cash flow. The purchase increases the company’s stake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) to 90%. The other part of the deal expands CNRL’s growth potential in the Duvernay shale play in Alberta with light oil and natural gas liquids production and untapped resources. The board recently increased the dividend by 7%. CNRL has given investors a raise for 25 consecutive years. At the current share price, the stock provides a dividend yield of 4.8%. TD Bank ( ) has had a rough run over the past two years. The company was recently hit with a fine of roughly US$3 billion for not doing enough to identify and prevent money laundering in the American operations. TD built a large U.S. retail banking business over the past two decades through acquisitions of regional banks from Maine down the east coast to Florida. In addition to the fine, U.S. regulators have placed an asset cap on the American business. This means TD’s growth ambitions in the American market are on hold for the next few years. TD is bringing in a new chief executive officer in 2025 to turn the page on the issue. It will take time for the new management team to hammer out a new growth strategy, but TD remains very profitable, maintains a strong capital position, and should eventually get back on track in the American market. In the meantime, investors can pick up a solid 5.25% dividend yield. Buying TD on big pullbacks has historically proven to be a savvy move for patient investors. The bottom line on top TSX dividend stocks Canadian Natural Resources and TD Bank pay attractive dividends that should continue to grow. If you have some cash to put to work in a self-directed TFSA or RRSP portfolio targeting dividends and long-term total returns, these stocks deserve to be on your radar.Luke Humphries bid for back-to-back World Championship titles on track after win
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. ESTAngela Merkel ‘tormented’ by Brexit vote result and saw it as ‘humiliation’ for EUCitius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
Sharks take on the Sabres after Wennberg's 2-goal game Buffalo Sabres (10-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-11-5, in the Pacific Division) San Jose, California; Saturday, 8 p.m. Canadian Press Nov 23, 2024 1:12 AM Nov 23, 2024 1:20 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Buffalo Sabres (10-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-11-5, in the Pacific Division) San Jose, California; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sabres -166, Sharks +140; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The San Jose Sharks host the Buffalo Sabres after Alexander Wennberg's two-goal game against the St. Louis Blues in the Sharks' 3-2 shootout loss. San Jose has a 6-11-5 record overall and a 4-4-1 record on its home ice. The Sharks have a -21 scoring differential, with 54 total goals scored and 75 given up. Buffalo is 10-9-1 overall and 4-4-1 on the road. The Sabres serve 10.7 penalty minutes per game to rank third in the league. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Toffoli has nine goals and six assists for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini has over the last 10 games. Rasmus Dahlin has five goals and 12 assists for the Sabres. Zachary Benson has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.5 assists, 2.7 penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Sabres: 6-4-0, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, five penalties and 10.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. INJURIES: Sharks: None listed. Sabres: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Hockey Central Division opponents meet when Predators host the Jets Nov 23, 2024 1:12 AM Utah Hockey Club bring 3-game losing streak into matchup with the Penguins Nov 23, 2024 1:12 AM Connor and Hellebuyck shine as Jets defeat Penguins 4-1 Nov 22, 2024 9:59 PMTrump’s shock – No one is safeKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Malaysia’s private medical healthcare, which has become a significant tourism draw and revenue generator for the country, appears to be increasingly out of reach of many citizens. It came to a point where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had to weigh in and said that private healthcare costs needed to be regulated as they were “too high and unreasonable”. Bank Negara Malaysia data showed a 12.6 per cent medical cost inflation rate in 2023 — more than double the global average of 5.6 per cent and an increase from 12 per cent in 2022. And so earlier this month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad touted the plans to roll out the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) pricing system by the second quarter of 2025. But what is DRG? Simply put, the DRG is a pricing system that charges a fixed rate for certain medical procedures. Say you are a patient, the DRG is a way for hospitals to get paid a fixed amount for treating you based on your specific illness or condition. It doesn’t matter how long you stay or how many tests you have — once your condition is identified, the hospital gets a set amount from your insurance or government programme, based on the typical cost for treating that condition. This helps hospitals manage costs and keeps payments predictable for everyone. How is it different from the medical billing system now? Currently, private hospitals here use a fee-for-service system (FFS), whereby each service is itemised. This means that as a patient, you are charged separately for each individual service or procedure you receive, like a hospital stay, doctor visits, lab tests, or surgeries. So, if you need more tests or treatments, your bill can keep growing, and the cost depends on what and how much you get. In contrast, under the DRG system, the hospital gets a fixed amount based on your diagnosis, no matter how many services you use or how long you stay. This makes your costs more predictable in the DRG system, whereas in FFS, you're billed for each thing separately. The DRG model is implemented in developed nations like Germany, the United States, South Korea, and Japan. What is the purpose? The DRG is said to enhance the transparency of medical fees and to address the hike in private healthcare costs which contributed to the recent rise of medical insurance premiums, which has been generating a lot of buzz recently. This is also good news for patients because private hospitals might be required to bear the costs of additional treatment if complications arise, according to Dr Yap Wei Aun, chief executive of the Health Ministry’s Health Transformation Office, in a news report published by healthcare portal CodeBlue after an August 27 meeting with the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee. Under DRG, unnecessary hospital stays and curb the sharp incline of healthcare costs, benefiting not just patients but hospitals, Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd analyst Tan Ei Leen told Business Times on December 14. But not everyone is convinced. Potential downsides to DRG Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research cautioned that the DRG system could reduce profit margins for private hospitals. With a standardised payment model, HLIB Research said some private hospitals might be tempted to cut corners, discharge patients prematurely, or be selective in admitting low-cost cases. This is because the cost structures among Malaysia’s private hospitals vary widely due to different room configurations, staff-to-patient ratios, and adoption of advanced medical technologies. HLIB Research expects Putrajaya to repurpose the DRG payment system as part of a future national health insurance (NHI) scheme, consistent with global practices outlined in the Health White Paper. A NHI scheme usually requires citizens or residents to contribute a portion of their salaries and receive standardised healthcare services. RHB Investment Bank Bhd analyst Oong Chun Sung warned that Malaysia needs a robust data and technical management system to effectively implement the DRG mechanism. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy founder and chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib highlighted that the current framework in Malaysia cannot effectively support the implementation of the DRG. He emphasised that the system would require vast data about the patients and would rely on detailed clinical coding and reliable cost data, Business Times reported. Azrul said that the information technology infrastructure in the Malaysian healthcare system is irregular and decades behind, adding that Malaysia also struggles with noting granular cost data. He said that hospitals must be able to break down their expenditures-staff time, pharmaceuticals, consumables, and equipment usage-per episode of care. Further training would be required to interpret DRG-based performance indicators and to adjust internal processes accordingly, he said. What needs to be done for a smooth rollout? Azrul also underlined that consultations, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory and legislative amendments would be crucial to implementing the DRG system. He said that engagement and trust from consumers, hospital administrators, clinicians, and professional bodies were pertinent to ensure a smooth sailing system. The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said its members are not against cost containment, but called for a transparent and collective discussion with all stakeholders to address the issue of rising healthcare costs without delay.
How gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger, who's life inspired two movies, plotted with murderous IRA terrorists By JOHN LEE Published: 19:04, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 19:09, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments The full, breathtaking scope of Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger's collaboration with IRA terrorists is revealed today in a new Daily Mail podcast, From Bomb To Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein . Martin Ferris, a former IRA gunrunner and prisoner who became a parliamentarian, confirms in his first ever major interview that Bulger was central to buying guns and explosives in Boston in 1984. But it is John Crawley, an Irish-American US Marine who left the US to join the IRA, who unveils the true, jaw-dropping breadth of Bulger's conspiracies with the separatist organization that for 30 years carried out a savage terrorism campaign in Ireland, Britain, and Europe. The FBI pursued Bulger for many years and moved him to Number 1 on its Most Wanted list in 2011 after the death of Osama Bin Laden. Bulger achieved a grisly mythical status in the annals of crime and has been played in Hollywood movies on a number of occasions, most notably by Johnny Depp in Black Mass. A fictional Irish-American mobster played by Jack Nicholson that was inspired by Bulger was also central to Martin Scorsese classic, The Departed. Podcast All episodes Play on Apple Spotify Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger (pictured on his way back to jail after a court hearing in 2018) collaborated with IRA terrorists by selling them weapons in 1984 John Crawley, an Irish-American US Marine who left the US to join the IRA, unveils the true, jaw-dropping breadth of Bulger's conspiracies with the separatist organization John Crawley gives in From Bomb to Ballot a riveting first person account of his dealings with Bulger and the subsequent voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in the swordfish trawler the Boston crook purchased for him. Crawley speaks in episode 4 of his first meeting with Bulger at the infamous Triple Os bar in Boston. 'I met him in Triple Os, the famous bar upstairs. He had a bit of an office up there. We were brought up, me and another guy. I call him Mark,' he said. 'As we were going in, I said to the guy bringing me up, I said, 'Whitey in here?' 'Don't call him Whitey,' he says, 'don't call Whitey to his face. He hates it'. 'I said, 'well, thanks for telling me. What do I call him?' 'Jim.' OK. 'Cause I would have gone in there and said, 'hello, Whitey'. So, it would have been on the wrong foot right away.' Crawley explained that the IRA leader and later politician Martin McGuinness sent him back to the US to buy weapons. However, after initial meetings with the Boston criminal underworld, he was told not to complicate things. Crawley said they told him to obtain false driving licenses to buy firearms in gun shops. And 'Whitey' was the man to organize this. Bulger was the notorious leader of the Winter Hill Gang in the 1970s. He is pictured in 1953 after one of his arrests Bulger was transferred to Alcatraz, the notorious maximum security prison in San Francisco Bay, as one of the last batch of jailbirds sent there before it closed in 1963 Bulger also raised $1 million - a lot of money in 1984 – to buy weapons and explosives. He then bought the trawler – the Valhalla – which carried the deadly load out of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts. Crawley explained that the last person they saw as their fateful voyage began was Whitey Bulger waving them goodbye on the pier at Gloucester. He revealed the true involvement of Bulger in the minutiae of the operation: 'He was back there [on the harbor] with a radio scanner listening to local police. 'Whitey said that if the cops came he was going to come down and ram their car and we were to scatter and just take off, you know.' On board the Valhalla were 91 rifles, eight submachine guns, 13 shotguns, 51 handguns, 11 bulletproof vests, 70,000 rounds of ammunition, and an array of hand grenades and rocket warheads. Crawley, a US citizen of Irish descent, joined the US Marine Corps in 1975 – just after the end of the war in Vietnam – and spent four years training, eventually joining their elite recon unit. He was so well regarded that he was asked to be an elite drill instructor, like Gunnery Sergeant L Hartman in the Stanley Kubrick's film Full Metal Jacket, which he said was an accurate representation of the Marine Corps at that time. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, senior IRA member Martin Ferris was leaving Fenit Harbour in Kerry, on board another trawler, the Marita Ann. Bulger (pictured in his 2011 mugshot) was eventually captured, aged 81, in Santa Monica, California, on June 22, 2011 after 16 years at large Daily Mail journalist John Lee re-examines Northern Ireland's blood-soaked history, featuring ex-terrorists, victims, and politicians. Listen wherever you get your podcasts . Crawley explained that the IRA leader and later politician Martin McGuinness (pictured a decade later in 1994) sent him back to the US to buy weapons They performed a treacherous transfer of the arms in the middle of the Atlantic, but not before the Valhalla was hit by a hurricane. Crawley recounted in From Bomb to Ballot: 'And I remember thinking, you know, that's all we need now, the hurricane hit us. And I don't know how we survived it. I really don't. We were just battered to bits.' But there was an informer in their midst. It later emerged that Bulger was an FBI informant, but Ferris and Crawley believe the mole was on the Irish side, a Kerry 'friend' of Ferris. 'We were compromised before we left,' Ferris said. Crawley said a notorious IRA informant betrayed them: 'Sean O'Callaghan 100 per cent informed on us. 100 per cent. He boasted about it. He rejoiced in it. He reveled in it.' Both Crawley and Ferris were captured by the Irish Navy in a stunning operation off the Skellig Rock – where Star Wars sequel The Last Jedi was filmed – and they went to jail for a decade. Bulger was eventually captured, aged 81, in Santa Monica, California, on June 22, 2011 after 16 years at large and 12 years on the FBI 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. He was beaten to death in prison in Oklahoma, while in a wheelchair, in 2018. He was 89 years old. Whitey Bulger's rise to the top of the Boston mob Boston mob kingpin James 'Whitey' Bulger is remembered as a charismatic and ruthless leader whose name was linked to 19 murders and countless gruesome events involving victims being tortured, bound in heavy chains, shot and buried in cellars with their teeth removed to prevent identification. He also famously torched the Brookline birthplace of John F Kennedy and relished in taking cat naps after shooting people in the head. Once the head of South Boston's 'Winter Hill Gang', Bulger's mark on American organized crime is just as pronounced as the stain he left on the FBI's reputation as he managed to evade prosecution for decades, sitting atop the Most Wanted list for 16 years before his arrest in 2011. It emerged in Bulger's 2013 trial that he had served as an FBI informant as far back as 1975, though he always denied it. The deal gave Bulger virtual impunity to commit any crime he wanted for decades - except for murder. Bulger was ultimately convicted of killing at least 11 people in 2013 and was serving two life sentences at the time of his death. Bulger was born in September 1929 about four miles north of Boston in the town of Everett. He was the eldest of six children in an Irish-American family. His father, James Sr, worked as a docker, but found himself unemployed after losing an arm in an accident. Due to the poverty that ensued, the family moved to a social housing project in the tough neighborhood of South Boston when Bulger was eight years old. Yet while his siblings studied hard and did well at school, Bulger started veering off the straight and narrow from a young age. By the time he reached his teens, he already had a reputation as a street fighter and a thief. Unsurprisingly he had also come to the attention of local police officers, who nicknamed him 'Whitey' because of his distinctive blond hair. Bulger is seen in a pair of undated mugshots released by the FBI It was at the age of 14 that he was first arrested for theft. By now, he was a member of a street gang called 'the Shamrocks' and convictions soon followed for assault, robbery, extortion and forgery. Spells in juvenile detention centers did little to deter him from becoming a one-man crime wave. Nor did a stint in the US Air Force, which he joined at the age of 18. After training as an aircraft mechanic, he was stationed initially in Kansas and then Idaho. But he ended up in military prison over a number of assaults and was arrested for going absent without leave at one stage. He managed to leave the forces with an honorable discharge, however, and returned to Boston. It was at this point that his burgeoning criminal career took a crucial twist. In 1956, the 25-year-old Bulger was sent to a federal jail for the first time after being convicted of armed robbery and hijacking. According to some reports, he was one of the inmates given LSD and other substances as part of a CIA research program into mind-control drugs. What is certain is that he was such a troublesome prisoner that he was ultimately transferred to Alcatraz, the notorious maximum security prison in San Francisco Bay, as one of the last batch of jailbirds sent there before it closed in 1963. After doing time in two other institutions, Bulger eventually emerged a free man in 1965 following nine years in custody. Unlike many felons, he never boasted about his incarceration. 'To him,' said William Chase, an FBI agent who spent years pursuing Bulger, 'prison time was evidence of failure.' Back on the streets, he was determined to do two things: stay out of jail and establish a criminal empire. Though he at first took jobs as a janitor and construction worker, Bulger quickly got involved in bookmaking, debt-collecting and acting as an underworld enforcer. Before long, he managed to take over a small-time operation called the Winter Hill Gang and transform it into Boston's most ruthlessly efficient crime syndicate. Its main areas of activity were drug running, gambling and prostitution. Bulger based his modus operandi on the Mafia, which controlled the city's northern suburbs. But unlike some of his Italian counterparts, he was supremely disciplined. Not only did he not while away lazy afternoons over long lunches in neighborhood restaurants, Bulger appeared not to have any vices. He didn't drink, didn't smoke, never used credit cards, didn't even gamble. What little time he spent away from his nefarious business was largely devoted to body-building and reading. He always had an interest in history, especially anything involving Adolf Hitler. Much of his energy also went into trying to become a master of disguise. He dyed his hair different colors and wore varying styles of glasses, although most observers agree that he found it impossible to mask his thick Boston accent. Another thing that Bulger struggled to hide was his volcanic temper. Even in seemingly casual conversations, he was prone to explosive outbursts. Meanwhile, his propensity for extreme violence shocked both hardened criminals and police alike. Rivals and enemies were brutally killed either by Bulger himself or on his direct orders. His former right-hand man Kevin Weeks later said: 'He stabbed people. He beat people with bats. He shot people. Strangled people. Run over 'em with cars. After he would kill somebody, it was like a stress relief, y'know? He'd be nice and calm for a couple of weeks. Like he just got rid of all his stress.' Given such brazen criminality, it wasn't long before questions were asked about how he was allowed get away with it. The answer was a long time coming and, when it did, it was a shocking one: Bulger had been operating as an FBI informer since the mid-1970s. From his perspective, it was a perfect arrangement. He tipped off his Bureau handler and childhood friend, John Connolly, about other criminal activity in Boston in return for being allowed to proceed unimpeded with his own activities. The information he passed on virtually wiped out the Mafia presence in the city. It was the 1990s before the Boston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency, angered at the FBI's failure to act, launched their own investigation. After being tipped off by Connolly — who was later jailed for ten years for obstructing justice — that the authorities were on to him, Bulger vanished on December 23, 1994. During his years on the run with girlfriend Catherine Grieg, various sightings were reported from locations as diverse as New Zealand, Canada, Italy and along the US Mexican border. He and Grieg ended up in Santa Monica, California, where they posed as married retirees from Chicago. After al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan in 2011, Bulger succeeded him as No 1 wanted fugitive on the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted' list. One of the many aliases Bulger used while on the run was that of James Lawlor, a man who Bulger found living on the street in the Los Angeles area. The two men resembled each other so much that Bulger could use Lawlor's driver's license and other identity papers. In return, he paid Lawlor's rent, according to the Boston Globe. Catherine Greig and Whitey Bulger are seen in June 1998. They were on the run for 16 years, and posed as a retired couple from Chicago in Santa Monica Playing a crucial role in Bulger's capture was Miss Iceland of 1974, Anna Bjornsdottir, who lived near him and Grieg in Santa Monica. While she was visiting Iceland, the actress who worked under the name Anna Bjorn saw a news report about the authorities' hunt for Bulger. She recognized him as the quiet retiree she knew from her neighborhood and called the FBI, which arrested him in June 2011. Bjornsdottir later claimed a $2million reward. When police raided his Santa Monica apartment, they found several fiction and non-fiction books about criminals, including 'Escape From Alcatraz.' Police also found some $800,000 in cash and an arsenal of weapons in the modest apartment where Bulger and Greig had lived for years as Charles and Carol Gasko. In his 2013 trial, Bulger was convicted of 11 murders, including the strangulation of a woman. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on a charge that he strangled a second woman. A witness said Bulger insisted that the women's teeth be pulled to obscure their identity. Bulger refused to testify at his trial claiming he had been given immunity from prosecution by federal agents. He steadfastly denied being an FBI informant, but close links between some FBI agents in Boston and Bulger's Winter Hill Gang in the 1970s and 1980s have been well documented. Former FBI agent John Connolly was sentenced to prison after being convicted in 2002 of effectively becoming a member of the gang. His trial, which featured 72 witnesses and 840 exhibits, produced chilling testimony worthy of a pulp novel. It heard harrowing tales of teeth being pulled from the mouths of murder victims to foil identification and the strangulation of a mobster's girlfriend who 'knew too much.' In June 2013, Bulger went on trial accused of 32 counts of racketeering, which included allegations that he was complicit in 19 murders. The two-month hearing, which included testimony from more than 70 witnesses, resulted in him being convicted of 11 of the murders. It also heard evidence that Bulger supplied the arms and ammunition used in the IRA's Marita-Ann gunrunning escape in 1984, which resulted in current Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris being jailed for ten years. Sentencing him to two life sentences plus five years, the judge told Bulger that he had been involved in 'unfathomable' crimes that involved 'agonizing' suffering for his victims. Five years into his sentence, Bulger had just been transferred to USP Hazelton, a high security prison, when he was found dead overnight on October 30, 2018. A prison source said wheelchair-bound Bulger was in general population when three inmates rolled him to a corner, out of view of surveillance cameras, beat him in the head with a lock in a sock, and attempted to gouge his eyes out with a shiv. The source said he hadn't even been processed at the West Virginia facility when he was killed. But someone who knew he was being transferred put the word out - the killer had to know he was coming. 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President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.Simon Ekpa: PDP chief reacts as Finland detains Biafran separatist, makes key demand from Tinubu