| Thursday, February 01, 2007
A Portland man has been arrested as part of what the feds are calling an international smuggling operation that allegedly tried to export to Iran parts used in surface-to-air missile systems, according to this report that appeared Wednesday in The San Antonio News-Express.
The newspaper says Robert Caldwell of Portland was taken into custody last week in San Antonio as he tried to buy batteries that power Hawk missile systems. The newspaper says it obtained a government court affidavit detailing the weapons scheme and the case against Caldwell.
Caldwell faces a charge of conspiring to export without a license items regulated by the State Departments International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
The newspaper says court documents identify Caldwell as a broker who handles domestic procurement and exports, and acted as a middleman in the arms scheme.
Culture Calendar
AUDITIONS
Teen improv troupe: Auditions for an in-house teen comedy troupe Acid Reflux start at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 at First Street Playhouse, 160 S. Water St., Batavia. The auditions are open to anyone from ages 14 to 17, and will consist of cold readings from original scripts written by the founding members, and improvisational scenes. Musical talent is a plus, and actors should prepare to perform a short musical number. The troupe performs regularly at First Street Playhouse including upcoming performances slated for Feb. 25 and April 7. Visit www.firststreetplayhouse.com and use the link to the Acid Reflux Web site. Summer Place Theatre orchestra: The group will offer open pit orchestra auditions for its two summer musicals, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "West Side Story." For specific parts, visit www.mtimusicalworlds.com.
The ordeal of chemo
Megan Schanie curled in a fetal position on her hospital bed, feeling faint and queasy even as anti-nausea medication dripped into her body. Her husband, Cameron, who would sit beside her for six hours of chemotherapy for her breast cancer, switched off the light to help her sleep as the soft rhythm of an intravenous pump filled the room. He held a cup of Coke to her lips, letting her take sips. .
AstraZeneca reports strong Q4 earnings, says pipeline needs to be strengthened
LONDON (AP) - AstraZeneca PLC announced it will slash 3,000 jobs over the next three years despite reporting its third successive year of earnings growth Thursday, stressing that it still needs to improve its weak pipeline of future drugs. The drug maker, which is facing patent challenges and escalating generic competition, revealed the job cuts as part of a US$500 million (euro384.02 million) three-year revamp of its supply chain as it said that sales growth would continue at a slower pace this year. Net profit for the three months to Dec. 31 rose 17 per cent to US$1.4 billion (euro1.08 billion), from US$1.2 billion a year earlier, AstraZeneca said. Revenue rose 14 per cent to US$7.2 billion (euro5.56 billion). For the full year, profits rose 28.5 per cent to US$6.04 billion (euro4.66 billion), while revenue lifted 11 per cent to US$26.8 billion (euro20.69 billion), marking the third year of growth since the expiration of a number of key patents in 2003.
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