peppertree
peppertree's JournalIvan Reitman, producer, 'Ghostbusters' director, dies at 75
Source: AP
Ivan Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind many of the most beloved comedies of the late 20th century, from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” has died. He was 75.
Reitman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night at his home in Montecito, Calif., his family told The Associated Press.
Known for bawdy comedies that caught the spirit of their time, Reitman’s big break came with the raucous, college fraternity sendup “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” which he produced.
He directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in the summer camp flick “Meatballs,” and then again in 1981?s “Stripes,” but his most significant success came with 1984’s “Ghostbusters.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ivan-reitman-dead-d67947aa895371cd9f5840e6e9339440
Director Ivan Reitman, 1946-2022.
Luc Montagnier, co-discoverer of HIV, dies aged 89
Source: BBC
Luc Montagnier, the French virologist credited as a co-discoverer of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has died aged 89.
Montagnier was jointly awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize for his work in isolating the virus that causes Aids.
He was lauded for this work, but later criticised for unscientific claims about autism and Covid-19.
Local news site FranceSoir reported he died on Tuesday in Neuilly-sur-Seine "surrounded by his children".
The virologist first began working on the virus in the early 1980s while at France's Pasteur Institute, a non-profit research foundation.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60340504
Dr. Luc Montagnier, 1932-2022, with his Pasteur Institute colleagues and co-discoverers of HIV, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Jean-Claude Chermann.
Laguna Beach fire: Hundreds ordered to evacuate as Emerald Bay blaze burns seven acres
A brush fire has prompted widespread evacuations in Laguna Beach, California, with thousands of residents urged to leave their homes immediately.
The fire broke out just after 4am Thursday in Emerald Bay, a gated community with the only private beach in the state.
People living in that neighborhood as well as Irvine Cove are now under immediate evacuation orders, with an evacuation warning in place in North Laguna.
“Homes are currently threatened with the possibility of more structures threatened if the fire spreads,” the City of Laguna Beach said in a statement.
The fire has since spread across seven acres, fuelled by the devastatingly dry Santa Ana winds.
The cause of the blaze has not been determined.
At: https://news.yahoo.com/laguna-beach-fire-live-hundreds-153235000.html
Threatening some of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country, the Emerald Bay fire has become the worst in Laguna Beach since 1993.
Ex-president heads into Costa Rica run-off, ex-finance minister likely awaits
Former President José María Figueres comfortably led the preliminary vote count in Sunday's Costa Rican presidential election, with former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves poised to defy expectations to face him in a second-round run-off.
Figueres, 67, was seen winning 27.3% of the vote based on returns from nearly three-quarters of polling stations, with economist Chaves, 60, pulling past evangelical Christián Alvarado to carve out an advantage in second with 16.6% of the tally.
At: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/costa-ricans-head-polls-largely-undecided-runoff-expected-2022-02-06/
Former Costa Rican Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves and former President José María Figueres will face off in the Central American nation's presidential runoff on April 3rd.
Either of the two Harvard graduates - the progressive Figueres and the more conservative Chaves - will inherit an economy battered by the collapse in international tourism during the ongoing Covid pandemic.
Argentina joins China's Belt and Road initiative, eyes US$23 billion investment
Argentina’s government has confirmed that the country has signed up to China’s sweeping Belt and Road initiative, paving the way for investments worth more than US$23 billion.
The deal is expected to be finalized in the next few hours during a closely watched bilateral meeting between President Alberto Fernández and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, as part of the Argentine leader's three-day visit to Beijing.
A memorandum of understanding committing both nations to the deal has already been signed.
The news will see the two nations “sign different agreements that guarantee financing for investments and works for more than US$23.7 billion, generating a new milestone in the bilateral relationship that in the last 15 years has expanded and strengthened notably."
Xi launched BRI in 2013, aiming to harness China's strengths in financing and infrastructure construction to "build a broad community of shared interests" throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-joins-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-eyes-us23-billion-investment.phtml
Argentine President Alberto Fernández and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose at Beijing's Great Hall of the People during a bilateral meeting today in which Fernández joined China's Belt and Road initiative.
The agreement makes up to $23.7 billion in Chinese infrastructure investment available over the next several years for the cash-strapped South American nation.
Argentina has been largely cut off from international financing since a 100 billion-dollar foreign debt bubble under Fernández's predecessor Mauricio Macri burst in April 2018.
Stiglitz: Argentina and the IMF turn away from austerity
Last week’s agreement between Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure a record high 2018 loan brought the country and the world back from the brink of defaulting, which could have threatened the international financial system’s stability.
As with any negotiated agreement, it was not ideal. But both sides clearly understood the dangers of falling into the abyss of the unknown: What would happen if an agreement was not reached?
Most important, the IMF did not insist, as it usually does, on austerity. The agreement instead provides Argentina with room to continue its economic recovery.
What makes this agreement so important is it may set a precedent for dealing with debt restructuring and financial crises that could arise in the pandemic’s aftermath.
At: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/01/argentina-imf-austerity-debt-economics-inflation/
"The debt is owed to the people, not the IMF": Left-wing demonstrators in Buenos Aires protest ongoing negotiations with the IMF over a record, $45 billion bailout debt.
President Alberto Fernández, who inherited the debt from right-wing predecessor Mauricio Macri, has ruled out default as a policy option however - instead lauding the pre-agreement reached on Friday as being "free from restrictions on our development."
The bailout, borrowed by Macri during his failed, 2019 re-election bid, was reportedly granted at former President Donald Trump's behest - over the IMF board's objections.
The deal remains subject to approval by the IMF board and Argentina Congress - where the pro-Macri wing, seeing political benefit in default, may join far-left lawmakers in voting the bill down.
Profile Information
Member since: Thu May 18, 2017, 12:36 PMNumber of posts: 21,879
