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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Will we need a bigger boat? Martha's Vineyard awash in 'Jaws' at 50 mania
Will we need a bigger boat? Martha's Vineyard awash in 'Jaws' at 50 mania Amid a feeding frenzy of interest in the 50-year movie milestone, the island is celebrating and educating on all things sharks. Show Caption Hide Caption Athlete marks 'Jaws' 50th anniversary with 60-mile swim Swimmer Lewis Pugh circumnavigated Martha's Vineyard to mark the 50th anniversary of the movie "Jaws" and draw attention to the plight of sharks. In the summer of 1974, A. Bowdoin Van Riper had just gotten out of school when Hollywood came to town. Van Riper, then 11 years old, went down to the beach on Martha's Vineyard with a friend to watch the filming of what would become Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws." When a crew member called out for volunteers, the two raced into the water and pretended to panic for a scene in which two kids frighten swimmers using a cardboard fin. 'It was a very, very short brush with Hollywood, but it is still − after 50 years − cool to know that I played a very, very, very small part in helping the film get made,' Van Riper said. Like many locals who helped create the first summer blockbuster, Van Riper is now gearing up for an elaborate, summer-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of "Jaws." Upon its release on June 20, 1975, 'Jaws' struck fear in the hearts of beachgoers nationwide, leading to an increase in shark phobias and trophy hunting that helped decimate shark populations. Though viewers say the movie scared them away from beaches, pools and even bath tubs for a time, that fear has become an American fascination. 'Jaws' fandom has become a huge tourism draw for the island and some proprietors are expecting their biggest summer ever. As the population − and reputation − of sharks off the coast of Massachusetts has begun to rebound, many are using the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" to remind the public how important sharks are and how to stay safe as beachgoers increasingly find themselves in close proximity to the predators. 'At the time 'Jaws' came out, we virtually knew nothing about sharks and nobody knew how important of a role they play in their ecosystem,' said Megan Winton, a scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on nearby Cape Cod. 'We're still honestly learning new things about that every day, but learning how to live with great white sharks is tough.' 'Jaws' scared swimmers out of the ocean: See the real locations of Amity's terror 'Jaws' fans flooding Martha's Vineyard On Martha's Vineyard − the real-life version of Spielberg's fictional Amity Island − planning for the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" has been in the works for years. There will be screenings of the film and a documentary about its production, a live performance of the movie's famous score, and parties where fans can meet some of the cast and crew, said Erica Ashton and Alessandra Hagerty, executive and deputy directors of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce. Most shops and restaurants are decked out with "Jaws"-themed merchandise from custom-poured shark candles to a bloody-looking cranberry sweet treat at Murdick's Fudge. Even the local baseball team − the Sharks − will be playing this weekend. 'There's like 'Jaws' mania, pretty much,' Hagerty said. In the peak summer months, the island can see as many as 200,000 visitors, according to the Chamber of Commerce. But with hotels fully booked and anniversary weekend events nearly all sold out, officials are expecting a surge of visitors that could be tens of thousands higher than normal, far exceeding previous events related to the film. Michael Currid said he has already had 'exponentially more' advance bookings for his 'Jaws' walking tour than he has in the past 15 years. 'I'm confident that, at least from the 'Jaws' side, this will be my biggest season ever,' said Currid, owner of Edgartown Tour Company. Currid leads groups on walking tours of Edgartown that mirror the path taken by one of the film's protagonists, police chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider. On his full island tour, he takes visitors to filming locations farther afield such as the fishing village of Menemsha, where Brody and grizzled shark hunter Quint, portrayed by Robert Shaw, set sail. Often, Currid pulls up clips from the movie on his iPad to show tourists just how little has changed on the island since the film was shot. 'One home may have added bay windows,' he said. 'On one street that I show, the biggest change is the color of the fire hydrant.' Cape Cod's white sharks: The new stars of eco-tourism 'Jaws' events urge tourists to 'respect the locals' "Jaws" fans have already begun flocking to the Martha's Vineyard Museum to check out memorabilia and movie props such as the one-eyed head of a fisherman attacked by the shark in the film. The exhibition, which dominates the museum's entire second floor, has been five years in the making, according to Cathy Mayone, the museum's managing director. 'We've been very busy ever since Memorial Day, when we opened up the exhibit, and we are seeing a lot of people,' she said. 'Every day I walk through the museum and I talk to people that are visiting the island for the first time.' Though much of the programming focuses on the islanders who helped make the movie, the museum will also hold a lesson on sharks for kids and a talk by ocean conservation advocate Wendy Benchley, widow of "Jaws" author Peter Benchley, Mayone said. Both the late Benchley and Spielberg have expressed regret for the impact the book and the film had on real sharks. 'Part of our exhibit about 'Jaws' is a room devoted to teaching people more about sharks as a species, and efforts to understand them, protect them,' said Van Riper, the museum's research librarian who is gearing up to deliver a three-hour deep dive on the film to a sold-out crowd. 'So we hope we can do our bit to promote that whole 'respect the locals' attitude toward them.' Locals aren't the only ones using the anniversary to draw attention to the threats facing sharks. Lewis Pugh, a long distance swimmer from England, braved the island's chilly waters in just a pair of speedos, a swim cap and goggles in a bid to raise awareness. Pugh embarked on a brutal 12-day swim around Martha's Vineyard not long after the first shark sighting of the season in the area. Though he didn't spot any sharks on this journey, he did feel wary in the water after breaking the unspoken rule among swimmers by talking so frequently about the animals. 'I saw ("Jaws") when I was about 12 years old. I haven't seen it again. I'm frightened of sharks. I'm normal, OK?' he said with a laugh. 'But I'm terrified of a world without sharks.' Though more than a third of Americans say they're afraid of sharks and some attribute that fear to "Jaws" directly, Pugh said sharks are the ones in real danger. Sharks bite just a few dozen people each year, but humans kill millions of sharks worldwide. Pugh − who celebrated finishing the swim with an ice cream on the beach before heading to a U.N. conference on oceans in France − called the killings 'an ecocide.' 'We need to, No. 1, educate ourselves about them. No. 2, we need to respect them. And then lastly, we really need to protect them.' Shark research and conservation still has 'a long way to go' Great white shark populations in the Atlantic may have declined by as much as 70% before they were designated as a prohibited species in most American waters in 1997, said Winton, of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Populations around Massachusetts began to rebound as protections increased for sharks and seals, their preferred prey, Winton said. 'What we're seeing on Cape Cod, really is, it's a huge conservation success story,' she said. With that success comes new challenges. The animals spend about half their time hunting for seals in shallow waters offshore, and when swimmers and surfers get in their way, deadly encounters can occur, Winton said. In the summer of 2018, one man narrowly survived after being bitten by a shark on the Cape Cod National Seashore, and another died after a shark bit him while he was boogie-boarding. 'People were scared. They wanted to do something about it, and so there were calls for lethal control measures,' Winton said. Winton said conflicts with humans remain the biggest threat to white sharks in the waters of Massachusetts, adding that researchers have increasingly come across sharks with boat strike injuries. White sharks are still considered 'vulnerable,' one step below endangered, by the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. And though "Jaws," particularly actor Richard Dreyfuss' portrayal of oceanographer Matt Hooper, has inspired many marine biologists to study white sharks, Winton said researchers still don't have answers to basic questions about their biology, such as where they mate and give birth. 'We've come a long way since 'Jaws' in terms of shark conservation and our understanding of sharks and our appreciation for them and how important they are to the health of our oceans,' Winton said. 'But we've still got a long way to go.'
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Roger Cook, Rita Saffioti deliver budget that aims to insulate WA economy from global shocks
For everything governments say about their priorities, budget papers reveal where their real intentions lie. WA Premier Roger Cook's first budget since being elected in his own right has a clear theme, and for the first time in a few years, it's not cost-of-living relief. Those immediate pressures, at least according to the budget papers, are largely in the rear-view mirror. Don't worry, the state's coffers are still overflowing with iron ore royalties, which have remained higher than expected, and huge GST payments from the Commonwealth. Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti's first post-election budget pays for the basics, then looks to use the rest to start re-shaping the state's economy. If it goes to plan, that will mean being less reliant on importing many products by manufacturing more locally, and diversifying what the state exports to the world. "If we don't explore these opportunities to value-add, to have more local manufacturing, then we will be filled with a lot of regret in 10 years' time," Saffioti told reporters yesterday. As you'd expect, industry is already singing the government's praises. "Just like Taylor Swift, the government's entered a new era," Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief economist Aaron Morey said. "It's moving from the roads era to the industrial era [with] significant funding in ports, water, energy — so critical to the future of the WA economy." It's a bold ambition, and one many have spent years calling for. It's also well-timed, according to the government, to see the state through the global shocks ahead. But, like everything in life, it comes at a cost. To be clear, the cost isn't as great as it might have been in other places, thanks to two of the WA budget's familiar friends: GST payments and iron ore royalties. Royalties have benefited from an iron ore price that has remained higher for longer than expected, although it is expected to fall over the years ahead. That would probably still leave the books in decent shape, but luckily for Saffioti, WA's GST take will also be rising. Together, those sources will continue to account for about a third of the state's revenue. Other states are continuing to battle deficits, and no doubt another year of seeing WA's surpluses towering over them from across the Nullarbor will be met with the usual complaints. But given Western Australia again rewarded Anthony Albanese for his deference to the state, it's unlikely he will be racing to change those arrangements, despite the significant cost to the Commonwealth budget. It gives the government financial power that many others could only dream of. That power is nothing new, of course, and especially since COVID has been focused on two areas: immediate cost-of-living relief and building the Metronet projects that helped Labor get elected in the first place. This budget effectively places both in the past. Only a portion of Metronet projects remain unfinished, and the government's headline cost-of-living measure — hundreds of dollars off households' electricity bills — has been scrapped. Instead, the bulk of the government's infrastructure spending — some 40 per cent, or $15.1 billion over the next four years — is being put towards power and water infrastructure and ports. Saffioti told parliament that infrastructure would enable private sector investment, which would help build a "fortress" around the state's economy, like the state did during the pandemic. "While not a worldwide pandemic, the global instability and volatility we now face means we must once again stand together to repel any economic threat," she said. But some West Australians will be left wondering if such a heavy focus on the future is slightly premature. The government argues economic pressures have eased, which is true, looking at key indicators. Inflation has cooled, and there are signs the rental market is stabilising, even if prices remain higher than many can afford. Saffioti said that meant the risk of global turmoil had overtaken the cost of living as the most pressing issue for the government. "We don't want WA to be collateral damage in global economic chaos," she told the ABC. But people are still doing it tough, with ShelterWA still reporting "overwhelming" demand for housing support services. "The question really has to be asked: where is the cost-of-living pressure relief, [with] the cost of water up, the cost of electricity up, the cost of emergency services levy up?" Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said yesterday. The government's solutions are targeted, which helps with not fuelling inflation again, but means some miss out. The $337 million on offer for residential battery rebates and no-interest loans is great for those who own a home, and works into plans to develop a local battery manufacturing industry, but does nothing for renters or people without solar panels. Another round of the up-to-$250 student assistance payment would be welcome relief for families, but it means nothing for anyone without school-aged children. And capping public transport fares at one zone will save $196, but it isn't much good for people not near public transport, or who need to drive for their work. The bigger, structural relief the government is promising will take some time to come. More housing will be years away, given the long game of catch-up the construction sector is playing after a post-COVID population surge. Secure skilled local jobs will also take time to materialise as the government's money to grow local industries filters through boardrooms and into construction and jobs. And pressures on the health system look set to continue, with those on the front line having little hope that promised changes will make that big a difference. It won't be easy, even with time and money. Successive governments have tried to break WA's boom-and-bust cycle without any luck. And that global uncertainty Saffioti wants to protect the state against could arrive faster than her fortress. Luckily for the government, the next time voters will have a chance to pass judgement on their plans is in four years. By then, they should have a sense of whether that fortress has been built or crumbled under the weight of reality.
Egypt Today
a day ago
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egypt's FM, Serbian PM discuss opportunities for increasing mutual investments
CAIRO – 19 June 2025: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Serbian Prime Minister Juro Matsut on Thursday in Cairo. Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdelatty praised the efforts strengthening the bilateral relations between Egypt and Serbia in recent years. He also welcomed the entry of the Free Trade Agreement that was signed in July 2023 into force. This is expected to significantly boost trade exchange and economic cooperation between the two countries. The minister commended Serbia's decision to open the first representative office of its Chamber of Commerce in Cairo. He also emphasized the importance of convening the 19th session of the Joint Economic Committee in the second half of 2025 and holding regular meetings of the Joint Business Council. Minister Abdelatty highlighted opportunities for increasing mutual investment, particularly through projects in Egypt that Serbian companies could benefit from. He noted that Egypt's trade agreements with Arab and African nations, combined with Serbia's business networks, present promising avenues for Egyptian exports to the Western Balkans region. He expressed Egypt's readiness to expand cooperation with Serbia in the fields of renewable energy and natural gas, especially given the recent growth of Serbia's renewable energy sector. Additionally, he underscored Egypt's interest in increasing the number of Serbian tourists visiting Egypt. The Minister also welcomed the idea of sending trained Egyptian workers to support development and industrial sectors in Serbia. He noted the positive momentum in parliamentary relations, citing the formation of the Egyptian-Serbian Parliamentary Friendship Group, and expressed appreciation for Serbia's support of former Minister of Tourism Dr. Khaled El-Anany's candidacy for UNESCO Director-General. The meeting also covered key regional developments. Minister Abdelatty outlined Egypt's position on the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the military escalation between Israel and Iran, as well as the continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. He reviewed Egypt's efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and to resume ceasefire negotiations, while also commending Serbia's supportive stance on the Palestinian cause. He warned of the dangers posed by the ongoing military escalation in the region and stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and a return to negotiations to avoid plunging the region into further instability.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
If Iran's oil is cut off, China will pay the price
Israel hasn't attacked Iran's energy export hubs so far. If it does, China could find itself cut off from a flow of cheap oil. Iran exports around 1.7 million barrels of crude a day, less than 2% of global demand. The U.S. reimposed sanctions on Tehran's oil exports in late 2018, a few months after President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal during his first term. Most countries won't touch Iran's sanctioned crude, so Tehran is forced to sell at a discount and find covert ways to get it onto the market. It uses a 'dark fleet" of tankers that sail with their transponders turned off to ship cargoes of oil. More than 90% of Iran's oil exports now go to China, according to commodities data company Kpler. Most of it is bought by small Chinese 'teapot" refineries clustered in the Shandong region that operate independently from state-owned oil companies. They switched to illicit Iranian oil en masse in 2022 to protect their margins. The discount on Iran's oil compared with a similar grade of non-sanctioned crude such as Oman Export Blend is currently around $2 a barrel, according to Tom Reed, vice president of China crude at commodity data provider Argus Media. The gap has narrowed recently because of worries that conflict with Israel and stricter enforcement of U.S. sanctions could disrupt Iranian supply. The discount has been wider in the past, averaging $11 in 2023 and $4 in 2024. With few alternative buyers for Iranian oil, Chinese refineries have leverage. Last year, an official from Iran's Chamber of Commerce characterized the trading relationship as 'a colonial trap." As the sanctioned oil is paid for in renminbi rather than in dollars, Iran has few choices about where to spend its crude earnings except on Chinese goods, reinforcing its dependency on one country. If Israel's goal is to seek regime change in Iran, it may feel tempted to cut off Tehran's oil funds. A strike on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, where most of Iran's tankers set sail from, would stop the bulk of the country's oil exports. This would shock oil markets and could alienate the White House. Trump doesn't want to see Americans paying higher gasoline prices at the pump. But the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus group of producers has a lot of spare capacity that could be returned to the market relatively quickly. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates combined have more than four million barrels of oil a day on the sidelines. A Goldman Sachs analysis found that these two producers replaced around 80% of lost barrels within around six months in previous supply shocks. This safety valve could ease tensions in the oil market if needed. But Iran's top customer would still feel the pinch if its energy exports are disrupted. For the first time in years, China's private refineries would have to pay full price for a barrel of oil. Write to Carol Ryan at
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israeli strikes hit key oil, energy sites in Tehran, triggering fires and panic
Israel's latest wave of airstrikes on Iran has hit several major energy facilities in and around Tehran, igniting fires and triggering widespread panic among residents. The attacks, which began late on Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday, targeted the Shahran fuel and gasoline depot in the north of the capital and the Shahr Rey oil refinery in the south, according to Iran's oil ministry and state media reports. The strikes sent thick plumes of smoke and flame billowing across the Tehran skyline. 'The fire is terrifying, it's massive; there is a lot of commotion here,' Mostafa Shams, a resident of Shahran told The New York Times. 'It's the gasoline depots that are exploding one after another, it's loud and scary.' The Shahran depot, which contains at least 11 storage tanks and handles up to 8 million litres of gasoline daily, has long been viewed as a high-risk site. Officials say the facility holds enough fuel to supply the capital for up to three days. Explosions at the depot threatened nearby residential buildings, according to a ministry official. In southern Tehran, emergency crews were dispatched to contain a fire at the Shahr Rey refinery, one of Iran's largest. Reza Salehi, a resident of the city, told NYT he could see the flames from miles away. According to Israeli defence officials, warplanes also struck locations in Tehran linked to Iran's nuclear programme, including experimental research labs. Earlier on Saturday, Israel also targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the country, including a section of the South Pars gas field, one of the largest of its kind in the world and central to Iran's energy production. The attacks mark a significant escalation in Israel's military operations against Tehran, focusing not just on military or nuclear sites but on vital civilian infrastructure. 'We have entered the second phase of the war, which is extremely dangerous and destructive,' Abdollah Babakhani, a Germany-based expert on Iran's energy sector, told NYT. Hamid Hosseini, a member of the energy committee at Iran's Chamber of Commerce, said officials had long debated relocating the Shahran depot due to the risks it posed. 'An attack or an accident here could be catastrophic,' he said. (With inputs from Agencies, The New York Times)
