Latest news with #TheOldManandtheSea
Tatler Asia
23-07-2025
- Tatler Asia
On Ernest Hemingway's birthday, travel the world in the footsteps of the literary titan
Paris, France: write your story in a quiet sanctuary Hemingway wrote parts of his breakthrough novel The Sun Also Rises while frequenting cafés such as La Closerie des Lilas, located in the lively Montparnasse district. He also rented rooms in the Latin Quarter, including areas near Rue Descartes, seeking quiet spaces to write away from the bustle of his flat. Find your corner table, order a café au lait and let the city's rich literary energy inspire your story. Key West, Florida: battle a marlin on the deep blue Gulf Stream Above The literary titan spent countless hours on fishing adventures, hunting marlin, tuna and swordfish. (Photo: Slava. Jamm / Unsplash) Few places captured Ernest Hemingway's passion like the deep sea. In 1934, he purchased his customised 38-foot fishing boat Pilar, and spent countless hours on the Gulf Stream and surrounding waters off Key West, Cuba and the Bimini Islands, hunting giant marlin, tuna and swordfish. These fishing adventures provided authentic detail for his novels , To Have and Have Not and his Pulitzer Prize-winning The Old Man and the Sea . Today, you can charter a boat from Key West's historic harbour and experience the thrill of battling these magnificent fish in the same waters that served as Hemingway's ultimate proving ground. Northern Michigan: find solitude on the trout streams of his youth The pristine wilderness shaped Hemingway's earliest literary imagination. During summers at his family's cottage, Windemere, on Walloon Lake, young Ernest developed his lifelong passion for fishing in the crystal-clear streams of northern Michigan. This landscape became the setting for his semi-autobiographical Nick Adams stories, where characters first confronted life's harsh truths. Visit public access points on Walloon Lake or cast a line in Horton Creek, connecting with the natural world that was the wellspring of his writing. Pamplona, Spain: soak up the 24/7 energy of the San Fermín festival The energy of Pamplona's San Fermín festival transformed Hemingway from observer to participant. He attended the festival numerous times, fully embracing the spectacle of dancing, drinking and the primal thrill of the bull run—even participating in the run himself. His novel The Sun Also Rises turned this provincial party into a global phenomenon. Experience the non-stop energy of the fiesta, from the Plaza del Castillo to the winding streets of the encierro route, and understand why this celebration became central to his artistic vision. Cuba: live the island life, from Old Havana to the fishing village of Cojimar Above Hemingway spent over 20 years in Cuba, fishing and frequenting local spots. (Photo: Diego Gennaro / Unsplash) Cuba defined Hemingway's most productive decades. For over 20 years, he made the island his home, fishing for marlin from his boat Pilar , which he docked in the small fishing village of Cojimar—the inspiration for the setting of The Old Man and the Sea . He was a well-known figure in Havana, starting a local baseball team and frequenting bars like La Floridita. Live like a local: fish the Gulf Stream, explore Old Havana's cobblestone streets and soak in the vibrant culture that inspired his Nobel Prize-winning work. Idaho: hunt for serenity in the 'high blue windless skies' Ernest Hemingway sought the peace that eluded him in his final sanctuary. The writer found refuge in Ketchum, Idaho's rugged landscape, which reminded him of Spain's mountains. His passions here were hunting and fishing, finding solace in the outdoors. He wrote a moving eulogy for a friend, now inscribed on his memorial, celebrating the 'leaves yellow on the cottonwoods' and 'the high blue windless skies'. Explore the mountains and streams around Sun Valley, seeking the same tranquillity and connection to nature that he pursued in his twilight years. Credits This article was created with the assistance of AI tools
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: It's tariff time — again
Good morning, We begin today with a story that seems straight out of a literary classic. In 1952, Ernest Hemingway introduced the world to The Old Man and the Sea, the tale of Santiago, an ageing fisherman engaged in a long struggle to catch a giant marlin, regarded as one of the fiercest predatory fish. But this is no work of fiction. And Yerraya C was no Santiago. For one, he was only 28 years old. On July 3, the young fisherman would face his marlin. The giant fish had caught onto his net, and he was determined to land it. After a gruelling battle, the marlin dragged Yerraya into the waters. He has been missing ever since. My colleague Nikhila Henry has more details. On that note, let's get to the rest of today's edition. It's that time of the year again. The temporary pause on US President Donald Trump's steep reciprocal tariffs is set to expire today. At least 14 countries have been hit with tariffs, ranging from 25 to 40 per cent. However, the administration has kept the door for negotiations open until August 1. India is still to formalise an interim trade agreement, despite months of discussions. Big guns: Trump's recent announcements may have thrown another spanner in the works. On Tuesday, he announced a 50 per cent tariff on copper, having implemented similar duties on steel and aluminium. Significantly, India exports $2 billion worth of copper and its products globally, with the US accounting for 17 per cent of that. Trump also warned that tariffs on pharmaceuticals could rise to 200 per cent after a year — a major concern, given that the US is India's largest overseas market for drugs. 'Dollar is king': Trump has also threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on BRICS nations, claiming that the coalition was set to 'destroy' the dollar. Although he asserted that BRICS was not a 'serious threat', Trump added, 'The dollar is king. We are going to keep it that way. If people want to challenge it, they can. But they are going to have to pay a big price.' Earlier, India stated that it was not pursuing 'de-dollarisation' and only intended to enter into local currency trade agreements to 'de-risk' its trade. Notably, amid the rise of the Chinese yuan, India cannot risk backing de-dollarisation. Also read: As Trump begins unilaterally setting tariffs for most nations, experts highlight the rise of the US as a 'rogue superpower.' Columnist C Raja Mohan explains how New Delhi can navigate this American unilateralism and the importance of understanding America's domestic affairs in depth. Paper trail: In an ongoing Express series that tracks the progress of electoral roll revision in Bihar, today's focus is on the unique 'roti-beti ka rishta' (a union of economics and marriage) between India and Nepal. In several districts of Bihar, the ties run deep, with many families having at least one daughter-in-law from across the border. Under a 1950 treaty, the Governments of India and Nepal grant each other's nationals the same privileges in matters of residence, property ownership, and so forth. Those from Nepal who are legally residing in India also possess documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, and voter IDs. However, with the Election Commission's new requirements to prove citizenship, a question mark hangs over the status of such voters. Read on. Alert: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog, has flagged that digital platforms, including social media, messaging applications, and crowdfunding sites, are increasingly being exploited for terror financing. It flagged the use of online payment services, VPNs and e-commerce platforms in the terror attacks in Pulwama in February 2019 and Gorakhnath Temple in April 2022. Block, unblock: A recent controversy over the blocking of X accounts of international news agency Reuters in India has once again put the social media platform at odds with the Indian government. While X claims that New Delhi ordered it to block 2,355 accounts in India, including Reuters and Reuters World, the IT ministry has refuted the claim, stating that it has not issued any such order. Decline: The number of US student visas issued between March and May fell to the lowest level for these months since the pandemic. These months usually mark a busy visa season for students planning to begin their studies in the Fall semester. The slump comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on international students. In deep water: A Liberian container ship, MSC Elsa III, sank off the coast of Kerala in May. Over a month later, the Kerala High Court ordered the conditional 'arrest' of MSC Akiteta II, currently anchored at Thiruvananthapuram's Vizhinjam port. Both ships are operated by different firms within the Mediterranean Shipping Company group. The 'arrest' results from the Kerala government's admiralty suit, seeking compensation for damages to the marine ecosystem. Nikhil Ghanekar explains how admiralty suits work. New chief: The BJP has appointed a new state unit president in West Bengal with just under a year remaining before the Assembly elections. Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya's appointment is not the only apparent change within the main Opposition party in the state. It has also indicated a subtle shift in the party's positioning. From Bhattacharya's comments on Muslims and signals to the Left to the internal factionalism issues, we observe the evolving dynamics in the BJP's strategy in Bengal. The neo-Jonty Rhodes: The new Team India, now progressing without big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin, is finding its rhythm. As national sports editor Sandeep Dwivedi states, the ongoing series against England signifies the rise of the 'apna time aayega' generation. And as Captain Shubman Gill settles into his role, he has developed a group of leadership partners. Among them is Mohammed Siraj, a friendly, spirited leader. On the field, he takes on many roles: from bowling coach and motivator to strict schoolteacher when necessary. Is there life beyond Earth? Or are we truly alone in the cosmos? The question of planets beyond our solar system and the potential for life there has long been a theme in science fiction (think Star Trek or even the new cult favourite Dune). However, the concept of a 'habitable zone' — a region around a star where water can remain liquid — and advances in space technology offer some hope that one day, fiction could become reality. In his weekly column, astrophysicist Shravan Hanasoge writes that the search for alien life is only just beginning. 🎧 Before you go, tune in to the latest '3 Things' podcast episode. Today's lineup: A law for the death penalty for 'sacrilege'; debate around Dalai Lama's successor; and a 1990 scam of Rs 200 in Karnataka. That's all for today, folks! Until next time, Sonal Gupta Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Indian Express
The young man and the sea: 28-year-old missing after duel with marlin fish
Yerraya C was no Santiago. For one, he was only 28, his years stretching out like the endless expanse of sea he ventured into every day as he set out fishing. But like Santiago, the ageing protagonist of the Ernest Hemingway classic, The Old Man and the Sea, one day, the young fisherman met his marlin. At the end of a grueling battle, the marlin dragged Yerraya into the waters. He has been missing since then. Marlins are one of the fiercest predatory fish species, with black marlins, the one Yerraya encountered, considered among the fastest. That day, July 3, Yerraya, his younger brother C Koralaya, 26, and two others, had set out in their fishing boat from Pudimadaka village in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh. 'We set sail around 2 am. By around 9 am, a Kommu Konam (Telugu for marlin) got caught in the net. It was big, must have weighed about 200 kg,' says Koralaya. While the others suggested that they cut the net, Yerraya insisted that they will be able to haul in the fish. 'After all, he has been fishing since he was 7. He was a big, strong man, so he kept fighting with the fish,' Koralaya says of his elder brother. The marlin splashed and pulled at the net from the other end, with Yerraya trying hard to draw the line. But his legs got caught in the net and the fish dragged him into the waters. His fellow fishermen tried rescuing Yerraya. One of them, V Yellaji, swam after Yerraya for about 30 minutes. 'He kept looking for Yerraya under the waters, but couldn't find him,' says Koralaya. On July 4, the Anakapalli police lodged a missing person's complaint after the Coast Guard searched for an entire day. 'The search operation by the Coast Guard was launched after the fishermen could not find Yerraya. We suspect no foul play in the incident. It was an accident as per our investigation,' said N Ganesh, Inspector of Atchutapuram police station. 'As per the statement given by co-fishermen, it's a marlin attack. The Coast Guard too indicated that it is a Marlin attack,' said P Vijaya, District Fisheries Officer. 'It has been six days and there's no news of him,' says C Devi, Yerraya's elder sister. Marlin attacks are not uncommon along Andhra Pradesh's northern coast with the fish, weighing 80-200 kg, sometimes getting caught in the nets of unsuspecting fishermen. In February 2022, fisherman Molli Joganna was impaled by a marlin along the Anakapalli coast. As Joganna tried hauling in the catch, the marlin, which had broken free, pierced his stomach with its long, sharp snout. Joganna's body was retrieved from the sea. 'At least his body was found. My brother is missing,' says Devi. Yerraya family and the other villagers in Pudimadaka say they are not surprised he volunteered to haul in the marlin. 'He loved the sea. He started accompanying our father to the sea when he was seven,' says Bhavani, Yerraya's younger sister. Marlins, if netted well, are a bonus for the fishermen as the meaty fish sells for Rs 1,000 a kg, almost as much as seerfish. But the fish is also hunted for sport. 'It is considered an adventure to net a marlin and bring it to the shore. Yerraya would always be the first to take on a challenge. No wonder he tried pulling the marlin into the boat,' says Devi. Venkata Ramana, sarpanch of Pudimadaka village and a fisherman himself, says, 'From what the other fishermen told me, the line got heavy but Yerraya was adamant that he could pull the line and catch the fish, however big it may have been. But then things went out of control. To net a marlin is considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.' According to the AP Traditional Fisher Workers Union, between 2015 and 2025, around 200 fishermen have gone missing in the sea during deep-water fishing. 'There are several cases which have gone unreported too,' says K Varalakshmi of the fisher workers' union. Devi says there was more to Yerraya than his fishing. He liked boxing, bodybuilding, and adored film star-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan. 'He wanted to be a bouncer or a security guard for Pawan Kalyan. In 2019, he went all the way to Kadapa to see if he can meet someone who knew the star. He didn't succeed, but kept hoping he would work with Pawan Kalyan's security staff some day,' says Devi. Though Yerraya is yet to be found, at his home in Pudimadaka, relatives have gathered to hold a funeral of sorts. 'No one is searching for him anymore. They say he is buried at sea,' says Devi. 'We have no hope he will return.'
Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
James Rebanks: The Great Gatsby is overrated
The first time I read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway I felt things I've hardly ever felt again. The old fisherman and the boy fascinated me because the friendship, or love between them was like the relationship between my grandfather and me. It felt like it was about the men I grew up among, who toiled endlessly and who rarely 'won'. I loved that Hemingway thought this poor fisherman was heroic. The Position of Spoons and Other Intimacies by Deborah Levy. She writes some of the most elegant prose of anyone I know. She's also really interesting about how women often get trapped as 'minor characters'. I grew up in a very old-fashioned farming family with a domineering patriarch and it took me a long time to break out of that and see the damage it did to some of the women.
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- The Guardian
US jury's $30m verdict brings hope for Cuban exiles over confiscated land
Long before it became one of Cuba's most popular tourist destinations in the 1990s, the small island of Cayo Coco, with its pristine beaches and powdery white sands, attracted a different kind of clientele. Inspired by its unspoiled beauty, and his observations of shack-dwelling fishermen scratching out a meager living, Ernest Hemingway set scenes from two of his most famous books there, including the 1952 classic The Old Man and the Sea. Then came the giant all-inclusive mega-resort hotels that have proliferated in recent decades along the island's northern coast, and brought in millions of desperately needed dollars for a largely destitute Cuban government. Now, there's a bitterly contested multimillion-dollar lawsuit that has implications for the descendants of dozens of Cuban exiles in the US who have been fighting for decades for compensation for land and property seized following Fidel Castro's 1959 communist revolution. Mario Echeverría, head of a Cuban American family in Miami that says it owned Cayo Coco, and saw it stolen from them in Castro's aggressive land reforms, won a $30m verdict this month from the travel giant Expedia after a two-week trial. The jury said Expedia, and subsidiaries Orbitz and illegally profited from promoting and selling vacation packages at hotels there. The rare lawsuit was one of the first brought under Title III of the 1996 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The act was designed to finally open a legal pathway for such compensation claims, but was suspended by successive presidents until Donald Trump made the decision to activate it in 2019. The intention was to deter US and international companies from investing in Cuba by exposing them to potentially huge financial penalties for conducting business there. For Echeverría, who reminisced about his grandmother tending the beachfront at Cayo Coco in a moving Spanish-language interview with UniVista TV earlier this year, the verdict is not the end of the story. He and his family may never see a penny after Federico Moreno, the district court judge overseeing the case, paused the award and set a further hearing for August seeking 'specific evidence' that the family itself legally acquired the land on Cuba's independence from Spain in 1898. The only other previously adjudicated Helms-Burton penalty, a $439m illegal tourism ruling in 2022 against four major cruise lines operating from Havana, was overturned last year. An appeals court said a claim by descendants of the original dock owners was essentially out of time. A handful of other cases, meanwhile, have stalled – including one by the oil giant Exxon Mobil that claims various Cuban state corporations are profiting from its confiscated land. But those at the forefront of the fight for justice say the Expedia case in particular brings hope to scores of others pursuing compensation for property they insist was illegally seized. 'There are 45 other suits that are making their way through the courts, there may be more new ones after this verdict also,' said Nicolás Gutiérrez, president of the National Association of Sugar Mill Owners of Cuba. Gutiérrez is a Miami-based consultant who has worked with hundreds of dispossessed exiles and their families, in addition to pursuing amends for his own family's lost houses, farmland and mills. 'We are hopeful that this is just the beginning. We waited 23 years, from 1996 to 2019, to have the key provisions of Title III be put into effect by President Trump, and now there's new generations of families in these cases I'm working with,' he said, adding: 'The old guys back then are gone, but in many cases their kids have continued with their crusade. Some have given up, some have been sort of reactivated along the way, and it's not only justice for the families, it's like a historic and moral commitment. We sacrificed and built up prosperity in Cuba that was taken for no good reason.' Gutiérrez also believes that desperate conditions on the island could hasten the fight. 'They never recovered from the pandemic with tourism. The sugar, nickel and rum industries, and tobacco to a lesser extent, have been run into the ground. Remittances and trips are going to be further cut by the Trump administration, and that's really what they're relying on now,' he said. 'They don't even have electricity for more than a couple hours a day. 'Someday, relatively soon, there will be a big change, and if a future Cuba wants to attract the serious level of investment it will need to dig itself out of the hole that this totalitarian nightmare has dug over the last 66 years, what better way to inspire confidence than to recognize the victims of the illegal confiscations?' Analysts of Cuban politics say the government is taking notice of the Helms-Burton actions. These analysts are also looking into the ramifications of Trump's existing and planned crackdowns designed to increase financial pressure on the communist regime. 'There are people looking at the impact it's having overall in the investment scenario in the island, and apparently it's having some chilling effect,' said Sebastian Arcos, director of Florida International University's Cuban Research Institute. 'The most important chilling effect is the fact that the Cuban economy is going nowhere, and everybody knows it. 'The government stole properties from many thousands of Cubans, and what we're seeing now is a systematic attempt of many of the people who inherited these claims from their families not to try to recover, because it's impossible to recover anything as long as the Cuban regime is there, but at least to punish the regime financially for doing what they did.' It's unclear if Echeverría's family will become the first to actually receive compensation, but with stretches of Cayo Coco's northern coastline now consumed by the concrete of almost a dozen super-resorts offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms, they accept the land will not be returned. Their attorney, Andrés Rivero, said in a statement: 'This is a major victory not only for our client, but also for the broader community of Cuban Americans whose property was wrongfully taken and has been exploited by US companies in partnership with the Cuban communist dictatorship. 'We are proud to have played a role in securing justice under a law that had never before been tested before a jury.' Expedia did not reply to specific questions. A spokesperson said in a statement to the Guardian: 'We are disappointed in the jury's verdict, which we do not believe was supported by the law or evidence. We believe the court was correct to decline immediate entry of judgment and look forward to the court's consideration of the legal sufficiency of the evidence presented to the jury.'
