Germany compensates heirs for Nazi-looted Liszt scores

·1 min read

BERLIN — A German classical music foundation says it has found the rightful heirs of a Jewish woman who was forced by the Nazis to sell two scores by composer Franz Liszt before being deported to a concentration camp.

Klassik Stiftung Weimar said Wednesday that researchers were able to trace relatives of Emma Frankenbacher living in Argentina, where her daughter and son-in-law had fled Nazi persecution in the 1930s.

Frankenberger, who died at 67 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, sold the two handwritten manuscripts to a Liszt museum in 1937 for 150 Reichsmark (about $370 at the time).

Such transactions are usually considered forced sales, as Jews had no other option to but to agree to often very low prices.

The foundation said it has now reached an agreement with the heirs to buy the scores for the museum. It didn't disclose the purchase price.

The Associated Press

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    The U.S. government has been slow to approve licenses for American companies like Lam Research Corp and Applied Materials Inc to sell chipmaking equipment to China semiconductor giant SMIC, sources said, as the impact of a global chip shortage spreads. Many licenses for U.S. suppliers to ship an estimated $5 billion dollars' worth of equipment and materials have not come through, according to more than half a dozen industry sources, though numerous companies submitted applications soon after the Chinese company was blacklisted in December.

  • Eskasoni chief is looking at legal options after DFO announces plan for moderate livelihood fisheries

    SYDNEY — The chief of Nova Scotia's largest First Nations community says the federal announcement regarding the upcoming fishing season took him by surprise. On Wednesday, Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Minister Bernadette Jordan announced that effective immediately, any fishing by moderate livelihood fisheries will need to take place during the existing commercial season. Jordan also stated that these fisheries will be regulated through licences issued by her department. Jordan says these licences will provide an opportunity for First Nations harvesters to sell their catch legally and earn a moderate livelihood and will also prioritize conservation to ensure that lobster stocks remain healthy. Eskasoni First Nation Chief Leroy Denny says the government failed to conduct the necessary consultation with his community and that the government's plan is a unilateral decision. "The federal government is fully aware that such a requirement will be a direct infringement on our constitutional treaty rights, and as such, will require the federal government to legally justify such an infringement," Denny said. Denny says the community is making plans for its own fishery and will hire two coordinators to develop the plan for the spring. Jibby Paul is from Eskasoni and has been fishing for over 20 years. He says this decision is an infringement of his treaty rights. "It negates my right to go fishing and make a moderate livelihood, to exercise my right 365 days of the year," said Paul. Paul owns four fishing boats that he purchased to share with his children. He's worried that there won't be enough licences to go around. "It's a compromise but it's a limited compromise because not everybody is going to benefit from it. There are 4,000 people in my community and poverty is an issue and they're going to give us five or six licences? It's a slap in the face." Paul says he and other fishers from Eskasoni joined Potlotek First Nation when they launched their moderate livelihood fishery this past October, the first of its kind in Cape Breton. Since then, Membertou and Eskasoni have announced their intention to put boats in the water in the coming months. Chief Denny says he will be following up with the federal government and exploring legal options with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs. Ardelle Reynolds, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post

  • US jobless claims tick up to 745,000 as layoffs remain high

    WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week to 745,000, a sign that many employers continue to cut jobs despite a drop in confirmed viral infections and evidence that the overall economy is improving. Thursday's report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims rose by 9,000 from the previous week. Though the pace of layoffs has eased since the year began, they remain high by historical standards. Before the virus flattened the U.S. economy a year ago, applications for unemployment aid had never topped 700,000 in any week, even during the Great Recession. All told, 4.3 million Americans are receiving traditional state unemployment benefits. Counting supplemental federal unemployment programs that were established to soften the economic damage from the virus, an estimated 18 million people are collecting some form of jobless aid. Restrictions on businesses and the reluctance of many Americans to shop, travel, dine out or attend mass events have weighed persistently on the job market. Job growth averaged a meagre 29,000 a month from November through January, and the nation still has nearly 10 million fewer jobs than it did in February 2020. Though the unemployment rate was 6.3% in January, a broader measure that includes people who have given up on their job searches is closer to 10%. Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press

  • Daring rescue saves 31 crew from burning N.S. fishing boat

    Emergency crews successfully pulled off a daring rescue of all 31 crew onboard a fishing boat off the coast of Nova Scotia that had caught on fire and was sinking.

  • Campground prepares for second pandemic summer

    MURPHY’S COVE – Seasonal tourism operators are entering their second season during a global pandemic. Many are wondering – did summer 2020 prepare them for this upcoming summer? Murphy’s Camping on the Ocean hosts guests from all over the world. More than 50 per cent of guests typically come from outside Nova Scotia, with 33 per cent percent being international. Owner/operator Ryan Murphy told The Journal via email how very different the 2020 season was for the business. “With COVID, our interprovincial and international [guests] went to zero. The Atlantic bubble had very little effect for us. We adjusted our marketing budget to focus locally and – fortunately – we were able to mostly make up the shortfall with Nova Scotia guests.” Murphy suggested the 2021 season will undoubtedly be different from a typical year, but he remains hopeful it will be closer to normal than 2020. “Our greatest success with COVID was transitioning quickly to capitalize on more local guests from around Nova Scotia,” Murphy said. “Our greatest challenge with COVID has been navigating the constantly changing public health requirements and the government assistance programs.” One of the largest challenges for Murphy’s in 2020 was the additional work required for reservations. Murphy’s Camping processed 40 per cent more bookings in 2020 than in 2019 – due to the extensive number of cancelled bookings from interprovincial and international guests – and subsequent bookings from provincial guests. “Another challenge COVID posed for us was our nightly mussel boils – which generally encourage interaction amongst guests and is something for which we are well known,” Murphy said. “Our decision to cancel the mussel boils for the 2020 season was not made lightly, but we felt was necessary to help limit interaction amongst guests.” Murphy’s Camping on the Ocean celebrated its 60th year in operation in 2020 – making it one of the most well-established tourism operations in Nova Scotia. “As a small campground, with just 51 campsites, we offer a very hospitable atmosphere promoting interaction between guests,” said Murphy. He spoke of the history of the business and shared that during the past 10 years Murphy’s Camping has received guests from more than 60 countries. “Murphy's Camping is committed to providing an unforgettable camping experience for its guests by creating a friendly and hospitable atmosphere in a picturesque environment. Our main activities include overnight accommodations and wild island adventures, including scenic boat tours, boat charters and an island drop-off service.” Murphy explained Murphy’s Camping on the Ocean has historically invested a significant portion of its marketing budget outside Nova Scotia and Canada. “As a result [the campground] has seen double digit growth in recent years – outpacing average tourism growth in the province.” Bookings for 2021, Murphy said, are not on pace with typical years – but that is expected. “With the timeline for international travel still largely unknown, our bookings consist of provincial guests and some hopeful interprovincial guests,” he said. “Generally speaking, provincial reservations do not reserve as far in advance as international guests; hence, fewer bookings at this time.” As a well-established Nova Scotia seasonal business operator, Murphy noted the company understands its position of privilege as a longstanding tourism operation will help it weather the COVID pandemic. “As a business that was founded closer in date to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic than the present-day pandemic – we’re confident in our ability to bounce back from the impacts that COVID-19 is having locally and around the world. “We’re hopeful tourism in Nova Scotia will recover swiftly following the pandemic and – as a province – we can get back on track toward reaching the goal set forth by the Ivany Report … that is to double tourism revenue from 2014 to 2024.” Murphy believes this goal is almost certainly unachievable following the pandemic, given the long-term effects it will have on global travel. “That said,” he notes “… we must keep our sights set high.” Murphy took over in 2019 from his parents – Brian and Marilyn Murphy, who are still working in the business. They are currently in a three-year transition period. Janice Christie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal

  • Square's $297 million deal for Jay Z's music service Tidal may bring blockchain to masses

    Payments firm Square Inc agreed on Thursday to buy a majority stake in rapper Jay-Z's Tidal music streaming service for $297 million in a deal that could popularize blockchain or other new approaches to storing and buying online media. Square Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, who also runs Twitter Inc, said in a statement that the tie-up "comes down to one simple idea: finding new ways for artists to support their work." Square and Tidal would work on new listening experiences "to bring fans closer together," simple integrations for merchandise sales and financial tools for artists, he added in a Twitter post.

  • Nasdaq ends sharply lower after Powell comments

    Wall Street ended sharply lower on Thursday, leaving the Nasdaq down nearly 10% from its February record high, after remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell disappointed investors worried about rising longer-term U.S. bond yields. A decline of 10% from its February record high would confirm the Nasdaq is in a correction. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield spiked to 1.533% after Powell's comments, which did not point to changes in the Fed's asset purchases to tackle the recent jump in yields.

  • Bombardier to collaborate with Aston Marton on business jet design services

    MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. is teaming up with luxury automaker Aston Martin. The Montreal-based company will collaborate with the British company on custom design services for its business jets. The companies say the partnership will give customers an opportunity for a unique design experience. They say the collaboration opens up new possibilities for the cabin experience aboard Bombardier's Challenger and Global business jets. Bombardier recently completed a transformation of the company, It sold its rail and commercial aircraft businesses it a move to narrow its focus on business jets. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:BBD.B) The Canadian Press