Bonhams & Goodman has announced that an exceptionally rare natural fancy blue and pink diamond ring will be the highlight of the June Fine Jewellery auction in Sydney. Weighing in at 1.24ct, a natural blue diamond of this size and calibre has never before been offered at auction in Australia and only a handful are sold internationally each year. Estimated at $250,000 - 350,000, the ring is expected to be hotly contested at auction due to its rarity and increasing value.

Natural blue diamonds are amongst the rarest of coloured diamonds in the world. Their unique colour is due to the presence of minute amounts of the element boron incorporated into the crystal during formation over a hundred million years ago.

Historically, blue diamonds originated from the fabled Kollur diamond mines near Golconda in India. The first recorded reference comes to us through the travelogues of the intrepid 17th century French traveller and gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Tavernier’s principle client was Louis XIV. Amongst other stones he discovered for the monarch on his Indian travels was a very large and unique blue diamond christened the French Blue. The stone’s subsequent owners have included Queen Marie Antoinette, American socialite Evalyn Walsh Mclean and diamond merchant Harry Winston. Renamed the Hope Diamond, the 45ct blue diamond now resides at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington.

The Indian deposits have since been worked out and so nearly all the blue diamonds that appear on the market today come from the Cullinan (formerly Premier) Mine near Pretoria in South Africa. On May 12 this year in Geneva a new world record price for a fancy vivid blue diamond was set as well as a new world record price per carat for any gemstone sold at auction. A 7.03ct blue diamond from the Cullinan mine was hammered for $9.5 million US. Unlike most blue diamonds which contain grey as the secondary colour, the stone offered in lot 130 is of a pure and unique blue colour.

The Fine and Affordable Jewellery auctions will also feature a superb collection of over 650 lots of fine, antique, contemporary jewellery and prestigious watches.

The collection includes jewellery by Cartier, Tiffany, Chopard and Paspaley, certified white, yellow and pink solitaire diamonds, watches by Rolex, Cartier and Chanel offered on behalf of several deceased estates, private vendors and unreserved stock in trade in the matter of Van Dieman Mines P/L Administrators Appointed.

Monday 29 June

Session 1: Affordable Jewellery, 11am

Session 2: Fine Jewellery, 6pm

All catalogue descriptions are guaranteed, estimates are generally 25% to 30% of retail.

www.bonhamsandgoodman.com.au/

Kennedy Wilson Auction Group, a division of the international real estate services and investment company Kennedy Wilson, announces the formation of its Commercial Auction Division. Clifford Smith, senior vice president of Kennedy Wilson’s Commercial Investment Group (KW Investments), has been appointed to lead the commercial auction division, according to Rhett Winchell, president of the Auction Group. “We’re excited about this newly formed division, and confident that we’ll be able to utilize our expertise to generate a significant volume of commercial real estate auction activity which will have a positive effect on the current real estate market,” said Winchell.

Kennedy Wilson Auction Group was recently retained by Pfizer Inc. to dispose of 6901 Portage Road, a 364,000± square foot facility located in Portage, Michigan. Subject to the terms of the offering, the proposed auction format offers the property for sale to the most qualified bidder regardless of price. The transaction was structured to sell this Pfizer surplus office building without a reserve price to maximize the largest group of interested investors, said Smith. Sealed bids will be received by Kennedy Wilson Auction Group by noon PDT on June 16, 2009 with the conclusion of the best and final bid by 5:00 pm PDT on Friday, June 19, 2009. The Commercial Auction Division has acquired and sold over $5 billion in assets throughout the United States and Japan.

Commercial investments and brokerage have long been a part of Kennedy Wilson’s business activity. KW Investments includes fund management and advisory services for value-added and core-portfolio investments, commercial and multifamily residential property acquisitions and note purchases. Kennedy Wilson specializes in developing and executing disposition strategies for real estate assets owned in portfolios or as single assets by institutions, corporations or individuals. Maximum asset value is achieved for clients by a thorough underwriting of the subject properties, utilization of proper marketing channels to ensure full exposure to prospective purchasers and, often, sealed-bid sales to promote competition among interested parties. Any interested party who would like further information should contact Clifford Smith at 310-887-3438.

Founded in 1977, Kennedy Wilson is a real estate services and investment firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, with 20 offices throughout the U.S. and Japan. It seeks opportunities in partnership with clients in pursuit of above-market investor returns and higher real estate values. Kennedy Wilson Auction Group has been a leading force in the auction industry since 1977. Since inception, the Kennedy Wilson Auction Group has conducted thousands of successful auctions of residential and commercial properties throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. It conducts ballroom style, site-to-site, and on-line auctions for all types of real estate.

Vist www.kwiauctions.com, www.bidkw.com or www.kennedywilson.com for further information.

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “CTI”) today announced that it has amended and restated its “Modified Dutch Auction” tender offer to a fixed price tender offer for any and all of the approximately $118.9 million outstanding principal amount of five series of its convertible notes (the “Notes”). In addition, rather than a single offer for a combined aggregate principal amount of Notes, the Company is now offering to exchange, in separate concurrent offers as set forth below (each, an “Exchange Offer” and together, the “Exchange Offers”), shares of Common Stock and cash for any and all of its:

(i) $55,150,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of 4% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010; (ii) $23,000,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011; (iii) $7,000,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of 6.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010; (iv) $33,458,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of 7.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011; and (v) $335,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of 9.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012.

Under the Exchange Offers, CTI is offering to exchange (i) $134.50 cash, and (ii) 458 shares of its Common Stock for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in each Exchange Offer (the “Exchange Consideration”). The Exchange Consideration will be the same for each Exchange Offer. Accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the settlement date on Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offers will be paid in cash.

As a result of the amendment and restatement, the Exchange Offers have been extended and will now expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, unless the Exchange Offers are further extended. Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offers.

As of June 1, 2009, approximately $118.9 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes was outstanding. The Exchange Offers are conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain terms and conditions described in the Company’s Amended and Restated Offer to Exchange, dated June 2, 2009, the related Amended and Restated Letter of Transmittal, and other related offer materials (which collectively, as may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, constitute the “Exchange Offer Documents”), which have been or will be delivered to holders of the Notes.

CTI is conducting the Exchange Offers in order to reduce the principal amount of its outstanding indebtedness. CTI believes that reducing its outstanding indebtedness is necessary in order for its business to operate in light of its current asset base and revenue prospects.

The financial advisor for the Exchange Offers is Piper Jaffray & Co., the information agent for the Exchange Offers is Georgeson Inc. and the depositary for the Exchange Offers is U.S. Bank National Association.

About CTI, Inc.

Headquartered in Seattle, CTI is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing an integrated portfolio of oncology products aimed at making cancer more treatable. For additional information, please visit www.CellTherapeutics.com.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is holding an unreserved public auction in Boston on June 10, 2009 starting at 9:00 a.m. local time. The Company, in business for more than 50 years, has held three other unreserved auctions in the city of Boston over the years - the last time was in 2003. This upcoming multi-million dollar unreserved public auction will feature the previous assets of Greystone Equipment LLC and equipment from other owners, including 16 large cranes. At the request of the State of Rhode Island court-appointed Receiver, Joseph P. Ferrucci, Esq., of the Providence law firm Ferrucci Russo P.C., Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers was hired to spearhead the auction process given its substantial experience and proven track record in unreserved auctions of this nature.

“This is the auction event of the year for the crane industry,” says Stephen O’Duggan, Territory Manager for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. “When it comes to selling this many large cranes, Ritchie Bros. is the best avenue for reaching a global audience and achieving world fair market value. We’ve been getting a lot of calls from interested buyers in England, Ireland, India, and across the United States. People are in need of this equipment because they still have jobs that use these machines, and this is a great selection of cranes..”

Among the large items being sold are a number of 300-ton cranes. These include a 2007 Link-Belt, sold brand-new in 2008 for $2.1 million, and two Manitowoc M250’s, which are worth $2.3 million each when brand new. Every item will be sold unreserved to the highest bidders on auction day regardless of price, with no reserve prices or minimum bids. According to Mr. O’Duggan, this auction is the first big grouping of large cranes on the market in this region in over four years.

“Since our auction site is between the Boston and Providence ports, it will be easy for buyers to transport these large cranes overseas, if needed,” said Mr. O’Duggan.

The auction site is still accepting new consignments for the sale. The unreserved auction will be open to the public and interested buyers can register in person at the site in Plainville, MA a few days before auction day or over the internet if they plan on bidding online during the auction.

Auction details: —————- - Location: 3 Belcher St, Plainville, MA. Auction Site Phone: +1.508.643.0194 - Time and date: 9:00 a.m. auction start on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. - Open to the public; registration to bid is free - Interested buyers can register to bid in person or over the internet days before the auction. Visit the auction site to register to bid in person; photo I.D. is required. Customers can inspect equipment during regular business hours leading up to the auction. - Internet bidders must register online before auction day at www.rbauction.com; at least 2-3 business days is recommended for first-time internet bidders - Equipment details, including photos, are available on the Ritchie Bros. web site: www.rbauction,com

A medical book (Physician’s Desk Reference) once owned by Elvis Presley fetched $8,600 while selling on eBay.

The book, claimed to contain notes written by Presley in 1976, was accompanied by another item which also related to Presley’s health at the time.

Rede Energia S.A., a Brazilian electricity holding company (”Rede”), announced today that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 11.125% Perpetual Notes (CUSIP No. 75734PAA7 and ISIN No. USP8001VAD84) (the “Notes”) that it can purchase for the U.S. dollar equivalent of R$300,000,000, calculated as provided below (the “Maximum Payment Amount”), at a purchase price per US$1,000 principal amount to be determined in accordance with a modified “Dutch Auction” procedure, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in its Offer to Purchase dated June 1, 2009 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal,” and together with the Offer to Purchase, the “Offer Documents”).

The Tender Offer will expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Friday, June 26, 2009, unless extended or earlier terminated by Rede (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the “Expiration Date”).

WWA Group, Inc. has announced the conclusion of an auction of US military equipment that was held on May 26, 2009 in Doha, Qatar and managed by WWA Group for Trident Kuwait, an established US military contractor.

The Doha auction is the second of its type in which WWA Group has managed an auction of US military equipment in Qatar for Trident Kuwait. WWA Group expects to become more active in future auctions throughout the Gulf region for the US government and their contractors as accumulated military equipment is auctioned off.

“The buyer turnout was good, and the sale prices were better than expected,” said WWA Group CEO Eric Montandon. “We look forward to working with Trident and the US military on similar disposals in the future, and increasing the level of our involvement. With WWA managing disposals, and our equity subsidiary Intelspec International managing construction contracts for the US military, we expect our growing relationship with this very solid client to lead to more business in the future.”

Actual sale prices for all items sold at our auctions are published for members at www.ironauctions.com. Member registration is free on the site, by clicking on “Auction Results.” Lists of equipment for sale at upcoming WWA Group auctions are updated daily on the site. Anyone interested in consigning equipment to the auctions, or registering to bid, can e-mail info@ironauctions.com or call 011 971 4 881 6142.

WWA Group is a public company; its common shares trade on the OTCBB under the ticker symbol “WWAG.OB.” The company maintains its corporate web site at www.wwagroup.com.

Dr Nadeem Afzal, consultant paediatric gastroenterologist at Southampton General Hospital, said he discovered incorrect descriptions for some items, he says eBay is putting public health at serious risk by allowing the sale of drugs.

Dr Afzal said he found an advert for Infacol, used to reduce trapped wind, described as “slightly used”.

EBay UK said it encouraged all of its users to be “entirely accurate”.

“The main problem with internet medicinal sales is that there may not be checks and controls on the quality and effectiveness of medicines supplied, even if they are sold over-the-counter,” added Dr Afzal.

“There may be no legal recourse in the event of a problem.”

The consultant, who presented his findings to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in April, is now calling on eBay to ensure all adverts carry a warning that they do not check for authorisation.

“This unregulated trend of selling medicine is very worrying and I want the public to be aware of the pitfalls of purchasing medications online,” said Dr Afzal.

UK law permits advertising for over-the-counter medicines to the public, and sets requirements that must be complied with to ensure consumers are not misled, the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA ) said.

“The MHRA investigates all complaints received about misleading advertising and would be prepared to investigate this issue,” said a spokeswoman.

“To date we have not received any complaint regarding these allegations.”

A spokeswoman for eBay UK said: “We work extremely closely with the MHRA, who advise us of items which are either prohibited for sale online or require a prescription.

“However, we were concerned to hear that incorrect item descriptions for over-the-counter medication may have been available for sale on our site, as we strongly encourage all of our users to be entirely accurate in their listings.”

On 17 June 2009 Sotheby’s France will present an exceptional sale of tribal art, featuring the personal collection of Philippe Guimiot and his wife Domitilla de Grunne, alongside works from European and American collections

PHILIPPE GUIMIOT & DOMITILLA DE GRUNNE COLLECTION OF TRIBAL ART
The sixty-five selected works in the collection from Africa, Oceania and South-East Asia include a number of masterpieces. Several have been widely exhibited in major international exhibitions such as Africa: Art of a Continent (London 1995-96), Mains de Maîtres (Brussels 2001), and Utotombo (Brussels 1988); many other sculptures have never been seen in public.

Philippe Guimiot & Domitilla de Grunne Collection: Highlights
Perhaps the finest tribute paid by collectors and connoisseurs to Philippe Guimiot’s eye and approach is the widespread acceptance today of his definition of Arts Premiers (considered as non-western art, covering the leading artistic productions of aub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Oceania) as “vital evidence of ancient art dating from the origins of humanity.”

Among the Guimiot-de Grunne collection highlights is a large Urhobo female figure from Nigeria, 4ft6in (1.38m) tall, collected in situ by Philippe Guimiot in 1969 (estimate €300,000-500,000*), formerly in the collection of Comte Baudouin de Grunne and exhibited at the important show, Utotombo, in 1988. Guimiot bought the figure back from de Grunne in 2000. The figure’s monumental appeal derives from its sheer size, its magnificent carving, and its superbly dignified pose and linear precision, an example of Urhobo art at its peak. Such edjo re akare statues (or “spirits in sculpted form”) were made in homage to ancestors: the importance of the ancestor commemorated here is clear from her necklace and head-dress, typical of high-born women in the 19th century. Alongside the maternity figure in the Musée du Quai Branly, and the male figure formerly in the Roger Vanthournout Collection (both also collected by Philippe Guimiot in the late 1960s), it counts as one of the leading masterpieces of Urhobo art. It was Guimiot who brought these monumental statues to worldwide attention in the early 1970s.

Another iconic sculpture, which equally stands out through its exceptional monumentality, is a highly important and rare Bamileke Queen figure with Child, 5ft 2in (1.58m) tall, from the Bamenda Grasslands, Cameroon (est. €500,000-800,000). This royal portrait belonged to the fabled collection assembled by the British-American sculptor Jacob Epstein in the early years of the 20th century. The maternity figure was photographed in his London flat (alongside other major pieces, like the Fang figures now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée Dapper) shortly before his death in 1959. This archetypal royal statue from western Cameroon, one of the most ancient sculptures in the Epstein collection, counts as a masterpiece of African monumental statuary.

A Bongo memorial figure from Sudan, 4ft 8in (1.32m) tall, was collected in situ by Christian Duponcheel between 1969 and 1971 (est. €250,000-400,000). This carved effigy of a great hunter was revealed by Philippe Guimiot at the Sculptures Africaines exhibition in Antwerp in 1975, and subsequently shown at Africa: Art of a Continent (London 1995) and Mains de Maîtres (Brussels 2001). The figure is considered one of the most inspired creations of long-neglected East African art, which Philippe Guimiot worked tirelessly to promote, notably by ensuring the best Duponcheel figures found such prestigious homes as the Menil Collection, Houston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The figure belonged to Count Baudouin de Grunne for nearly 30 years before it was acquired by Philippe Guimiot and Domitilla de Grunne.

After many years in Africa, Guimiot returned to Europe and settled in Brussels – the main market-centre for works of art from the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Belgian Congo). Works from D.R. Congo figure prominently in the collection. The powerful Songye fetish figure, 2ft 10in (87cm) tall was collected in situ by Karen Plasmans (est. €300,000-450,000). This figure was crucial in helping François Neyt identify the carving workshop in the Eki/Kalebwe region in his monumental study of Songe statuary. The figure shows a characteristic hair arrangement of four braids pointing skywards. Power and sensitivity are perhaps the two words which most accurately express the feelings inspired by this mediator between men and spirits.

With superb carving and profound spirituality, a magnificent and rare Chokwe female mask, 9in (24cm) tall, is one of a trio of magnificent pwo masks – symbolizing women’s essential role in Chokwe’s matrilineal society – which reflect the stylistic variety of the great Chokwe nation at the height of its sculptural prowess (est. €300,000–450,000).

Between 1972 and 1975 Philippe Guimiot travelled extensively through South-East Asia, becoming one of the first dealers to visit Sumatra, Mentawai, Borneo, the Philippines, Sulu Islands and highlands of Vietnam. He set aside for his personal collection the wonderful Jarai funerary figure, 3ft 1in (94cm) tall, from Vietnam’s Central Highlands (est. €70,000-100,000). Its balance, concentrated volumes and sensitive carving, imbued with deep religious significance, provide powerful evidence of an ancient art form dating from the dawn of mankind. These large sculptures, evoking ancestors in the foetal position, were carved on posts surrounding burial enclosures.

The grandeur of Oceanic art is thrillingly evoked by a superb Maori canoe prow, 17in (44cm) tall, acquired by Major-General Horatio Robley in New Zealand in 1864, and dating from the late Te Puawaitanga period (est. €250,000-350,000). It illustrates the perfection attained during the heyday of Maori art. With its sinuous lines and subtle carving, a splendid Lake Sentani tribal house-post from Papua Province (Indonesia), 6ft 11in (2.1m) tall, reflects the elegant mastery and emotion contained in the art of Lake Sentani, which so impressed the Surrealists (est. €150,000-250,000).

AFRICAN & OCEANIC ART: VARIED PROVENANCE
The sale of African & Oceanic Art also has a further 67 lots of varied provenance, each selected as if to form a collection.

Highlights include a rare Kwele “altar” figure (Gabon), 16in (41cm) tall, whose striking design – with the head on an elongated neck emerging from a stool-shaped support. The figures isone of the most powerful creations of Kwele art (est. €450,000-600,000). The style of this ancient head – probably the image of an illustrious ancestor – combines the amazingly imaginative powers of the Kota with the radical yet delicate stylization of the finest Kwele works.

An array of sculptures from the Democratic Republic of Congo explores various forms and themes in an extraordinary range of styles. Among the sculptures offered is a superb Kongo ivory staff finial, 8in (20.5cm) tall, with powerful volumes and intensely expressive eyes made of lead, with deep blue pâte de verre pupils (est. €150,000-200,000). This figure was reproduced in Tardy’s Les Ivoires (1977), the history of ivory carving worldwide.

Other highlights include a rare Lega figure, 14in (36cm) tall, with an imposing head and armless, radically stylized body (est. €80,000-100,000); and a rare Kongo/Vili figure, 15in (38cm) tall (inc. handle), from the Collection of W.D. Webster (1868-1913). This features a standing figure atop a stick, with a powerful profile, delicately worked features, and highly unusual pose (est. €60,000-90,000). A superb Luba cup-bearer, 12in (31cm) tall, is one of the most beautiful known examples of the Lower Lukuga style from one of the most accomplished Luba carving workshops. The figure recalls the sacred authority of cup-bearers in Luba culture (est. €130,000-180,000).

The sale also includes a fine selection of works from Oceania. The tremendous sculptural richness of Pacific art is reflected by the quasi-abstract appeal of a large, fine Urama male figure from the Gulf of Papua (New Guinea), 5ft (1.52m) tall (est. €60,000–90,000); and by the Surrealist appearance of a fine, rare Malagan mask from New Ireland, 3ft 4in (1.02m) tall (est. €35,000–50,000).

Other works embody the striking power of Kanak art from New Caledonia: a 17-inch (44cm) mask with an imposing “parrot-beak” nose (est. €50,000–80,000); a superb finial figure, 3ft 8in (1.13m) tall, incorporating a powerful, stylised figure carved in the round (est. €30,000–50,000); and an impressive door jamb with black, yellow and red patterning, 5ft 4in (1.64m) tall (est. €40,000–70,000).

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Particularly popular are the free Supreme Widgets. The widgets are simply linked into the eBay auction page and improve the effectiveness of a listing with small, sales boosting extras. The Supreme Gallery bets on cross-marketing and presents a picture gallery with links to other eBay listings by the same seller. Supreme Feedback ensures added trust and adds a listing of the latest positive eBay ratings for the seller into the product description.

Supreme Auction 5.0: Now featuring many new functions
Supreme Auction 5.0 is available now. Many new functions based on the wishes of the more than 225,000 registered sellers. The new version offers two important, big changes and expansions compared to the previous version:

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Supreme Auction 5.0 available for download and as an online application – as a free full version with all the cost-savings functions and many hand-picked designs. Only a few premium functions are charged minor cent fees, payable by prepayment.