Over 70 items belonging to Nelson Mandela are due to go on auction in New York in February, but the South African government is trying to block the sale. The South African government on Friday said it was backing a legal bid which seeks to halt the sale of personal items belonging to former president and anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela. Over 70 items belonging to Mandela are set to be auctioned later in February in New York. Heritage agency's bid to block Mandela items' 'unpermitted export'  South Africa's Minister for Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa expressed "significant concern over the impending sale" and supported the South African Heritage Resources Agency's (SAHRA) bid to halt what it called "the unpermitted export for exhibition or sale on auction of items associated" with the late former president. "Former President Nelson Mandela is integral to South Africa's heritage," Kodwa said on Friday.  Among a trove of items to be sold are personal effects like Mandela's ID card, aviator sunglasses, his distinctive collared "Madiba" shirts, and a number of walking sticks. Various personal gifts are also on the list, including a blanket given to him by former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle and a champagne cooler that was a present from former President Bill Clinton. South Africans take stock of Mandela's legacy Unclear if sale will proceed Auction house Guernsey's described the collection of items going on sale — which is expected to fetch several million dollars — as "nothing short of remarkable." "To imagine actually owning an artefact touched by this great leader is almost unthinkable," the auction house wrote on its website. The auction house has been working with Mandela's oldest daughter Makaziwe, who won a court judgment in December allowing the sale to proceed. The South African Heritage Resources Agency said it had lodged an application for leave to appeal that judgment, which is now pending. Guernsey's president, Arlan Ettinger, told AFP news agency that the government's move had put the company "in the very, very difficult position of saying; Do we go forward with the auction?" Guernsey's said proceeds from the event would be used to build a memorial garden at Mandela's resting place in Qunu in the Eastern Cape. The Mandela family made local headlines last month in stories about the state of the late president's home in the leafy, upmarket suburb of Houghton in northern Johannesburg. Pictures showed the house — which had hosted various world leaders and international celebrities — abandoned and in a state of disrepair. The house had previously been lived in by Mandela's grandchildren. "It is thus important that we ... ensure that his life's work and experiences remain in the country for generations to come." 

A one-of-a kind white gown worn by the late Carrie Fisher in the first Star Wars film has not found a buyer, despite auctioneers hoping to get nearly $2 million. Auctioneers in the US have failed to sell an iconic white gown worn by Carrie Fisher in her role as Princess Leia in the first "Star Wars" film "A New Hope" from 1977. Propstore — a Los Angeles company which sells film and TV props and costumes — had been hoping the iconic garment would fetch $1.96 million (€1.8 million) at Wednesday's auction.  Iconic gown previously thought to have been lost "This historically significant piece is the only Princess Leia costume known to still exist from the original film," Propstore noted in its auction lot description. The long white dress — which Fisher wore in the popular film's final scene where she awards Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) medals — was long thought to have disappeared. The auction house said that the gown — created by British costume designer John Mollo — had been stored for years in a London attic until it was rediscovered and restored over an 8-month period. The costume had to be cleaned by hand to remove accumulated dust while in storage. Propstore said that the dress was restored with "archival precision" and that a special type of gauze was used on tiny holes. Propstore cited Mollo as having said that it was his belief only a single ceremonial dress was created for the film, and there was no evidence to suggest otherwise Mollo would go on to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design for Star Wars at the 50th annual Academy Awards in March 1978. Star Wars blockbuster status not enough to secure sale Star Wars is one of the world's biggest franchises and films of the series are considered to be among the first blockbuster movies in the 1970s, hauling in billions of dollars from audiences. However, its stellar status was not enough to persuade punters into parting with money. Other props auctioned on Wednesday did better than expected and managed to sell far above their estimated prices. A clown doll from the horror film "Poltergeist" fetched more than $656,000, while a grotesque spider-like head prop from John Carpenter's horror movie "The Thing from Another World" (1982) raked in more than $587,000. Russell Crowe's General Maximus costume from Gladiator sold for $125,000 after a fierce bidding contest, with the auction house saying "we were all entertained."  Other items included an outfit which Harrison Ford wore as Rick Deckard in 1982's "Blade Runner," selling for $287,000 and a costume from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" which sold for $100,000.

Writing to his sweetheart Barbara Ann Hewitt, a young man then named Robert Zimmerman discussed his dream to sell a million records one day. He would go on to sell 125 million. A collection of personal letters written by a young Bob Dylan to a high school girlfriend has fetched almost $670,000 (around €650,000) at auction this week.  A renowned Portuguese book shop, the Livraria Lello in Porto, bought the collection of 42 handwritten letters totaling 150 pages. It plans to keep the archive available for Dylan fans and scholars to study, auctioneer RR Auction said in a statement on Friday. The sale was completed on Thursday, with the letters the centerpiece and most expensive lot among a series of young-Dylan effects and memorabilia sold.  Letters from 1957-59, as Zimmerman became Dylan Dylan, a native of Hibbing, Minnesota, wrote the letters to Barbara Ann Hewitt between 1957 and 1959. At the time he was still known as Bob Zimmerman. They provide an insight into a period of his life of which not much is known.  RR Auctions' executive vice president, Bobby Livingstone, said you could see in the letters "the transformation of Bob Zimmerman into Bob Dylan."  Dylan discusses his plans to change his name and his dream of selling a million records in some of the letters. The 81-year-old Nobel Literature Prize laureate has sold roughly 125 million in a career lasting more than six decades.  Letters discovered after Hewitt's death The young musician often expresses his affection for Hewitt, invites her to a Buddy Holly concert, shares fragments of his poetry, and discusses issues ranging from cars to clothes and music.  Hewitt's daughter found the letters after her mother died in 2020. Each letter was accompanied by a handwritten envelope usually including the name Bob.  Other items auctioned this week included a selection of 24 poems Dylan wrote while studying at the University of Minnesota, which fetched almost $250,000, and one of the earliest known signed photographs of the singer that went for more than $24,000. 

Americans Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson won the Nobel Prize in economics on Monday for “improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats,” reports AP. “Their discoveries have benefitted sellers, buyers and taxpayers around the world,” the Nobel Committee said, noting that the auction formats developed by the winners have been used to sell radio frequencies, fishing quotas and airport landing slots. The winners were announced in Stockholm by Goran Hansson, secretary-general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The award caps a week of Nobel Prizes at a time when much of the world is experiencing the worst recession since World War II because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Technically known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the award was established in 1969 and is now widely considered one of the Nobel prizes. The committee said Wilson’s work showed “why rational bidders tend to place bids below their own best estimate of the common value,” that is, “the value which is uncertain beforehand but, in the end, is the same for everyone.” “(Bidders) are worried about the winner’s curse — that is, about paying too much and losing out,” the committee said. Milgrom developed a more general theory of auctions that takes into account is known as the “private value” of what’s being sold that can vary greatly from bidder to bidder. Speaking to reporters in Stockholm by phone after learning of his win, Wilson struggled to think of an auction he himself had participated in. But then added: “My wife points out to me that we bought ski boots on eBay. I guess that was an auction.” Last year’s award went to two researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a third from Harvard University, for their groundbreaking research into efforts to reduce global poverty. Few economists could have predicted last fall that the globe would come to a virtual standstill within months, as governments closed their borders, imposed lockdowns and ordered other measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, triggering a sharp dip in business activity worldwide. The prestigious award comes with a 10-million krona ($1.1 million) cash prize and a gold medal. Last week, the Nobel Committee awarded the prize for physiology and medicine for discovering the liver-ravaging hepatitis C virus. The prize for physics honored breakthroughs in understanding the mysteries of cosmic black holes, and the chemistry prize went to scientists behind a powerful gene-editing tool. The literature prize was awarded to American poet Louise Glück for her “candid and uncompromising” work. The World Food Program won the Nobel Peace Prize for its effort to combat hunger worldwide. Source: AP/UNB AH

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has decided to put his bat with what he played in the World Cup 2019 in England, on auction aiming to raise fund to help the people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Shakib is the second Bangladeshi cricketer after Mushfiqur Rahim to put the bat on auction. Earlier, Shakib formed a foundation named ‘Shakib Al Hasan Foundation’ to help the people suffering from the coronavirus. Bangladesh imposed a countrywide shutdown on March 25, which was later extended until April 25. Due to the lockdown, many day-laborers and workers remain stranded. Many of them lost jobs while the other lost their business. The government is struggling to help them with the food, cash or daily needs. “I’ve decided to put my bat on the auction. I’ve played well with this bat in the World Cup 2019. This bat is one of my favorites,” Shakib said in a Facebook live session on Tuesday. Shakib smashed 606 runs in the World Cup with two centuries and five fifties in eight games at an average of 86.57. He was just behind Rohit Sharma and David Warner as the most run getter of the event. Along with hitting more than 600 runs, the southpaw took 11 wickets with a five-for as well. “I played the whole World Cup with this bat. Not just in the World Cup, I played with this bat before and after the World Cup as well. If the decision of putting it on auction helps my countrymen, I’ll be happy,” Shakib added. He said the whole money from this auction will be allocated to help the people under the Shakib Al Hasan Foundation, and the details will be published on the website of the foundation. The auction is scheduled to begin on April 22 through a Facebook page named Auction for Action. Along with Mushfiqur and Shakib, Bangladesh’s former captain Mohammad Ashraful also said he is interested to put his bat, with what he hit his maiden ODI ton back in 2005 against Australia, on auction aiming to the help the people suffering now around the country. As per the latest update, more than 3,000 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in Bangladesh while more than a hundred died. Source: UNB AH

One of the country’s favourite cricketers, Mushfiqur Rahim, is planning to auction his most cherished bat to raise funds to fight the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in the country. The money from the auction will be spent to deal with coronavirus. Auction of cricket equipment for charitable work is rare in Bangladesh. However, in the face of the pandemic that is not sparing Bangladesh, ‘Mushy’ as he is affectionately known, has decided to put one of his favorite bats, that carries a bit of history with, under the hammer. This was the blade with which he hit his first double century in Test cricket, also becoming the first Bangladeshi to achieve the milestone, against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2013. The entire proceeds from the auction will be spent towards helping the poor and needy. When Mushfiqur decided to auction the bat, Shakib Al Hasan called for an initiative just a day before.  Shakib said on Facebook Live, cricketers from many countries are auctioning their cricket equipment along with their T-shirts. “We can do anything like that. It can also be a bat with any of our autographs. We can auction these things through Facebook or the foundation.” The SS bat he used during the innings of exactly 200 (321 balls with 22 fours and a six) is going to be put up for auction by Mushfiqur Rahim. SInce then, Mushfiqur has gone on to score two more double-hundreds. Mushfiqur talked about the possibility of an online auction in order to sell the historic bat: "I am going to put the bat I used to hit my first 200 up for auctions. I am thinking of auctioning it digitally. I will request everyone who can manage, to come to the auction and bid a high price for the bat. I am asking everyone to raise the price as much as possible."  He also talked about the bat being special to him. "The bat is obviously special to me. My name is attached to a piece of history because of that bat. No one else can become the first double centurion (for a country)."  England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler's shirt, which he wore when completing the last-ball run-out that saw England beat New Zealand at Lord's last year's World Cup final, was sold by the cricketer recently to raise money for fighting Coronavirus. Pakistani legend Wasim Akram also auctioned a bat and ball signed by him for the same purpose. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)  earlier declared schedule for license application and auction  of 4-G spectrum. At that time operators also made objection. The High Court on Thursday has halted the circular regarding auction of 4-G spectrum after hearing a writ petition. Moved by the writ, the High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed a rule seeking explanation from BTRC why the circular should not be declared illegal. The defendants including Post and Telecommunication Secretary and BTRC Chairman were asked to answer the ruling.   The government declared to make 4-G service effective from beginning of this year. But the announcement has turned into uncertainty following the order. BTRC formulated a guideline in special commission meeting in December last year. It also published a circular. The writ was filed in the court saying that the circular of BTRC being flouted with the Broadband Guidelines of 2008. Dr. Kamal Hossain conducted the hearing for the applicant and Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas was for the state. BTRC published a circular seeking application for 4-G license on December 4 last year. Earlier on November 29 the Telecommunication Division got final approval for the policy in this regard. The circular asked the interested firms to submit application for spectrum auctioning of 4-G service license within January 14. The date for spectrum auction was fixed on February 13. AH