FIRST OFF. . .

Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece “Sunflowers,” auctioned for a record $39.9 million in March, won’t be hanging on any walls for at least six months at Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance, Japan’s second biggest insurance company. British Junior Arts Minister Richard Luce said Thursday he had suspended a decision on the export license for half a year to allow a British buyer to raise enough money to purchase the painting. But the export license was likely to be granted after six weeks if there was no serious offer in the offing by then, a ministry spokesman said.