FIRST OFF . . .

And in Beijing, an ancient bronze ritual vessel scheduled for auction in New York today was reported stolen in China in June--but news of that theft was not relayed to American authorities until last weekend. The ritual vessel, called a dun, was due to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York today, the Chinese official Xinhua News Agency said. Chinese police say the dun in Sotheby’s catalogue is identical in shape, decoration and patina spots to one that was stolen June 4 from the Qu Yuan Museum in Zigui County in central China’s Hubei province. Sotheby’s has not identifed the owner of the dun and said it was expected to sell in today’s auction for $60,000 to $80,000.