News in Brief

Rare 15th century Chinese bowl found at US yard sale

How about this for bargain-hunting? A small bowl bought for $35 in a yard sale in the US turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact possibly worth $500,000. The porcelain bowl -- with delicate floral motifs -- was acquired by a buyer, whose identity is being kept secret, in the northeastern state of Connecticut. Experts said it was painted for the court of Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty who ruled from 1402 to 1424. There are only six other such bowls known in the world.