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A company stuck in bankruptcy for 12 years may not seem like much of a catch, but investors have fallen in love with U.S. specialty chemical manufacturer W.R. Grace & Co ( id="symbol_GRA.N_0"> GRA.N ) and its surging sales to the energy sector. One of the longest bankruptcies in U.S. history, Grace filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2001 after an asbestos leak at one of its mines led to thousands of lawsuits against the company. Through bankruptcy, Grace was able to pause debt repayments, survive two recessions and take advantage of a U.S. shale energy revolution that is fueling demand for its fine-powder catalysts, which help refiners process crude oil into gasoline, heating oil and other products. The company's stock has more than tripled in the past three years and counts 46 hedge funds among investors as of March 31. "Bankruptcy has been a great place to hide out," said Scott Baena, an attorney who helped negotiate the settlements on behalf of p

Boeing's ( id="symbol_BA.N_0"> BA.N ) extraordinary effort to solve battery problems that hit the 787 Dreamliner early this year did not disrupt progress on other aircraft programs, which remain on schedule. "It didn't slow down development," despite doing three years of work in three months to fix the problem of overheating batteries on the 787, said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner, speaking at a news briefing ahead of the start of the Paris air show which opens on Monday. Conner said the company expects to deliver 11 or 12 787s by the end of the first half, counting from when the grounding of the 787 ended in April. One 787 was delivered in January before the worldwide 787 fleet was grounded. Two lithium ion battery incidents aroused safety concerns with regulators, prompting the grounding. Conner said Boeing was on track to deliver more than 60 Dreamliners this year, as promised. Conner said the outlook remains positive for further in

Brookfield Asset Management Inc ( id="symbol_BAMa.TO_0"> BAMa.TO ) on Sunday said it had agreed to sell all its Longview Timber holdings to Weyerhaeuser Co ( id="symbol_WY.N WY.N ) for $2.65 billion, including assumption of debt. _0"> The company also said it will sell its Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging operations to KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp ( id="symbol_KS.N KS.N ) for $1.025 billion. _1"> "While the timing of the (separate) sale transactions is coincidental, for investors in our funds these transactions represent monetization at excellent returns and puts each of these assets into the hands of strategic buyers who will be able to take them to the next level," Cyrus Madon, Senior Managing Partner in Brookfield's Private Equity Group, said in a release. _2"> (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

Alexander Pereira, the next manager of Italian opera house La Scala, would like to have an Italian music director, ideally Riccardo Muti or Claudio Abbado, he told an Austrian newspaper. _0"> Pereira, an Austrian who is now artistic director of the Salzburg Festival, will take over at the helm of Italy's best-known opera theatre in 2015, replacing current general manager Stephan Lissner, who is moving to Paris. "If there is a non-Italian manager, there should be an Italian music director," Pereira told Kurier in an interview published on Thursday. "I would be insanely happy if it worked out that Riccardo Muti would conduct at La Scala again. Or Claudio Abbado." Daniel Barenboim is La Scala's current music director. Pereira has ruffled feathers in Austria by accepting the La Scala post, which will start before his Salzburg contract ends in autumn 2016. He had already threatened to walk out on Salzburg in a row with the city's mayor about t

Blocks of ice from the Bahamas, cardboard bed clothes from Iraq and a thumping Vatican heartbeat will help the 2013 Venice Biennale attempt to capture the "unruly" world of art. The rich diversity of unexpected sights and sounds at the world's largest non-commercial art exhibition are partly a result of sheer numbers, with shows from 88 countries installed across the canal city in time for this week's opening. More than 150 artists are taking part in the Biennale, which has been running since 1895 and continues to attract artists, art-lovers and collectors from across the planet to Venice. "Every two years we try to capture the world - and then the world is unruly," Biennale curator Massimiliano Gioni told Reuters. Ten countries - including the Vatican and the Bahamas - are participating for the first time this year with their own dedicated pavilions in a fair that runs until November. "The national pavilions are fantastic because they give us a

A dream-like painting of children releasing kites by Brazil's Candido Portinari sold for $1.4 million at Christie's Latin American art sale and set a world auction record for the artist. Portinari's 1941 "Meninos Soltando Pipas" was the top seller at the Wednesday evening sale, which totaled $16 million and set benchmarks for other Latin American artists.   "The strength of the Brazilian market reigned supreme," said Virgilio Garza, Christie's Latin American art chief. Portinari, who died in 1962, left a prolific legacy including monumental murals for the U.S. Library of Congress and the United Nations headquarters in New York. Colombian Fernando Botero's 2000 bronze "Dancers," which fetched $1.14 million, was another top seller. The work, coated in brown patina, shows a heavily muscled nude man and a woman, her left hand on his right shoulder. Mexican Alfredo Ramos Martinez's "Mujeres con Frutas (Women with Fruit),"

A 17th century Dutch masterpiece that graced the collections of Catherine the Great's art adviser and Russia's Hermitage Museum before being seized by the Nazis sold for nearly $3.4 million at auction, a record for the artist Gerrit van Honthorst. _0"> "The Duet," which was confiscated by the Nazis from Jewish art collector Bruno Spiro and sold in 1969 to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, fetched $3,371,750 including commission at Christie's Old Master auction on Wednesday.   The painting, which the Montreal museum returned to Spiro's heirs in April, has been estimated to sell for between $2 million and $3 million. Nicholas Hall, Christie's co-chairman of Old Masters and 19th century art, called the 1624 work "a superlative painting on all levels, with its composition, condition and provenance." Hall said the painting attracted multiple bidders, with four competing above the $2 million mark. The buyer was Johnny van Haefton Ltd., a

Auctioneers are pinning their hopes on "uber-collectors" to help London summer art sales top last year's $1 billion total when the series kicks off later this month. Estimates from Christie's, Sotheby's and smaller rivals such as Phillips and Bonhams for sales over the next few weeks in the British capital show that the paintings, sculptures and furniture under the hammer are on course to defy a sluggish global economy again this year.   The top two houses have put more than $300 million worth of their most expensive works up for sale on public show until June 11 at their London galleries in Mayfair, hoping pre-sale exhibitions might inspire a bit of impulse-buying from serious collectors making the London stop on the art trail. "What we hope is that the rather more transitory uber-collectors who are in London, Basel and Venice will come in and see things that they wouldn't normally look at," deputy chairman of Christie's Europe, Orlando Ro

The flood-cresting Danube outside Budapest's Bela Bartok concert hall threatened to drown audience, singers, chorus and orchestra alike, but it couldn't dampen the high spirits inside for a new production of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg". The crowning glory of conductor Adam Fischer's eighth annual "Wagner Days" festival, in Wagner's 200th birthday year, was described as a "masterwork" by Hungarian critic Miklos Fay in Hungarian daily Nepszabadsag following Saturday's premiere that had the audience cheering every act of the five-hour-long opera. It was one of those magical musical moments when all the elements, including a superb cast, powerful choral singing and even the river nearing the top of retaining walls just steps away from the hall, conspired for almost unalloyed success. "Wagner liked destruction," retired Slovenian coal mine director Franc Zerdin, attending with his wife and a friend, said jus

The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo has written an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, protesting against her house arrest and her brother's jailing, which activists have called official retribution on the family. _0"> Liu Xia's hand-written letter was posted in photos to Twitter by a lawyer for the family on Friday, days after a Chinese court jailed her brother, Liu Hui, for 11 years on fraud charges.   "Under today's rule of law, what we should see from state authority is justice and not ruthless suppression based on violence," Liu wrote to Xi, denouncing the sentence as unjust. "Based on my experience, the ' China Dream' you advocate has become the China nightmare," Liu said, referencing a political slogan employed by Xi, who took over as president in March and as head of the ruling Communist Party last year. Supporters of Liu Hui say his case was trumped up, aimed at thwarting the increasing atten

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr put snapshots of his musical and creative life on display in a new exhibit, "Ringo: Peace & Love," which opened on Tuesday at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Starr, 72, was on hand at the exhibit, which offers an in-depth look at his career as he rose to fame with The Beatles.   Highlights include Starr's Ludwig drum kit, used during The Beatles' appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and the outfit he wore during the era of the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album, between 1966 and 1967. Starr took Reuters on a tour of the exhibit, which will be open until March 2014, pointing out memorabilia from the height of "Beatlemania," beginning with the band's August 1965 performance at New York's Shea Stadium, which was attended by 55,600 people. "After Shea, and Shea was the biggest audience, that was the first time anyone played a stadium and that we were like, 'wow,

Actor Ethan Hawke is returning to Broadway in a production of 'Macbeth', with performances set to begin in October at Lincoln Center, the performing arts center said. _0"> 'Macbeth' will be directed by Jack O'Brien, who helmed the acclaimed 2006-2007 production of Tom Stopper's 'The Coast of Utopia' trilogy winning a Tony award, and for which Hawke received a best actor nomination.   Opening night is set for November 21 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The bloody Shakespeare play, among his best-known and most-performed works, was one of four productions the non-profit theater announced on Thursday for the upcoming season. Hawke, 42, is currently starring in the horror film 'The Purge', as well as the acclaimed third part of the 'Midnight' series of films, 'Before Midnight' opposite Julie Delpy. The actor rose to fame as a movie star more than two decades ago starting with such films as 'Dead Poets Society' a

The euro extended its gains versus the dollar to hit a session high in early afternoon trade on Monday, helped by broad-based weakness in the U.S. currency. _0"> The euro rose as high as $1.2879, according to Reuters data, and was last at $1.2875, up 0.3 percent on the day.

Potawatomi shooting is now under process of investigation agency after a woman was shot in the leg at the bingo casino in Milwaukee over a confrontation with her boyfriend, resulting in a chaotic scene for frightened gamblers, CBS58News reported on June 16. The shooting at Potawatomi Bingo Casino occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. A Milwaukee woman was inside the bingo casino gambling with her boyfriend when the couple apparently got into an argument. The woman’s brother tried to intervene in the altercation. At some point, a gun was fired, and the woman was shot in the leg. The woman in the Potawatomi shooting was taken to Froedtert Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition. Her name wasn’t immediately released. Her age was listed as 23. Her boyfriend was arrested for the casino shooting incident. According to WISN.com , the scene inside the casino was chaotic after the Potawatomi shooting. The boyfriend, whose identity wasn’t immediately released, w

Potawatomi shooting : One person was shot inside the Potawatomi Casino overnight. It happened around 1:30. Witnesses say a woman was shot in the leg. She was taken to Froedert Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Several firefighters were already at the casino responding to a different call when they heard the shots fired. A suspect has been taken into custody but Milwaukee police have not yet said what led to the shooting. Potawatomi Casino released a statement saying, ”We are thankful no one was hurt more seriously and that the situation was contained quickly. ” The casino closed temporarily and will reopen to the public at 9AM. Milwaukee police are investigating a shooting that happened inside Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal Street. It happened around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. Police said a 27-year-old man from Wauwatosa shot his 23-year-old girlfriend in the leg. The Milwaukee woman's injuries are not life-threatening. The man was arrested at the casino.

The Olde Bell in Berkshire is a country inn on the banks of the Thames. Set in the idyllic village of Hurley it boasts beautiful gardens, cosy yet modern-chic rooms and a great restaurant. Being foodies, we were instantly impressed by the inn’s seasonally inspired, gastro-pub menu based around traditional British food. Rustic cool: The dining rooms at the Olde Bell pub in Hurley They use ingredients freshly sourced from the inn gardens where possible to bring a real feel of home cooking meets fine dining in a rustic yet high-class dining room. After relaxing by the fire, it was time to enjoy the Crawford-refurbished bedrooms. And so to bed: Natural tones are the order of the day in the Olde Bell's bedrooms These still have a quintessentially English feel but with chunky farmhouse furniture, wool blankets, and Farrow and Ball natural tones they are just heaven to relax in. Ours was finished with a free standing bath and a spacious bathroom with a huge waterfall shower and

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Gateways tend to be things you wander through without dawdling, without expectation, on the way to somewhere else. So I was wary on arrival in Bergen to see posters describing Norway’s second-largest city as ‘the gateway to the fjords’, even though they were high on the agenda during a short, but irresistibly sweet, trip to a part of the world about which we know far too little. Mind you, I’d heard the joke about the tourist in Bergen who asked a local lad: ‘Does it always rain here?’ To which the boy replied: ‘I don’t know, I’m only seven.’ Enlarge   All aboard: Bergen's wharf with its higgledy-piggledy houses Sure enough it was drizzling as we arrived in town (a sort of Scottish drizzle, but with an hour’s time difference). We checked into the Radisson Blu Hotel along with a few hundred others who were there for a medical conference of some sort or other. No, not exactly a boutique hotel experience, but one that plonked us bang on Bryggen, the famous and much photographe

You expect to get splashed when Shamu the killer whale leaps magnificently out of the water at SeaWorld in Orlando. It's even advisable not to get too close to those pesky sea lions Clyde and Seamore. But penguins? Really? Yet that is the risk visitors take at the park's new Antarctica: Empire Of The Penguin attraction, which opened last month to rave reviews - and massive queues. Forget the technological wizardry behind the thrilling ride section of Empire Of The Penguin ('trackless' vehicles take you on a four-and-a-half-minute journey through a realistic polar region) - it is the animals that grab your attention in a whole new way. Chilling out: Some of the residents at the new Antarctica: Empire Of The Penguin attraction Previously, penguins could only be viewed through thick Plexiglas and at more than arm's-length. That's due to the fact they need special treatment and their own 'space'. But SeaWorld wasn't happy with this arrangement - st

There's something in the water in Fermanagh, a county famous for its lakes, rivers and 'liquid sunshine'. And right now, something has seeped into all that wonderful wetness, creating a buzz greater even than the legendary Irish craic. I guess that's what happens when a sleepy slice of Northern Ireland prepares to welcome the most powerful politicians in the world. On June 17 and 18, the G8 summit, the annual meeting of the leaders of the eight wealthiest nations, will be held at Fermanagh's five-star Lough Erne Resort. World class: Fermanagh's five-star Lough Erne Resort will host G8 leaders this month Opened in 2007, the resort is built on a picturesque 600-acre peninsula straddling Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne. It boasts an award-winning restaurant, a Thai spa and a Nick Faldo-designed golf course. I visited in advance, to see what Cameron & co might expect. The staff were courteous yet cagey. Despite my best efforts to find out which room

I fell in love with Portugal the first time I met her. I came here with my then girlfriend, Marina, who has family in Cascais, near Lisbon. We returned less than a year later to get married. Although I have visited the country many times since, until now I have never explored the southern Algarve. To be honest, I have always tried to avoid it, instead favouring the less populated Atlantic coast. But in April we seized the chance to go to the Martinhal Beach Resort and Hotel, near Sagres. It describes itself as the premier family resort in Europe. Family favourite: Ben and Marina with Ludo and Iona at the Martinhal Beach Resort As relatively new parents (Ludo is three and Iona is 19 months), Marina and I have come to accept that our holiday options have changed. It wasn't that long ago that we rolled our eyes in despair if we found ourselves sitting next to youngsters on planes. Now we're the ones checking how long the flight is, how far the resort is from the airport and

When it comes to hiring a car abroad, the price of a tank of petrol can vary by up to £70 depending on where you are on holiday. If you hire a Ford Focus in the United Arab Emirates you can expect to pay just £16.43 for a tank of petrol, but in Turkey the price of filling your car more than triples to £86.92. The figures, revealed by car hire company Holiday Autos, show how tourists can easily be caught out by expensive petrol prices when travelling abroad. The open road: Petrol prices in America are among the cheapest in the world While many holidaymakers take into account the price of car hire and insurance, plenty forget to check the price of fuel before committing to a driving holiday. Luckily, those considering that popular holiday option - the great American road trip - will be pleased to know that the US has the second-lowest petrol prices in the world, setting drivers back just £32.33 to fill up a Ford Focus.   More... Three-day strike by French air traffic controllers

Summer is upon us, and it's time to consider getting the tent down from the attic and fixing up a camping trip. But where should you go? Below, I've picked out some of the best websites for finding a perfect campsite in the UK and on the continent - as well as for glamping (glamorous camping) and for general advice on all things related to life under canvas. Pitch perfect: Find the ideal campsite for your needs with these great websites www.ukcampsite.co.uk TripAdvisor for campers. Thousands of campsites are reviewed by punters in glowing and in highly critical terms: on one Devon site, comments range from "fantastic location" and "lovely ambience" to "poor facilities" and "unhelpful staff". You'll find reviews of most UK campsites, as well as many in France, and coverage is gradually expanding across other European countries. As well as geographical search options, there are useful lists of sites by type - for example, those t

The lily of the valley is the pale, fragrant bride in the flower world, whereas the tulip is the diva. With their black hearts, brilliant petals and elegant stems, they demand applause. And in true diva style, once they have bloomed, they refuse to come back next year. Or at least they do for me. In bloom: Esther was enchanted by the potent colours at locations such as the Keukenhoff Gardens in Holland As a gardener I've struggled and failed with them, but still I am an ardent fan. It has been my dream to see them in full glory, blazing with colour in the tulip fields of Holland. My mother told me about the Dutch tulip fields when, as a London child, I used to help her fill bowls with fibre and hyacinth bulbs to decorate the house.   More... More famous travel tales in our Celebrity section More fabulous river voyages in our Cruise section Vikings, ballet and relics on a Baltic odyssey But even then I knew you can't restrain a tulip in an bowl. So I was thrilled to ta