GLYNDEBOURNE, England (Reuters) – A new production of “Die Meistersinger” at the Glyndebourne festival sets aside the Nazi associations of Wagner’s controversial opera to focus on its timeless story of art and love.

The idea of mounting Richard Wagner’s five-hour drama at Glyndebourne — the original and for many the ultimate country-house summer opera festival, where the champagne picnic in the stately gardens is as much part of the evening as the music — struck some as incongruous.

GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization’s top court upheld on Friday some Chinese objections to a ruling that had backed the right of the United States to impose extra duties on Chinese goods that Washington said were unfairly priced and subsidized.

In particular, the appellate body supported China’s argument — rejected by the original dispute panel — that the imposition of such a double penalty broke WTO trade rules.

GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization’s top court upheld on Friday some Chinese objections to a ruling that had backed the right of the United States to impose extra duties on Chinese goods that Washington said unfairly priced and subsidized.

In particular the appellate body supported China’s argument — rejected by the original dispute panel — that the imposition of such a double penalty broke WTO trade rules.

By Jonathan Lynn

GENEVA (Reuters Life!) – A new production in Geneva of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s 18th century opera Orphee, directed by Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, uses modern ballet to bring out its message of the redeeming power of music.

The production, based on a version first seen in Stockholm in 2004, draws on a modern staging to recreate the revolutionary impact of the opera, premiered in 1762.

GENEVA (Reuters) – Sizeable gaps remain in talks on a world trade deal and nations must redouble their efforts to have any hope of meeting their deadline of this year to complete the long-running Doha round, trade diplomats said on Tuesday.

At a meeting of the World Trade Organization to review the decade-old Doha talks, many countries said the negotiations were making progress on technical details but what was needed was a deal to create real market access for exporters.

GENEVA, March 2 (Reuters) – Businesses are not working hard
enough to get a new world trade agreement even though the
so-called Doha deal is in their interest and is attainable,
former EU trade chief Leon Brittan said on Wednesday.

Brittan, who is trade adviser to British Prime Minister
David Cameron, said he was optimistic a Doha deal could be done
this year, as called for by world leaders, but failure to do so
in 2011 would mean the trade pact would never be concluded.
As European trade commissioner, Brittan played a key role in
negotiations on the previous trade agreement, the Uruguay round
completed in 1994, and in setting up the World Trade
Organization.