Author: Martin D'Anjou

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Possible cause of male infertility discovered

A defective protein gene in sperm could be responsible for a significant proportion of male infertility, according to a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

This particular protein – called DEFB126 – usually coats the sperm and protects it from the female immune system, allowing it to reach the egg.

Researchers at the University of California’s UC Davis campus have discovered, however, that as many as 50 percent of men have one defective DEFB126 gene and up to a quarter could have two defective genes, which might explain a significant number of cases of male infertility.

"In 70 percent of men, you can’t explain their infertility on the basis of sperm count and quality," said senior author Gary Cherr.

The researchers now hope the discovery could be used to develop a test for the defective gene, which would allow infertile couples to undergo a directed treatment where the sperm is injected directly into the egg – avoiding expensive workarounds to rule out other causes.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Summer air travel can be dangerous for pets

If you’re planning to take your pet with you on vacation this summer, be aware that high temperatures can make planes a dangerous place for animals, reports NBC.

Many airlines – including United, Continental, Delta and American – will not permit pets to travel in the cargo hold when the temperature on the tarmac goes above 30 degrees Celsius. Be sure to check with your airline about their policies before planning your trip with Fido.

Air Canada, for instance, does not allow pets as checked baggage between June 20 and September 10 except on Air Canada Cargo – and even Air Canada Cargo will not accept pets on flights into Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH) Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) or Phoenix (PHX).

Once you get the go-ahead from your air carrier, there are a few things you can do to help ensure your pet is comfortable and safe. Make sure the crate is well-ventilated and large enough to allow your pet to stand up, lie down and turn around. The animal should have four to six inches of clearance when standing.

Purchase the crate well in advance of your trip so that your pet has time to get used to it. Place it somewhere he or she can explore and put toys and treats inside to make it a friendly, welcoming space.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Kate’s wedding gown adds style to Palace tour

Tourists visiting London’s Buckingham Palace this summer will be treated to a glamorous, bonus treat as the Royal Collection places Kate Middleton’s ivory and satin wedding gown on display through October 3.

The celebrated dress – worn by Kate at her wedding to Prince William in April – was designed by Sarah Burton for the Alexander McQueen fashion house.

Visitors will be able to admire the expert handiwork of the lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt, produced by the Royal School of Needlework. Their highly-specialized techniques date back nearly two centuries.

In addition to the dress, visitors can also view the many priceless accessories worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, including her Cartier tiara, the diamond earrings given to her by her parents, and a replica of the bridal bouquet. Private photographs of the wedding will also be featured in the throne room.

Before departing, visitors can enter the adjacent dining room to take an up-close look at a reproduction of the elaborate, eight-tier fruit wedding cake – created by cake designer Fiona Cairns – offered to guests at the royal reception.

The summer opening tour of Buckingham Palace also includes its 19 state rooms and a walk along the south side of the palace garden.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Iceland named most peaceful country in the world

Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2011 Global Peace Index formulated by the Institute for Economics and Peace at VisionOfHumanity.org.

New Zealand followed in second place, and Japan in third. Denmark and the Czech Republic rounded out the top five. Canada ranked eighth overall, boosting North America’s average – the U.S. climbed only slightly from last year, moving from 85 to 82 this year.

According to the official website, the GPI uses 23 separate indicators to help gauge "ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society, and militarization in 153 countries."

Not surprisingly, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa remain the least peaceful places on earth. Afghanistan came in 150th, followed by Sudan and Iraq, with Somalia in last place.

The world’s overall peacefulness is down for a third straight year, due largely to the increased threat of terrorist attacks in 29 countries and the threat of violent demonstrations in 33 countries.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Luxury culinary festival debuts in France

Beginning this fall, luxury hotel and restaurant association Relais & Châteaux will launch a new annual celebration of fine dining, ‘Fête de la gastronomie’ (Culinary Feast), reports Tour Mag.

The festivities will begin on the first day of fall each year, and this year, the French culinary festival will make its debut on September 23.

The hotel and restaurant association has designed a number of special events to help guests truly appreciate French gourmet dining.

Participating hotels will open their kitchens to the public, sharing the secrets of great French cuisine. Restaurant recipes will be collected and posted online through the official website.

Another highlight includes meeting with the restaurants’ sommeliers, where guests can join small wine-tasting groups to sample a dozen of the finest wines.

For those who might not be able to afford fine dining, the event includes a prix fixe menu where members of the public can enjoy the gourmet fare at a special reduced rate.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Airline to double Montreal-to-Paris flights next summer

Canadian air carrier Sunwing Airlines plans to double the number of flights between Montreal and Paris next summer after the route’s successful debut this year, reports Le Quotidien.

Starting just this past May, the airline has been offering twice-weekly flights between Montreal and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. Despite limited advertising – the new service was only announced in March – the flights have been selling extremely well. Due to the success, the air carrier has decided to double the number of flights next year, offering four flights a week by the summer of 2012.

"Ever since our customers first experienced our Champagne service aboard Sunwing Airlines flights to the south, they’ve been asking us to add European destinations," explained airline CEO and president Stephen Hunter.

The Montreal-to-Paris route was one of six new European flights added to the schedule this year. From now until September 12, the airline also offers flights from Toronto to London, Paris, Dublin, Porto, Lisbon and Rome.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Royal Fabergé exhibit at Buckingham Palace

From July 23 until October 3, as part of the summer opening of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace, visitors will have the chance to admire Royal Fabergé collection.

More than 100 rare pieces, created by renowned Russian jeweler and goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé, will be on display at the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II.

“The British Royal Collection of Fabergé is unique and gives a remarkable insight into the dynastic relationships between the British, Danish and Russian royal families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” said exhibit curator, Caroline de Guitaut. “The exhibition shows a royal enthusiasm for Fabergé that has lasted more than 100 years.”

Every summer, the Queen opens the doors of her palace to visitors to the capital. Each year a new collection is presented. This year, the Royal Fabergé collection has exquisite pieces created in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Acquired over six generations of monarchs, the royal Fabergé collection is the largest of its kind in the world. A number of works will go on display for the first time. Highlights include a magnificent Imperial Easter Egg – the Basket of Flowers Egg – commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II for Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in 1901.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Cambridge rides the royal wave

The Queen may or may not have realized the tourism boost she would give Cambridge, England, when she made newlyweds Prince William and Kate Middleton the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Since the royal wedding, Cambridge has experienced a 25 percent increase in tourism, according to Forbes. Although the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not visited since being granted their new titles, hoteliers are particularly pleased with the turn of events, noting a marked increase in international tourists.

Just 80 km north of London, the town of 100,000 is famous for its prestigious university, along with Castle Hill, a castle built by William of Normandy in 1068, and other attractions like the Cambridge Folk Festival in July, punting on the river, art galleries, and theaters.

A tourism increase following a royal wedding is not new. The weddings of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer in 1981, and of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986, also had a similar impact on the British economy.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Join a faster lineup at airport – for a fee

At some British airports, business travelers and vacationers in a rush have the option of paying a small fee in order to bypass the line-up and go straight through security, reports NBC.

While London’s main airport, Heathrow, has yet to introduce the service, a number of smaller English airports have created special fast-track line-ups for passengers willing to pay a nominal fee.

London Luton Airport, which specializes in discount fare airlines, charges an additional $5 if travelers want to speed through security in a ‘Priority Lane.’ John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and the Bristol Airport both charge about $6 for their own version of the service.

Some U.S. airports – like those in Denver and Salt Lake City – have introduced specialized line-ups instead. Rather than charge a fee, passengers are free to choose from either a slower, more sedate process for nervous or inexperienced flyers, or a fast-lane line-up where passengers are expected to move through quickly and with minimal fuss.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Hotel Georgia reopens in Vancouver

Vancouver’s iconic Hotel Georgia has reopened after a makeover and rebranding, now part of the Rosewood luxury hotel chain, reports Business Traveler.

The famous hotel originally opened in 1927, and in its heyday, welcomed guests like Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Errol Flynn, Louis Armstrong and even the Queen.

Over the years, the classic hotel began to lag behind the new chains – the rooms were small, the amenities old-fashioned. Now the Hotel Georgia has undergone a $120-million makeover to bring it up to speed.

The number of rooms has been cut in half – from the original 320 to only 155. The standard room now measures at least 325 square feet and offers a sleeping area, living area and large washroom.

The hotel now boasts a restored lobby, an Olympic-sized pool, an open air patio, private dining lounge and one of the largest private collections of Canadian art.

The old ballroom has been brought back to its former glory, featuring original plasterwork, and even an indoor balcony for musicians, known as a minstrel’s gallery.