TOKYO: Sayako had been trying to conceive a second child for two years when her boss at a Japanese daycare centre suggested she stop because she had missed her “turn”. Sayako, who spoke to AFP using a pseudonym, learned her boss had an unwritten policy that experts say is not uncommon in Japan: an informal “pregnancy rota” for employees. “Why …

New research shows there might be health benefits to eating certain types of dark chocolate. Findings from two studies being presented at the Experimental Biology 2018 annual meeting in San Diego show that consuming dark chocolate that has a high concentration of cacao (minimally 70% cacao, 30% organic cane sugar) has positive effects on stress levels, inflammation, mood, memory, and …

TAMPA: As many as 70 percent of women with the most common form of breast cancer may be able to skip chemotherapy, based on their score on a genetic test, researchers said Sunday. Until now, women have faced a great deal of uncertainty about whether to add chemo to hormone therapy after a diagnosis with hormone-receptor positive, HER-2 negative breast …

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali Clay was remembered on his second death anniversary on Sunday. Muhammad Ali — widely known as “the greatest boxer” — was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. He made his professional debut on October 29, 1960, at the age of 12 when he defeated his first professional boxing opponent, Tunney …

LEEDS: Michael Vaughan warned Stuart Broad he was not beyond criticism after the England paceman was angered by his former captain’s comments prior to the ongoing second Test against Pakistan at Headingley. England came under fire after a shambolic display in a nine-wicket defeat by Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s left them 1-0 down in a two-match series. …

NICE – Ousmane Dembele scored a terrific goal in an impressive display for France as the World Cup contenders defeated Italy 3-1 in a friendly in Nice on Friday. Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti grabbed the opening goal after eight minutes at the Allianz Riviera, converting a rebound from close range after Kylian Mbappe’s volley was saved by Salvatore Sirigu. N’Golo Kante …

PARIS: Serena and Venus Williams were bagelled in the deciding set as they were dumped out of the women´s doubles at the French Open on Sunday by third seeds Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Slovenian Klepac and Spain´s Martinez Sanchez — a former Italian Open singles champion — won 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0. The Williams sisters have claimed …

England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 55 runs to win the second Test at Headingley on Sunday. Victory, completed inside three days, saw England level the two-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first Test at Lord’s by nine wickets. It was also England’s first victory in a Test match since they beat the West Indies at Lord’s …

LONDON/PARIS: Carmakers including Renault, Jaguar Land Rover and Peugeot have boosted revenues by over $1 billion in the past decade by using sophisticated pricing software, according to sales presentations prepared by the software vendor, Accenture, and other documents filed in a court case. The software works, Accenture told prospective clients, by identifying which spare parts in a manufacturer’s range customers …

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are sharply depleting due to widening current account deficit and repayment of previous loans, as the reserves have tumbled by more than $2 billion since last one month. The current foreign exchange reserves can cover less than three months of imports. Foreign exchange reserves stood at $16.4 billion as of May 25 in which $10 billion …