Taking my kids out of school has taught me the joy of staying in and doing nothing

I was conditioned to think of going out as morally superior to hibernating. Now I regard the decisive opt-out as a dynamic choice too, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

Going vegan this year was one of the best decisions of my life

Having long Covid made me reassess my health and wellbeing, and the benefits have been profound, says journalist and councillor Shaista Aziz

Contact with nature in cities reduces loneliness, study shows

Loneliness is significant mental health concern and can raise risk of death by 45%, say scientists

The inner lives of dogs: what our canine friends really think about love, lust and laughter

They make brilliant companions, but do dogs really feel empathy for humans - and what is going through their minds when they play, panic or attack?

El Salvador ‘responsible for death of woman jailed after miscarriage’

Inter-American court of human rights orders Central American country to reform harsh policies on reproductive health

Activists call for revolution in ‘dated and colonial’ aid funding

Aspen Institute’s new voices want donors to exercise humility and trust grantees to know what their communities need

‘I can’t explain how I am still alive’: Dr Denis Mukwege on risking his life to save African women

The Nobel prize-winning gynaecologist counts Michaela Coel, Jill Biden and a small army of Congolese women among his fans. Yet he still won’t call himself a hero

Go with the flow: how period clothing went mainstream

Period underwear is branching out into leak-proof exercise clothes, swimsuits, sleepwear – even blankets. Is this finally the end of tampons and pads?

It’s scandalous so few pregnant women in the UK are vaccinated against Covid

It’s the wise thing to do for mother and child, yet official advice has been insufficient and mixed, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

STI rates ‘at their highest numbers’ in US as Covid dominates health funding

Rebound of sexually-transmitted infections the result of sluggish testing, changing behaviors and persistent issues with education