Time to speak up

It's 39 years since abortion was legalised in this country, yet these days it's rarely discussed without mention of 'shame', 'mental trauma' or 'viability'. With pro-lifers dominating the debate, and even leftwingers describing abortion as a 'necessary evil', women's hard-won rights could soon be under threat. In an introduction to an eight-page special, Zoe Williams asks: are we just going to roll over?

Why is our cereal so sugary?

Bibi van der Zee: UK Kellogg's All-Bran contains 133% more salt than a bowlful in the States, while our Special-K contains 31% more sugar than the US version. Can we really have a sweeter tooth than the Yanks?

Mother knows best

Leader: Late motherhood, it seems, retains an uneasy resonance, but research presented yesterday shows that not all the facts support this.

Stolen bone transplant patients may sue

At least two British patients who recently discovered they had been given transplants of potentially contaminated pieces of bone from stolen US corpses are considering legal action, their solicitors said yesterday. The exact number of UK patients who received bone … Continue reading →

Flight from the knife

'Esther' was 15 when she arrived in Britain, fleeing female circumcision. Today the law lords will decide whether this is sufficient reason for her to remain in the country. Natasha Walter on what this means for women living in fear of mutilation.

Should Everest be closed?

Tourism is turning the world's highest peak into its biggest rubbish dump, claim conservationists, who are pressing for controls on climbing. But will this cost sherpas their livelihood? Dan McDougall in Kathmandu reports on the campaign.

The vanity case for smokers

Esther Addley: It's a tricky business persuading smokers not to smoke. Not least because everyone who has ever lit a cigarette knows that particular little shopping list ain't the half of it.