Italy sounds alarm over avian flu

· Swans fleeing cold bring virus to western Europe · Rome warns people not to handle dead or sick birds

Spotting the difference

At last there's proof of what we've always suspected - physiologically and behaviourally men and women are different. Vivienne Parry reports.

Patient with new face braves world

· Transplant surgery Isabelle Dinoire speaks publicly for first time · Muscular movement still returning, says surgeon

Britain defies US with funding to boost safe abortion services

· Attempt to replace lost dollars after ‘global gag’ · 70,000 died last year in backstreet operations

Dramatic fall in Zimbabwe HIV infections

About 49% fewer young women test positive, results put down to sex education programmes

A cowardly position

Zoe Williams: Talking about abortion time limits is just a new way of peddling the pro-life position.

Bird flu ‘could be 21st-century Black Death’

· Economists predict rioting and flight from cities· Markets not prepared for risks occurring together