Elena Baibarina is the head of the Russian Health Ministry's Department for Health Care for Children and Obstetric Aid

Russia's health ministry is planning to set up crisis pregnancy centres to help lower the country's high abortion rate.

Elena Baibarina, the head of the Health Ministry's Department for Health Care for Children and Obstetric Aid, said: "We think that this is the most promising and humane way of reducing the number of abortions."

The Russian government has also put forth a number of other proposals to reverse the legacy of Russia's Communist-era abortion culture. [LifeSiteNews.com, 29 January]

Other stories:

• Mandela should have protected lives of unborn [Belfast Telegraph, 31 January]
• Poll: Support for women seeing doc before abortions [Christian Institute, 29 January]
• Scientists use citric acid to reprogram cells [Times, 29 January]
• Euthanasia by dehydration lacks public support [Christian Today, 30 January]
• Quebec bishops call for prayer as legislators prep to vote on euthanasia bill [LifeSiteNews.com, 30 January]
• Man thanks stranger who saved him from suicide [Telegraph, 30 January]
• Corrie suicide has boosted euthanasia fight, says Nicklinson widow [Times, 21 January]
• Analysis of population and fertility issues in Iran [BioEdge, 31 January]
• Peers reject compulsory sex ed [Christian Institute, 29 January]
• 14 babies die on NHS maternity wards every day: Women are failed over care, say MPs [Mail, 30 January]