About 55 Maltese women sought an abortion in the UK last year and, in the span of a decade, from 1996 to 2006, 649 women ended their pregnancies there, according to figures released by the UK's Office for National Statistics.

It is a known fact that Maltese women wanting an abortion also travel to Italy, but no figures are available.

Globally, 55 million babies are aborted every year and every six minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies needlessly as a result of an illegal, unsafe abortion.

In view of these stark statistics, Pink's October issue, which comes out with The Times tomorrow, tackles the issue of abortion through a first-hand account of a woman who terminated her pregnancy 23 years ago.

At 44 she still feels that she left a piece of her heart in the dustbin, alongside her discarded foetus, and believes that every woman should be made aware of the heart-wrenching consequences of abortion.

The October issue also touches on art, speaking to three women who express themselves through three media. The publication delves into traditions that would be on the way out were it not for two women who are staunchly keeping them alive.

As always, fashion takes centre stage, with a focus on the trends that should dominate autumn and winter wardrobes, while due space is allocated to beauty tips, health, fitness, food, humour, horoscopes, cars, travel, books and more.

Pink is a monthly magazine whose executive editors are The Times journalists Fiona Galea Debono and Ariadne Massa. It is published by Allied Newspapers Ltd, printed by Progress Press Ltd, produced by MediaMaker Ltd and designed by Helen Cassar Torreggiani and Joseph Schembri.