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MPs spend �400,000 on 12 FIG TREES for their offices

EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayers are footing a bill of almost �400,000 to rent 12 fig trees to shade MPs in the glass-roofed atrium of their office block Portcullis House, the Standard reveals Comments

We must put religion back into public life, says Warsi

Religion must be given a greater role in public life to push back a wave of "intolerant secularisation", a Cabinet minister said Comments (22)

Apple factories opened to inspectors after claims over working conditions

An independent group has begun inspecting Chinese factories where Apple's iPads and iPhones are assembled, after claims of horrendous working conditions emerged Comments (2)

10 million Tube passengers fail to claim money back for delays

More than 10 million Tube users are missing out on refunds worth more than �20 million when their trains are delayed, new figures reveal Comments (2)

Mother's grief at Whitney Houston's final journey

Whitney Houston's mother Cissy looked distraught today as she brought her daughter's body back to a funeral parlour in her home town Comments (1)

PM urged to deport Qatada as he hides in north London safe house house

David Cameron was under pressure today to defy European judges by ordering the deportation of extremist cleric Abu Qatada as he holed up in a London safe house Comments (15)

Now jailed Dizaei could be forced to repay his �1 million legal aid bill

Met commander Ali Dizaei is facing the prospect of paying back tens of thousand of pounds of legal aid as Scotland Yard prepared to sack him for the second time Comments

Hollywood star Sean Penn backs Argentina in Falkands dispute

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has taken Argentina's side in the Falklands dispute. He urged Britain to join UN-sponsored talks over what he called "the Malvinas Islands of Argentina" Comments (25)

UK's AAA credit rating threatened by Moody's 'negative outlook'

Britain has been threatened with the loss of its AAA credit rating amid fears over weaker growth prospects and potential shocks from the eurozone crisis. George Osborne said it was a 'reality check' for Britain's debts Comments (21)

In pictures

Gallery: See what Pixie Geldof and other famous faces were wearing at the Elle Style Awards at The Savoy Hotel

We must tread carefully in Syria

Civil war in a volatile region that includes Israel, Iraq and Lebanon could spark a resurrection of ancient divisions

Jamie Oliver launches Gatwick trattoria to rival Ramsay's Heathrow diner

Jamie Oliver is launching a restaurant at Gatwick airport which will inevitably be compared with Ramsay's Plane Food at Heathrow's Terminal 5 Comments (1)

Stones would love to play at the Games, says Ronnie Wood

Guitarist revealed that Rolling Stones had been in discussions about playing during the Games and in other concerts Comments

Gallery: Elle Style Awards

Cameron and Obama unite in fresh sanctions threat to Syria

David Cameron and Barack Obama today agreed to step up the pressure on Syria, including possible extra sanctions against president Bashar Assad's regime Comments

Standard fund gives hope to homeless

A London charity has been able to provide rough sleepers with "lifesaving" thermals and sleeping bags this winter, thanks to the Evening Standard's Dispossessed campaign Comments

St Paul's tent protesters: We can't promise a peaceful exit

Occupy London protesters said today they could not guarantee a peaceful exit if they are evicted from St Paul's next week Comments

Wanted: supplier of Olympic insoles

Deals worth more than �35 million for essential but obscure products for the Olympics - from shoe insoles to rain shields for the press - are still up for grabs Comments

World News

Sniper lockdown in Homs

International Headlines

Money to burn: Battersea power station

Beefeaters: We must remember British history

Emma Thompson and the Tricycle theatre

Blair returns with plea for Labour to be pro-business

Tony Blair has made a return to British politics by giving private briefings to Labour MPs on the need to be pro- business Comments (10)

Winehouse saves a home for young people

A shelter for the homeless has been saved from closure by money from Amy Winehouse's legacy Comments

Hague seeks world support to send peace force to Syria

William Hague has paved the way for an international peacekeeping force to be sent into Syria Comments (8)

'Don't kick council taxpayers in the teeth', says local government minister Bob Neill

Town halls were today warned not to give hard-working Londoners a "kick in the teeth" by raising council tax Comments

US militia 'set for war on the anti-Christ and government'

A militia group in the US planned to "go to war" against the government with assault rifles and homemade bombs and dressed in military style helmets, a court heard Comments

Diana's letters to stepmother withdrawn from auction

Two handwritten letters from Princess Diana to her stepmother have been withdrawn from sale after her family objected. Comments

Artists accuse council over workshop sale

Artists and charities claim Lambeth council has sold their workshops to a developer after telling them their future was safe Comments

Headteacher in academies battle with Gove quits

A popular headteacher of a school at the centre of a row with Education Secretary Michael Gove over academies has stepped down Comments

Council's prayers are illegal, rules judge

A bid to outlaw prayers at council meetings was won today by the National Secular Society and an atheist councillo Comments (11)

Benefits cap to hit London homes hardest with 3,300 in Brent alone

More than twice as many families in one London borough will be hit by the �26,000 benefits cap as in the whole of Birmingham, it has been revealed Comments (12)

Patient fears as three hospitals set to merge

The merger of three London hospitals was given the go-ahead today despite concerns over the effect on patient care Comments (2)

Baby P council 'blundered' on mother's abuse of 10 children

The council that failed Baby P was today accused of blunders in another child protection case Comments (1)

Coma man recovers to see his baby born

A musician flown back to Britain with help from Evening Standard readers after a motorcycle crash in Bali has become a father Comments

Simon Cowell's flying start for the BGT baby

Simon Cowell came to the rescue of a father-to-be by giving him a lift on his private jet when his girlfriend went into labour Comments (1)

Class war over couscous on park caf�'s new menu

A change of menu at Stoke Newington's Clissold House caf� has started a row Comments (7)

Spectre of 1976 as London gets a drought alert

London and the South-East are facing a severe drought with water levels already lower than they were before the long hot summer of 1976, it was revealed Comments

Commons nursery turns away children

The under-used House of Commons nursery has been turning away children whose parents work at Parliament but are not MPs, it emerged today Comments

Residents' fears for History Museum's lawn

Residents today attacked plans that they fear will see part of the Natural History Museum's lawns paved over Comments

'Silence of the Lambs' rapist to be deported back to Britain

A British man who kidnapped, tortured and raped a young woman in a crime likened to the horror film The Silence of the Lambs today lost his fight against deportation from Australia to the UK Comments (3)

Top gallery heads forgo bonuses during pay freeze

Heads of leading museums have given up bonuses worth tens of thousands of pounds in recognition of the squeeze facing public sector workers, it emerged Comments