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David Cameron says supermarkets and the drinks industry should encourage responsible drinking

PM to tackle drink abuse 'scandal'

David Cameron will vow to take on the "scandal" of public drunkenness and alcohol abuse that costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year.

Legal challenge to pensions reform

A leading teachers' union is to issue a legal challenge to the Government over its controversial pension reforms in a fresh blow to ministers' hopes of an end to the long-running dispute, it has been announced.

A Rangers fan outside his club's stadium

Rangers in crisis over �9m tax bill

Scottish football giant Rangers has gone into administration over an unpaid tax bill of £9 million - accrued since Craig Whyte's takeover.

107,000 sign 'stop health bill' bid

More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Government to abandon the Health and Social Care Bill.

Ian Davidson says there are many outstanding questions about how independence would affect everyday life in Scotland

MPs seek 'answers' on independence

A Commons committee has called for clarity on the "unanswered" questions of Scottish independence.

Poll reveals GP hospital care fears

A third of GPs know a patient who was given "dangerously sub-standard" care at their local hospital in the past year, according to a poll. One in 10 have even had one of their patients die, potentially as a result of poor hospital care, in the past 12 months.

Hard-pressed families felt some relief last month as official figures revealed the rate of inflation fell

Inflation plunges to 14-month low

The rate of inflation fell to a 14-month low last month and is expected to hit the Government's 2% target by the end of the year in a further sign that the crippling consumer spending squeeze is loosening its grip.

Peers curb 'bedroom tax' plans

Peers have imposed new restrictions on the Government's proposals for a "bedroom tax" on council tenants with spare rooms but backed down over changes to other parts of the coalition's controversial welfare shake-up.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot said markers of early child development were closely linked with deprivation

Inequality 'hits child development'

England is failing its young children "on a grand scale" due to inequality, with many not achieving basic levels of social and emotional development, according to a leading expert.

Kate greets crowds on solo visit

The Duchess of Cambridge has spent Valentine's Day nearly 8,000 miles away from her husband but had no shortage of admirers as she visited Liverpool.

MPs spend �400,000 of taxpayers' cash 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 (41)

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 Comments (23)

The final reckoning: how Boris and Ken measure up in election battle

London goes to the polls on May 3 with the election battle between Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone set to be the capital's closest mayoral contest yet Comments (35)

Commuters' favourite swaps busking for the big time with recording deal

Busker Tristan Mackay has hit the jackpot after landing a record deal with an award-winning producer Comments (1)

What a smoothie! Eight-year-old Valentine gives Kate roses and a heart-shaped cupcake

The Duchess of Cambridge's first Valentine's Day as a married woman was marked with roses, a card and a cupcake - but not from Prince William Comments (10)

Kercher family launch appeal over decision to clear Knox of murder

Meredith Kercher's family today launched an appeal to overturn the decision to clear Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito of her murder Comments

PM urged to deport Qatada as he hides in north London safe 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 (40)

Now jailed Dizaei could be forced to repay his �1million 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 (47)

Osborne defends his cuts strategy as inflation falls

Chancellor George Osborne defended his economic strategy as a fall in inflation finally brought mild relief to some from the tight squeeze on family budgets Comments (29)

In pictures

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

Obscene public sector bonuses

The Government wants to review rewards in the public sector. But should such a system exist at all?

Royal College students to receive scholarships courtesy of Burberry

At the luxury brand Burberry, Christopher Bailey has transformed a designer classic into must-have cool, as epitomised by the models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Eddie Redmayne Comments

Sean Penn accuses UK of Falklands 'colonialism'

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 (57)

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 (41)

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 (2)

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 (9)

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 (3)

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

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 (4)

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 (14)

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 (5)

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 (12)

'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 (3)

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 (1)

Colombians 'fly in' to ransack homes

South American gangs are behind a surge in burglaries in suburban homes in London Comments (12)

Record 18 buyers chasing every central London home

A record 18 buyers were chasing every central London home up for sale last month, estate agents said Comments

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 (17)