Evening Standard - London

Battered by Rail Mugger ; a Lone Woman Commuter Tells of Frightening Ordeal I Only Remember the First Punch I Blacked Out in a Pool of Blood

A WOMAN commuter told today of the savage attack she suffered from one of London's worst serial muggers. Janet Rayment was punched in the face by her powerfully-built attacker as she walked alone to a deserted railway station.

Tories Plan Pounds 2,000 Gift for Science Graduates

STUDENTS who complete science and maths degrees would be given a Pounds 2,000 cash windfall under a Tory government, Michael Howard is due to announce today. The Pounds 20 million scheme, paid for by scrapping the Government's new university regulator and other red tape, would see the cash paid on graduation.

Blair, Bush Move for Peace After Arafat

TONY BLAIR and George Bush today united behind a new drive for peace in the Middle East after Yasser Arafat's death. They were to make a joint statement in the White House Rose Garden pledging that reviving talks between Israel and the Palestinian leadership will be a priority.

White House Hunt Demo

PRO-HUNT campaigners targeted Tony Blair in Washington today in a bid to highlight next week's historic vote to ban the sport. The Masters of Foxhounds Association of America (MFHA) was set to stage a demonstration outside the White House in support of their British counterparts.

New Heartache As Denise Splits From Fiance ; Van Outen's Wedding to Nightclub Owner Richard Traviss Is Off

DENISE VAN OUTEN is rich, beautiful and successful, with a thriving career as a television presenter and star of West End musicals. But it seems that, at 30, her love life is doomed. The former Big Breakfast host has made no secret of her long- cherished wish to settle down, live quietly and have a family. But finding the right man is proving a challenge. She has already suffered a traumatic break-up with pop star Jay Kay. Now she has broken up with nightclub owner Richard Traviss after three...

Tour de France 'Will Start in London'

LONDON has emerged as the city most likely to host the spectacular opening stage of the 2007 Tour de France. French officials, who have spent two months studying the London bid, said the capital's application appeared to be in pole position.

Six in 10 Londoners Do Not Have Free Dental Care ; Access to Nhs Poor ... Despite Labour's Promises

MORE than six out of 10 people in London do not get free access to dental care, new figures reveal. Despite a Government pledge to improve access, more than four million people in the capital are not registered with an NHS dentist, the Evening Standard has discovered.

Clubs to Escape Ban On Smoking

SMOKING will be allowed in private clubs under new proposals to restrict the habit. A White Paper, to be published next week, is expected to stop well short of a total ban.

Rail Death Toll Highest Since 1990

THE death toll for railway track workers in 2004 is already the highest in 14 years, it has emerged. Eight repair crew have been killed so far this year and at least 65 have been badly hurt.

City Man Robbed 'at Gunpoint' in Rogue Minicab

A CITY businessman has endured a terrifying ordeal at the hands of a rogue minicab driver. Chris Firth was told he would be killed unless he handed over his phone and wallet and was driven to cash machines and ordered to withdraw money.

Public Warned in Hunt for Robber

A SEARCH was under way today for an armed robber who escaped from a secure psychiatric unit. Police warned the public not to approach Llavuan Bennett "on any account".

Fraud Fear As Gangs Infiltrate City Firms

ORGANISED criminal gangs are sending members to apply for jobs in financial services firms to commit fraud, claims the City's watchdog. The Financial Services Authority urged City employers to tighten up checks on new recruits.

Chattering Classes Are Deserting Labour ; Milburn Warns That Support Is Slipping in Wake of War

LABOUR'S election supremo has admitted that the chattering classes are deserting the party, it emerged today. Alan Milburn told a private meeting that support was slipping away among readers of the Guardian and Independent and people who give money to aid charities such as Oxfam.

Us Troops Fighting New Iraq Rebellion

THE US has been forced to pull troops out of Fallujah to fight growing insurgency in other Iraqi cities, it emerged today. With fighting in Fallujah still intense, American commanders decided to reassign a third of the forces trying to stop rebels fleeing the city.

Car Door Fault Casts Doubt Over Chef Suicide Theory ; New Revelations Over State of Vehicle Mean Train Crash Could Be Accident

THE car belonging to the man who caused the Upton Nervet rail disaster was in such a poor state of repair that the driver's door often jammed, it was revealed today. Chef Brian Drysdale bought the Mazda two years ago but had never got round to repairing the problem.

Beer Cans to Carry Health Warning

THE UK's biggest brewer is to label its cans and bottles of beer with a health warning in order to help combat binge drinking. The move, by Scottish Courage, is expected to be followed soon by other brewers.

Tell Us Why Your Hospital Beds Are Empty, Dr Reid

A FRESH row has erupted today over hospital beds being left empty in the capital. The fate of three of London's leading hospitals is uncertain because of a lack of money and patients, health chiefs say.

Council Paints White Mother and Child Black ; Newsletter Shows Doctored Image in Fostering Campaign

A NEW LABOUR flagship council has been accused of "political correctness gone mad" after doctoring an image of a white mother and child to make them black. Camden council, frequently chosen to pilot government policies, used the modified image as part of a campaign to encourage fostering.

Junk Food Firms Cut Adverts for Children ; Tv Commercials Drop by 20 Per Cent After Threats of New Law

JUNK food advertising aimed at children is being scaled down. Only weeks before a White Paper that may propose tough laws, food advertisements shown around children's TV programmes have been slashed.

Sex Exhibits Set to Draw Thousands to Olympia

TENS of thousands of people will head to west London next week for an exhibition devoted to sex. About 75,000 visitors are expected at Erotica - the biggest exhibition of its kind in Europe - at Olympia between 19 and 21 November.