Hostage deal

Kidnapping was targeted to secure freedom of Iranian-backed militants

Patrick Cockburn: Peter Moore was treated differently and may at one stage have been held in Iran.

'People were more connected than ever, accessing video, music, mail (the 'e' soon became redundant), the web, books, news (with no distinction between papers, websites or television) and magazines whenever they liked, wherever they liked'

The world in 2020: A glimpse into the future

Ten years ago we thought wireless was another word for radio, Peter Mandelson's career was over – and only birds tweeted. So what will life be like a decade from now?

Quiz of the decade

Whatever happened to the noughties? Try our NEWS quiz and you could win £500 of Red Letter Day vouchers, or a Pure digital radio.

What happened to the noughties? Try our prize SPORTS quiz

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, greets supporters at Bulawayo's White City stadium in September as they celebrated the 10th anniversary of his Movement for Democratic Change

MDC blames expats as money vanishes from overseas offices

Finance Minister suspends British branch as Zimbabweans in exile are accused of 'bleeding movement dry'

Stars of arts honoured – but no awards for politicians

Patrick Stewart, Status Quo and Jenson Button in New Year Honours

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Top tech
From Android to Spotify, we pick 2009's top developments
Manager sack race
This season's managerial departures

Noughty beauties
Angelina is named beauty icon of the decade
Online tributes
The most mourned celebrities of 2009

A decade of music
The 10 most widely played songs of the noughties
Ooh er...
Water company staff pose for saucy calendar

Bolton bound?
The contenders to replace Gary Megson
Quiz of decade
What happened to the Noughties? Try our prize news quiz

Sports quotes
The most scandalous words of the year
Bright sparks
Our experts introduce the hottest new stars

John Gummer said he is to quit the Commons to fight climate change

Cameron rues loss of his green standard-bearer

David Cameron's attempts to boost the green credentials of the Tories have been dealt another blow after one of his party's most senior environmentalists announced he is to quit the Commons at the next election.

'I just want to cry,' says freed hostage

Prisoner swap wins Briton's release after two years in solitary confinement

Al-Faraj mocked by fans as revolt breaks out at Pompey

Supporters heckle owner during 4-1 loss to Arsenal as club denies being served with winding-up petition

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Writers' archives: A sad estate of affairs

Why do even left-wing writers like David Hare and Harold Pinter sell their papers to the highest bidder? Paul Taylor examines the vexed question of writers' archives

Lack of financing hits sales of Threshers stores

Federation of Small Businesses urges banks to start lending in 2010

Japanese researcher unveils 'hummingbird robot'

Japanese researchers said Monday they had developed a "hummingbird robot" that can flutter around freely in mid-air with rapid wing movements.

Breakthrough offers hope to cancer sufferers

Scientists have discovered why a protein that suppresses the growth of the disease in some patients causes it to spread in others

The secret's out: James McAvoy in the frame to play Bond creator Ian Fleming

In his rise to the Hollywood A-list, James McAvoy has already donned a tuxedo, dabbled in intrigue and played an author.

Cable wars heat up as Fox and Time Warner fight over fees

Viewers are set to be the end-payers in Rupert Murdoch's latest drive to ensure media content brings in revenue, reports Stephen Foley

Jennipher, the woman thrown to the dogs

Independent Appeal: When Nathan Awoloi bought his wife for two cows, he believed it gave him the right to treat her like an animal. Claire Soares reports from Pallisa, Uganda, on the charity that saved her.

Pakistan's families caught in the crossfire

The IoS Christmas Appeal: As little as £8 can provide counselling for victims of trauma.

Cameron rues loss of his green standard-bearer

World's best job ends with a jellyfish sting

Ginkgo biloba does not slow cognitive decline: study

The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba does not slow cognitive decline, a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) said.

Infant school exclusions are rising, study shows

Headteachers say pupils do not know how to behave when they get to classroom

Boys aged three 'must be made to write more'

Terry Lawless: Boxing trainer and manager who took four fighters to world titles

Terry Lawless never laced a pair of boxing gloves on in his entire life but his simple methods, common sense in the gym and connections helped him become the last of the old-fashioned boxing managers.