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Iranian regime intensifies crackdown

Desperate to quell rising wave of unrest, Tehran launches new tactic of seizing family members to pressure senior figures

Father shoots dead child and injures mother

A four-year-old girl was killed when her father opened fire after her mother arrived to drop her off for a visit

Recession is over, says Brown

Gordon Brown to launch fresh attack on the 'privileged few' while insisting he will protect those on middle incomes

Business news  

Companies begin moving production back to UK

They find that poor quality and higher freight prices are undermining the cost advantage of producing goods overseas

• Anger at tax relief cut for climate change levy

• VIDEO: GRAPHIC: Uncertain world

Retailers to absorb VAT rise to extend sales surge

Monday was the busiest shopping day this year, according to Synovate — surpassing Saturday, December 19 by 1.2%

Nightmare on Wall Street over for markets

The FTSE 100 hits its highest level since the collapse of Lehman Brothers as the market’s year-end rally continues

Sport News  

Torres leaves Villa out in the cold

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 1: Spain striker nets winner three minutes into injury time to give the visitors maximum points

• Reina intervenes to help Liverpool

• Benitez waits for team to get clean bill of health

Ferguson resigned to losing £30m Vidic

Real Madrid are confident of signing the Serbia defender in the summer but United are determined he will not leave on the cheap

Megson hounded by fans after Hull escape

Bolton 2 Hull 2: home supporters turned on manager after his team threw away two-goal lead and chance to escape relegation zone

Comment  

Remember the opium wars

Britain is in a poor position to condemn Shaikh's execution with its history of drug dealing to China

• George Walden

Offspring of pop royalty relying on DNA

We should pre-judge them precisely because their surname gets them a fast-tracked easy ride

• Eamonn Forde

Immigrants, infants and grey Britain

We've changed over the past decade in three ways: we're older, more diverse and there are more of us

• Alice Fishburn

• Graphic: the decade in demography

Life and Style  

An outfit for every New Year's Eve celebration

Whether you’re staying in, donning black tie or braving Trafalgar Square, it’s not too late to welcome 2010 in style

The Boxing Day tsunami: five years on

In Aceh, the worst-hit province, many men have remarried, but it's been tougher for women

The unstoppable rise of the public trophy wife

The new generation of sassy first ladies like Carla Sarkozy and Michelle Obama are eclipsing their men and winning votes in style

Arts & Entertainment  

Avatar takings hit $600m in ten days

James Cameron’s movie heads the list of blockbusters to generate the most lucrative ever take over the festive period

Four stars for Aladdin

There are bigger and brasher Aladdins around in London this year, but here’s one that is as good as you could wish for

Cultural quiz 2009

Think you know your arias from your Elbow, your Hirst from your Holst? Put your memory to the test with our bumper quiz