Shehryar Joyia

Handing out sweets would not normally be considered a brave act. But as an Iranian woman hands out pastries in a park on a sunny day, a video capturing the moment has been edited to hide her identity and to blur the faces of those she hands her treats to. “What’s the occasion for handing … Read more

Pick of the day: Secrets and Spies: A Nuclear Game 9pm, BBC Two The final part of this series about espionage at the height of the 80s Cold War tells the thrilling true story of Soviet double agent Oleg Gordievsky’s escape from Moscow, whither he had been recalled by a suspicious KGB. Operation Pimlico was … Read more

The former prime minister Boris Johnson on a visit to a care home in Stepney Green in 2021. Successive governments have failed to address the crisis in social care. Photo by Paul Edwards / WPA Pool / Getty Images. The Conservatives promised to “fix” the crisis in social care once and for all. They promised … Read more

Photo by Suzie Howell for the New Statesman Colm Tóibín’s Long Island opens 20 years on from Brooklyn, a novel that ends with Eilis Lacey leaving Ireland for a second time, after a pilgrimage home to mourn her sister. She has chosen to return to America and to Tony Fiorello, the man she is already … Read more

Illustration by Otto Dettmer / Ikon Images American culture is stuck in a ditch – on that much, left and right agree. But the resulting clash between the two sides has failed to sharpen the intelligence of either – or to bring about a new and productive consensus. The swords wielded by eager culture warriors … Read more

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged ministers to raid inheritances in a bid to bring down the debt. Jeremy Hunt has not budgeted enough money for health, social care or net zero, the global financial watchdog has warned. But the national debt is also rising, so extra spending has to be funded by tax rises … Read more

“I thought I’d give that a go,” he says. During the training, Rossi says he was only earning around £800 a month. “It wasn’t covering the rent or anything else. I had no debt at the time. I had a good record with the bank, so I asked for a loan.” The bank would not … Read more

Overall, nearly six in 10 (58%) respondents think their living standards have got worse or there has been no change and their living standards “were bad before and still are”. In this economic situation, politicians shouldn’t sound too optimistic, says Nick Turnbull, a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Manchester. “It’s a real … Read more

All products are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more Suffering from sluggish broadband speeds? Virgin Media has shared an easy fix that should restore your internet speeds in under a minute. Virgin Media has … Read more

Police in the US are investigating how Friends star Matthew Perry obtained the high dose of the drug ketamine that was determined to have caused his death, it has emerged. Los Angeles homicide detectives are working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service to investigate why the 54-year-old star had … Read more