Chinese government hackers are secretly burrowing into critical networks using creative new methods.
A breakthrough for the group on the trail of Chinese hackers

Original reporting
NPR Politics: read the full reportRelated stories
Democrats are hoping Latino voters swing back their way in Arizona and elsewhere
This year, Democrats are hoping Latino voters swing back to them. Particularly in Arizona, where the party is trying to flip to some competitive congressional races.

Nigel Farage skips budget in Commons over seating ‘altercation’ concerns
Reform UK leader ‘shocked’ by £10bn pledged to Ukraine and doubles down on cutting tax for crypto investors Budget 2026: key points at a glance Nigel Farage skipped the chancellor’s first budget because he was worried he would get in a “physical altercation” with another MP in a row over seating arrangements. The Reform UK leader was not present in the House of Commons but gave a press conference afterwards in which he said he was “shocked” by the £10bn going to support Ukraine and doubled down on his party’s policies on cutting tax for crypto investors. Continue reading...

Budget briefing: the key questions answered by Heather Stewart and Pippa Crerar
Our economics and political editors dissect John Healey’s maiden budget The Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, and political editor, Pippa Crerar, assess the chancellor’s budget: what he said, why – and what he left out. Continue reading...

Burnham rules out early general election in next 12 months
The prime minister has denied speculation from some opposition parties that he will go to the country in spring 2027.

Budget 2026: £100 energy payment for millions and rise in bank tax as watchdog warns on stalling living standards – as it happened
OBR says that living standards are forecast to rise by just 1% over the whole post-Covid decade Budget 2026: key points at a glance Martin Lewis said that, when he met John Healey this morning, the chancellor said that, having removed standing charges from gas bills, he would also like to get rid of them from electricity bills. Lewis said: The chancellor said he will be talking to Ofgem about how they get rid of the charge on electricity as well, but that is ‘trickier’ apparently and will take longer. Continue reading...

Will Healey’s budget tackle the cost of living? – podcast
John Healey has delivered a ‘steady as she goes’ budget, with help for the cost of living a big theme. The chancellor promised a £100 energy payment for some households, extended the VAT suspension on electricity bills to next July and confirmed the scrapping of gas standing charges. But after months of the same old message of ‘hope in difficult times’, and many of the big decisions on tax and spending delayed until next year, what should we take away from today? Continue reading...