Rachel Reeves’s first budget as chancellor of the exchequer saw the biggest tax rises (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/10/30/the-british-budget-combines-large-numbers-and-a-narrow-vision) in decades, as well as promises of high spending and investment. Our correspondent explains what the announcement means for Britain. How Hurricane Helene may affect the election in North Carolina (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/24/will-hurricane-helene-tip-the-vote-in-north-carolina?utm_