Christmas code-crackers: GCHQ reveals annual festive card for puzzle fans

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Esther AddleyDecember 10, 2025 at 01:01 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

GCHQ has released its annual Christmas card featuring a series of seven puzzles designed to test codebreaking, math, and analytical skills. This year's card also incorporates designs from schoolchildren who participated in a competition to imagine GCHQ at Christmas. The puzzles, created by GCHQ's in-house puzzlers, challenge participants to uncover a final Christmassy message through lateral thinking and perseverance. The agency hopes the challenge will inspire interest in STEM subjects and cybersecurity careers. The winning card designs were chosen by GCHQ's director and "chief puzzler" from over 500 entries.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Anne Keast-Butler ×280% GCHQ ×4100%

Keywords

puzzles 100% gchq 100% christmas card 90% code breaking 70% intelligence 60% cybersecurity 60% schoolchildren 50% stem subjects 50% lateral thinking 40% analysis techniques 40%

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Positive

Score: 0.30

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The Guardian - World News

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Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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puzzles gchq christmas card code breaking intelligence cybersecurity schoolchildren stem subjects lateral thinking analysis techniques

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