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A round-up of notable developments today touches education, politics, security and sport: in Manchester, two reformed hackers visited a sixth-form college to encourage talented gamers and coders to channel their skills into ethical cybersecurity roles, an initiative aimed at turning tech aptitude into constructive careers; voters in Thailand headed to the polls in a contest between reformist and conservative forces, while Japan began an early legislative vote expected to shape the governing landscape, and Portugal moved to a presidential runoff that will decide its next head of state; in Australia, the centre-right opposition reunited after a split over policy responses, reflecting shifting domestic alignments. On international security and defence, plans to use expanding allied facilities — including greater submarine deployments — signal continued strategic cooperation among partners. Sports provided uplifting stories: Sam Darnold’s resurgence carried his team to the Super Bowl and Hideki Matsuyama fired a 68 to take the lead at the Phoenix Open. Together these items underscore civic engagement, shifting political choices, deepening alliances and moments of individual sporting success shaping today’s headlines.