Introduction to Today's Briefing The past 24 hours have seen a wide range of significant events across various sectors, including sports, health, business, and world news. In this briefing, we will delve into the most notable stories, highlighting key developments and their potential impacts. ## Sports Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' by Portugal's Football Federation, edging out Lionel Messi for the prestigious honor. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina secured the year-end women's singles number one spot by beating Yulia Putintseva in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Broadcaster Bill Raftery is considering toning down his famous catchphrases for his first college basketball assignment of the season, which will honor the pope. ## Health and Environment Concerns have been raised over the potential cut to a mental health crisis scheme for young people, with the Card Before You Leave scheme providing crucial support to those in need. Water companies in England have been criticized for their poor environmental performance, with all but one rated as 'poor' or 'requiring improvement'. Additionally, a report has found that the NHS Western Isles is prescribing weight loss drugs at triple the rate of other health boards in Scotland. ## Business and Economy Poundland's future is uncertain as the company edges towards collapse, with bosses filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators. Microsoft has posted a $36.6bn profit after offering buyouts to one in four workers, while Hello Kitty maker Sanrio has cut ties with a Japanese spy drama following a backlash from China. The UK chancellor, Healey, has unveiled a £100 energy bill subsidy and a bank tax in his first Budget, aiming to address the cost of living crisis. ## World News An audacious Indian jailbreak saga has come to an end, with all 17 prisoners recaptured after a 36-hour ordeal. In Canada, a summit with the EU is set to push for closer ties, with discussions focusing on deeper economic and defense cooperation. Audio recordings have revealed exchanges between the control center and drivers before a deadly Spain train crash, raising questions about the incident. ## Technology and Entertainment Ofcom has outlined ways for social media platforms to verify the ages of users, including photo and digital ID, banking checks, or facial age estimation. Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro has pushed laptop pricing to a new extreme, with the top model costing around $14,549. Upwind, a cloud security startup, has raised $400M after walking away from a Datadog acquisition offer, while actors and crew are worried about an AI-assisted edit of old Neighbours episodes.