As Indian cricket begins a new chapter following the Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, former cricketer Yograj Singh has shared a deeply emotional and critical perspective on their exit.Speaking to ANI, Yograj described Kohli’s retirement as a significant loss: “Virat is a big player, so it will obviously be a loss.” Drawing a parallel to India’s transition phase in 2011, he added, “When many players were either removed, retired, or coerced into retirement in 2011, the team fell apart and has still not stood back up.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While acknowledging that “everyone’s time comes,” Yograj maintained that both players still had more to give. “I feel a lot of cricket is still left in Virat and Rohit,” he said.Reflecting on his son Yuvraj Singh’s retirement, Yograj shared, “I told Yuvi that it was not the right move. One should walk away from the field when one can no longer walk.”Who’s that IPL player?Cautioning against a team composed solely of youngsters, he warned, “If you form a team full of youngsters, it will always fall apart.” He also speculated on Kohli’s mindset, saying, “Maybe Virat feels that he has nothing more left to achieve.”
Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 14 years
Yograj was especially vocal about Rohit Sharma, remarking, “I think Rohit needed just one person to motivate him daily, for example, to go for a run at 5 AM. Rohit and Virender Sehwag are two people who retired too early.”“The greatest players should play till 50 years of age… I am sad about their retirement as no one is left to motivate the youngsters now,” he concluded.
President Donald Trump’s long-held fascination with the world of aviation is proving a useful tool for governments and companies seeking to win his favor.
Pope Leo XIV used his first audience with news outlets on Monday to appeal to journalists to help cool the heated language of today’s media landscape.
The comments once again echoed some of the themes highlighted by his predecessor, Pope Francis, as Leo backed a free press to enable informed decisions and renewed his calls for a more peaceful world.
“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred; let us free it from aggression,” Leo told more than 1,000 journalists, including the Vatican press corps, who were gathered in an auditorium. “We do not need loud, forceful communication but rather communication that is capable of listening,” he added, delivering his address in Italian.
In comments that were likely to win him points with his audience, Leo spoke of the need for people to be informed in order to make sound decisions and of “the precious gift of free speech and of the press.”
Leo took the stage to a rapturous ovation from members of the news media, some of whom will report on his papacy and others who were in Rome to cover the death and funeral of Francis as well as the conclave that elected the new pope.
Leo’s address to the news media, a papal tradition, was frequently interrupted by applause. He began with an impromptu joke in English, thanking journalists for their applause but saying he hoped they would not fall asleep during his remarks.
The last five popes have held audiences with the media early in their papacies. Leo, the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion faithful, has spent his first days as pope pledging to align himself with “ordinary people” and decrying aggression and conflict. As Vatican observers watch for clues on how he plans to lead, Leo has already evoked Francis, who spoke out tirelessly for the marginalized, several times. He did so again on Monday.
In the pope’s remarks, which lasted around 10 minutes, Leo called for the release of journalists who had been imprisoned for their work. At least 550 journalists were being held across the world as of December, according to Reporters Without Borders, a nonpartisan organization that works to protect journalists.
Leo said that the church viewed imprisoned journalists as witnesses. “I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices,” he said.
“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press,” he said.
Leo also mentioned the challenges posed by social media and artificial intelligence, issues that he has previously highlighted.
After he had finished speaking, the pope descended the marble steps from the stage and shook hands with officials and some journalists, exchanging a few words and signing autographs.
Leo, who was born in Chicago, signed a baseball that someone held out to him. A woman in the line asked him for a selfie — a situation few of his predecessors would have faced in their first media outing. He politely declined, shook her hand and moved on.
The early days of Leo’s papacy have contained clues for how closely he might align with the agenda set by his predecessor. He has spoken of the need to continue dialogue between church leaders and lay people, a cornerstone of Francis’ papacy.
And on Monday, he spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, the president wrote on social media.
Francis often discussed the war and called for peace in Ukraine, although some Ukrainians criticized him, saying that he had not initially identified Russia clearly enough as the aggressor.
In his first Sunday blessing as pope, Leo called for an authentic, just and lasting peace in the country as well as for the release of prisoners.
Mr. Zelensky said that he had also requested the pope’s help in securing the return of thousands of Ukrainian children who had been illegally deported to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The International Criminal Court announced in March 2023 that it had issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and another senior Russian official for war crimes in connection with the deportations. Russia has defended moving the children on humanitarian grounds.
Mr. Zelensky said he had informed the pope of Ukraine’s willingness to began a 30-day cease-fire immediately, reiterated that the government in Kyiv would engage in direct negotiations with Russia, and invited Leo to visit his country.
U.S. Air Force One upon arrival at the at Fiumicino Airport on April 25, 2025 in Rome, Italy.
Marco Mantovani | Getty Images News | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Monday said Qatar had made a “very nice gesture” in offering the U.S. a 747 jet to act as Air Force One, blaming the need for any such donation on delays at U.S. manufacturer Boeing.
“I think what happened with the plane is that we’re very disappointed that it’s taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One, we have an Air Force One that’s 40 years old,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to the presidential aicraft which is currently a modified version of the double-deck Boeing 747.
“You look at some of the Arab countries and the planes they have parked alongside the United States of America plane, it’s like from a different planet.”
A White House official told CNBC that no aircraft “gift” will be presented or accepted during Trump’s visit to Qatar this week, while Qatar said the “transfer of an aircraft for temporary use” to the U.S. Department of Defense was under consideration.
Trump, who is also set to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week, said he had a “lot of respect for the leadership and for the leader of Qatar.”
“They knew about [manufacturing delays] because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew about it and they said we would like to do something. And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our defense department to use for a couple of years while we’re building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture… I appreciate it very much,” he said.
“I could be a stupid person and say no, we don’t want a free plane,” he continued, saying it costs an “astronomical” amount to maintain aircraft.
Trump added hewould not use the jet after leaving office and that it would enter his presidential library.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., told CNBC: “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
Reports that the Qatari government could be preparing to gift a Boeing 747 to the U.S. quickly caused a political stir, with some opposition lawmakers arguing the move would be unconstitutional and could potentially expose the White House to foreign interference or spying.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNBC: “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.”
Trump’s eye on Qatar’s $400M luxury jet is already causing a stir
NEW DELHI: After a turbulent week in Indian cricket, normalcy is returning as the Indian Premier League 2025 gears up to resume on May 17. The last few days saw Rohit Sharma retire from Test cricket, a shocking mid-innings halt of the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals clash, leading to a temporary suspension of the IPL, and the announcement of Virat Kohli’s retirement from the longest format.With a ceasefire now in place, the BCCI confirmed the league’s resumption, starting with Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Teams have quickly regrouped, resuming training with the playoff race wide open. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians, currently sitting fourth on the table, were among the first to return to the grind. The franchise kicked off its training session on Wednesday, sharing visuals of players — including Rohit Sharma — back in the nets.Who’s that IPL player?“Training resumes,” the team captioned a post with a video featuring players hard at work. Another post with Rohit batting was captioned, “We RO again,” signalling the return of their stalwart to the field after an emotional retirement from red-ball cricket.WATCH:MI will next face Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on May 21 in what is shaping up to be a crucial clash. With 14 points from 12 games, MI are narrowly ahead of DC, who have 13 from 11.The top of the points table remains tight, with Gujarat Titans and RCB leading at 16 points each, followed by Punjab Kings (15). With only a few games left, every match is now a virtual knockout.
Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on IPL, India-Australia rivalry | Part 1
The race is back on — and Mumbai Indians, with a determined Rohit, are ready to fight.
Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Erik and Lyle Menendez, notorious for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, have been granted their first opportunity for freedom in decades.
A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday reduced their original sentences of life without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole.
The brutal killings of the entertainment executive and his wife in their Beverly Hills mansion shocked the nation. I an initial 911 call, placed by Lyle Menendez, he painted a picture of a potential Mafia hit or a consequence of Jose Menendez’s business dealings.
At the time, Lyle was attending Princeton University, and his younger brother, Erik, was a rising tennis star.
Anamaria Baralt, left, cousin of Erik and Lyle Menendez, left, gets a hug as she leaves the courthouse after the brothers’ resentencing hearing Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
The brothers’ subsequent arrest and conviction captivated the public. Their defense, centered on claims of years of abuse at the hands of their father, fuelled a national debate about the nature of abuse and its potential consequences.
This new ruling marks a significant development in a case that has gripped the public’s attention for over three decades.
Here’s what to know:
Why is the case famous?
Coming on the heels of the O.J. Simpson trial, the nation was hungry for true crime TV. The brothers’ first trial was one of the first to be almost entirely televised on Court TV. It spawned documentaries, television specials and dramatizations.
The Netflix drama ” Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story ” and the documentary “The Menendez Brothers,” released in the fall of 2024, have been credited for bringing new attention to the case.
What happened at resentencing?
The brothers’ lawyers turned to family members and those who knew the brothers since their conviction to speak to their character and rehabilitation in prison in front of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic.
The Menendez family have supported the brothers and called for their release since their resentencing effort began last fall.
Prosecutors, who have opposed the brothers’ resentencing, did not call any witnesses. They’ve argued the brothers haven’t taken full responsibility for their crimes.
Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared virtually to read their statements to the court.
“You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better,” Erik Menendez said, addressing his family.
Jesic issued his decision immediately after the brothers spoke, granting them a new sentence of 50 years to life.
How soon could they go before the parole board?
The brothers are immediately eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime at ages 18 and 21, both under the age of 26.
Parole suitability hearings are conducted by a state board to determine if a person should be released. An inmate will be scheduled for their first hearing no later than six months following their eligibility date, according to board policy.
They already have a hearing before the board scheduled for June 13 in a clemency petition they’ve submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom. It’s not yet clear if that will serve as their formal parole hearing or if a separate one will be scheduled.
Lyle, left, and Erik Galen Menendez sit in Beverly Hills, Calif., courtroom, May 14, 1990 (AP1990)
Newsom ordered the state parole board to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for him to determine their danger to the public if released.
Anne Bremner, a trial lawyer in Seattle, said the brothers will have some pressure on them to prepare for the parole board and impress upon them that they should be let out.
“My guess is the parole board has been watching this and of course they’ve done these risk assessments already,” she said. They know “who these two are, what their alleged crimes were and what they’ve done since the time that they were incarcerated until today.”
What happens if parole is denied or granted?
If they are denied at their first parole hearing, they will continue to receive subsequent hearings until they are granted release.
If parole is granted, Newsom could still move to override the board. If he lets the parole decision stand, the brothers would be released from prison.
What other avenues do they have for release?
In May 2023, the brothers’ attorneys also filed a petition for habeas corpus to the court, asking for a new trial in light of new evidence of their sexual abuse. LA prosecutors have filed a motion opposing that petition, but its status is unclear.
President Trump has always viewed the presidency as a worldwide hunt for deals. Today, as he is set to begin a four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Trump has told his advisers that he wanted to announce deals worth more than $1 trillion.
In place of any grand strategy will be a series of financial transactions that Trump will promote as producers of jobs for American workers. He is pushing Saudi leaders to invest $1 trillion in the U.S., a sum that economists say is unrealistic because it is equivalent to the country’s entire annual gross domestic product.
Trump’s agenda conveniently aligns with his expanding business plans. His family has six deals pending with a majority Saudi-owned real estate firm, a cryptocurrency deal with a U.A.E. affiliate and a new golf and luxury villa project backed by Qatar.
A questionable gift: The Qatari royal family is going to great lengths to court Trump, offering as a donation a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane that will be upgraded to serve as Air Force One. Trump angrily brushed off ethical concerns about the gift yesterday, saying that only someone “stupid” would turn down such an offer.
Gaza: Hamas yesterday released Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. hostage it held in Gaza, portraying the gesture as an attempt to secure U.S. backing for a deal to end the war.
Other Trump news:
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine challenged Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, to meet him for talks in Turkey on Thursday. Trump raised the stakes by saying that he might take part in that meeting. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to the suggestion that Trump might attend.
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Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest active astronaut, brought his camera on a 220-day rotation at the International Space Station. He captured dwarf galaxies, rhythmic auroras and the streaking lights of fishing boats down on Earth.
“There is so much techno-geek stuff to see, or you can simply sit back and think ‘How cool,’” he said. Take a look.
Lives lived: Koyo Kouoh, a prominent figure in the global art world who was poised to become the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale, died at 57.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
A big week for the art world
The art world is staring down a weaker-than-average auction season, after years of declining profits. Of the hundreds of works for sale, only a couple are valued at over $50 million, including a potentially record-setting Mondrian that goes up for sale this week.
Can the art market recover? Six artworks up for auction may help provide an answer. Take a look.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, with attorney Todd Blanche, speaks to reporters as jurors are released to begin deliberations for his criminal trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, NY on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Jabin Botsford | Reuters
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who represented President Donald Trump during his 2024 criminal trial, has been appointed acting librarian of Congress, the Justice Department said Monday. Blanche replaces Carla Hayden, the longtime librarian whom the White House fired last week amid criticism from some conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.
Brian Nieves, a deputy chief of staff and senior counsel in Blanche’s office, was named acting assistant librarian, according to four people familiar with Blanche’s appointment. Paul Perkins, an associate deputy attorney general and veteran Justice Department attorney, is now the acting register of copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, the four people said. He replaces Shira Perlmutter, whom the Trump administration pushed out last weekend.
The four people were not authorized to speak publicly about the acting appointments and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has purged officials he regards as opposed to him and to his agenda. Hayden, nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and confirmed on a 74-18 Senate vote the following year, named Perlmutter as head of the Copyright Office in 2020.
The Copyright Office is overseen by the Library of Congress, which holds a vast archive of books and historical documents. Perlmutter’s office recently released a report examining whether artificial intelligence companies can use copyrighted materials to “train” their AI systems and then compete in the same market as the human-made works they were trained on.
The AP obtained an internal memo sent by Robert Randolph Newlen, who had been serving as acting librarian, saying that Congress was “engaged” with the White House about Blanche’s appointment and that the Library had not yet “received direction from Congress about how to move forward.”
Blanche was named the No. 2 Justice Department official after serving as Trump’s criminal defense attorney in two cases brought by the DOJ during the Biden administration. He is a former federal prosecutor who was a key figure on Trump’s defense team in his New York hush money trial, which ended in a conviction on 34 felony counts.
Hayden’s dismissal was widely condemned by Democrats and by many who worked with Hayden, the first Black person and the first woman to be named librarian of Congress. Ada Limon, who served three years as U.S. poet laureate after Hayden chose her in 2022, said last week that “Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.”
