EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
World Cup Cricket has drawn millions of people watching the games on TV, particularly the game between India and Pakistan on June 9, 2024. This game will be remembered for decades to come. Millions of people watched it on TV and 34,000 people watched at the Stadium. Also, other stadiums, including the NY Mets stadium Citi Field had the game onscreen and the stadium was full as I’ve heard. The game was delayed due to rain, but luckily, about one hour and 15 minutes later, the game started. Due to the rain, the pitch (field) helped the bowlers (pitchers). Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl (pitch). As expected, India made only 119 runs. Pakistan started good, but eventually they could not hit the ball as needed for the victory and were all out with only 113 runs. What a game up to the last moment, with everyone’s hearts beating.
The United States of America was not able to qualify in the traditional sense, but as a host country, they were in it for the first time. They won their first two games against Canada, and in a shocking upset, Pakistan in a close game. Both countries had the same score (159) at the end of the regular session, so they went for a super over (over time) and the U.S. beat Pakistan in an unbelievable game.
The U.S. team, who had not qualified through qualifying matches, may advance to the next round with a win over India (not likely) or Ireland (very possible). Meanwhile, for the first time ever, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka may not advance to the next round. Let’s see what happens over the next week.
Hunter Biden, the current sitting President’s son, was found guilty on all three counts by the jury. It was clear while interviewing Hunter Biden’s witnesses that he was on drugs when he bought a gun and lied on the form that he did not use drugs. Biden’s ex-wife of 20 years, Kathleen Buhle, spoke about Hunter’s habit of drug use. She found a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine in an ashtray in 2015 weeks after his brother Beau’s death.
Hunter had a romantic relationship with his brother Beau’s wife after his death. She testified that she threw a gun in the trash, after he bought it 11 days before, because she did not want her children to get their hands on it. Zoe Kestan, another woman in a relationship with Hunter, testified that he was smoking crack every 20 minutes when she stayed with the charming young man in a hotel for five days. However, Kestan did not have any contact with him when Hunter bought the gun in 2018. The jury had more than enough evidence to find him guilty on all counts.
Donald Trump will be sentenced on July 11, and Hunter Biden will be sentenced afterwards, perhaps in September – when he faces a tax evasion case – or in October 2024. It will be tough for Merchan to give a jail sentence to Trump. If he does, Hunter Biden may get a jail sentence as well. Under normal circumstances, first time offenders in the case of both Trump and Biden usually do not get jail time. I give credit to the judge in Biden’s case for not giving preferential treatment, as well as Judge Maryann Noreika, who killed a slap on the wrist plea deal that would have let Biden skate on everything.
Finally, President Biden is trying to make a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire and is giving about $650 million to free U.S. hostages. However, Hamas stated that they are ready for the ceasefire deal offered by the UN. Hamas have not said anything about their reasoning.
In sports news, Caitlin Clark was not picked for the U.S. women’s team for the Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The sensation of Women’s National Basketball, Clark has done well in her rookie WNBA season with 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Her key weakness so far has been handling the ball. As a point guard, she must reduce her turnovers, which is 5.6 per game.
Still, I think she could have helped the Olympic team, especially with her shooting, but who knows what was behind the selection committee’s decision.
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
