Your Summit Weekly Briefing
By Alex Tananbaum and Ashwath Vimal
1. General News: Iranian Nuclear Scientist Assassinated
On Friday, Nov. 27, Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was one of the people behind Iran’s controversial nuclear plans, was reportedly assassinated while in a car by a remote-controlled machine gun from another car. There are conflicting reports saying that he was traveling with his wife when Fakhrizadeh heard bullers, so he exited the car to find out what was going on. He was shot by the machine gun from 150 meters away, and then the car then exploded. Other reports say the explosion happened first then the gunfire. Iranian officials are blaming Israel for the assasination and are promising revenge against the “‘oppressors”’.
This killing has also created more tension than there already is between Iran-U.S. relations, with President Trump retweeting a tweet put out by Israeli journalist Yossi Melam, who said Fakhrizadeh has been wanted by Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence Agency. Protesters have been seen burning pictures of Trump and Joe Biden, and U.S. and Israeli flags. The European Union has denounced the assassination, with the UK Foreign’s Office saying they are trying to gather the facts.
2. Covid-19: New Vaccine From Moderna
A biotech company called Moderna has recently announced very promising results with their new COVID-19 vaccine. Recent data has shown the drug to be 94.1% overall efficiency, which confirms earlier data from November 16th. Findings also show a 100% prevention rate of severe cases of COVID-19. Moderna has applied for emergency use from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA may be able to provide the vaccine as early as Dec. 21. The vaccine is likely to go to health care workers, essential workers, and people in nursing homes first and foremost.
As of now, 13.3 million American people have contracted the virus, with 265,000 people dying from it. Just in Nov., there have been over 4 million new cases, with 25,500 deaths across the U.S. Globally, there have been almost 62 million cases throughout the pandemic, with nearly 1.5 million deaths overall.
Ending on a quick note, if you have traveled during these past holidays, automatically assume that you have contracted the virus. Immediately quarantine and get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/health/covid-vaccine-moderna.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIPGYaRnEVd/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Stay Informed: CNN reports live, bite-sized updates on Coronavirus here.
3. Politics: Trump to step down if Electoral College votes Biden
On Thurs., Nov. 26, current president Donald Trump committed to leaving the White House if President-elect Joe Biden were to win the Electoral College, though he stopped short of conceding officially. The Electoral College meets December 14th to formally certify the results of the election. Trump continues to claim the election was fraudulent, and says of the Electoral College’s likely decision to certify Biden as the next President of the United States: “If they do, they’ve made a mistake.”
From Biden’s team: “President-elect Biden won 306 electoral votes. States continue to certify those results, the Electoral College will soon meet to ratify that outcome. Biden will be sworn in as President on January 20, 2021,” (Michael Gwin, the Biden Campaign’s spokesperson, via The Guardian).
Trump also will not commit to attending Biden’s inauguration, although it is possible he will announce an intention to run for President again in 2024 at the same time as the ceremony. The tradition of the current president welcoming in the new by attending their inauguration is, as CNN notes, “… a symbolic demonstration of the peaceful transfer of power that has defined American government for more than two centuries.”
4. Sports: Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson, 49ers Temporarily Move Stadiums
On Sat., Nov. 28, infamous Youtube star Jake Paul beat former NBA Slam Dunk champion and player Nate Robinson in a three month anticipated boxing match. Paul won in the second round through a knockout, landing a devastating overhand punch to Mr. Robinson’s face after delivering one right before that knocked down Robinson. Unfortunately, the second overhand knocked him out, ending the fight quickly in favor of Jake Paul. Many, like former boxing champion Antonio Tarver, say that Robinson had very little training compared to Paul, and should not have even been allowed to fight Paul in the first place. Others say that Robinson was the one who called Paul out, so there was nothing unfair about the fight. This sparked an argument about if professional fights like these should continue to be sanctioned.
The San Francisco 49ers have been forced to play all upcoming home games at the stadium of the Arizona Cardinals because of new COVID-19 restrictions. Santa Clara County have officially put out new regulations stating that all sports games and practices shall be put on a three-week suspension. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed his and the team’s disappointment at this ban.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/49ers-kyle-shanahan-coronavirus-crackdown-team-homeless
5. Summit: Welcome back!
Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break, and happy three weeks until our two week Winter Break begins on Dec. 21 (but who’s counting?). Expeditions is ending this week at Shasta and Denali while starting next week for K2 and Tam. Seniors, remember to work on those college applications, as many are due in early January.
6. Weather
Atlas (West Seattle) and Sierra (Seattle): Expect a partly cloudy week today through Mon with a brief respite Weds, which will likely be filled with bright sunlight. Temperature highs will range from the mid 40’s to 50, with today, Thurs and Mon experiencing highs of 46℉, Fri-Sun ranging from 47-48℉, and Weds at 50℉. Lows will sit at around 33-34℉ at the beginning of the week, then pick up to a balmy 36-37℉ Sat and Sun, with a final rise to 40℉ on Mon.
Olympus (Tacoma): Soak up the sun today and Weds as Thurs-Mon will be partially cloudy. Highs will sit at around 46℉ today and Mon and alternate between 47-48℉ Weds-Sun. Lows will range from 31-33℉ today through Sat, then pick up to 35℉ Sun and 39℉ Mon.
Denali (Sunnyvale): While Weds and Thurs will be partially cloudy, expect sunny days the rest of the week, with highs ranging from 63-64℉ Tues-Fri, peaking at an actually, non sarcastically, pretty warm temperature of 68℉ on Fri. After that, temperatures will range from 65-67℉ Sat-Mon. Lows will range from 39-41℉ throughout the week.
Everest and Prep (Redwood City): Expect a full sun week with only Weds and Thurs showing partial clouds. Highs will range from 62-63℉ today-Thurs, rise at the end of the week to 66℉ on Fri, then fall back down 63-65℉ Sat-Mon. Lows will stay consistent at 40-41℉ throughout the week.
K2 (El Cerrito): Expect sunny days today, Fri, Sat and Mon as well as partial clouds Weds, Thurs and Sun. Temperature highs will stay fairly consistent throughout the week with a range of 62-63℉ today-Thurs, then 64-65℉ Fri-Mon. Lows will sit at 40-41℉ most of the week, with the exceptions of Weds and Thurs, which have expected lows of 42-43℉.
Tam (Richmond): Expect a whirlwind of a week with today, Sun and Mon’s predictions of partly cloudy days, Weds and Thurs’ sunny forecast, and Fri and Sat’s chances of rain. Predicted temperature highs will rise at the beginning of the week, with today’s being 48℉, Weds’ being 52℉, Thurs’ being 56℉, and Fri and Sat being 58℉. Highs will fall again starting Sun, predicted to be 53℉ at most, and Mon and Tues, at 48-49℉. Temperature lows will also bounce around a bit, dipping to below freezing today at 31℉ and reaching its coldest Weds with 26℉. Thurs will come back up to 39℉, Fri will sit at 45℉, then dip back down again to 37-38℉ Sat and Sun. Mon will also have a below freezing low of 29℉.
Shasta (Daly City): Expect a mostly cloudy week with today’s fog and Weds-Mon’s partial clouds with the exception of a full-sun Fri. Temperature highs will sit at 58℉ today and Weds, rise to 63℉ Thurs and Fri, fall again to 61-62℉ Sat and Sun, and finally rise again to finish off the week at 63℉. Today’s low will be 43℉, then range from 44-45℉ for the rest of the week.
Tahoma (San Jose): Though today will be foggy, and Weds-Thurs will be partly cloudy, the rest of the week will be full sun. This week’s highs will also be fairly hot, at 66℉ today, 64℉ Weds, 66℉ again Thurs, 68-69℉ Fri-Sat, 67℉ Sun, then 69℉ again Mon. Lows will be fairly consistent at 39-41℉ throughout the week.
7. Actions
Editor’s note: each week, I will be posting petitions to sign/actions to take to support the BLM movement, ICE detainees, and other important matters. Remember, your voice counts, so use it.
- Sign this petition to return all publicly owned lands in the US to the Indigenous people they belong to
- Send postcards to Georgia to encourage voters to turn up for the runoff elections. Simply sign up via Frontline in the link above. They will send you the postcards, all you have to do is write a personal note and send them off the Georgia! They will also help pay for postage if necessary.
And, as always:
- Watch or listen or listen to this playlist. All advertisement revenue goes to Black Lives Matter. I currently have it on in the background as I am writing this brief. Do not skip the ads, the donations will not go through otherwise.
- Watch or listen to this video. All advertisement revenue goes to various aid organizations easing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Please note it is blocked on school Chromebooks due to being in the “Entertainment” category
- Learn more about the crisis at www.monareliefye.org/.
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