- Donald Trump [1]'s cabinet keeps filling up with controversial picks. The president-elect has tapped ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state nominee [2], making many lawmakers uneasy. Tillerson has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has opposed US sanctions on Russia. Trump's team also announced his secretary of energy pick as Rick Perry. The former Texas governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee said in a 2011 debate he would eliminate the department of energy [3], but he couldn't remember its name.
- Speaking of Trump drama, Kanye West and the president-elect met this morning at Trump Tower in New York City [4], setting off an internet frenzy. The two chatted briefly before returning to the lobby to pose for pictures. When asked what they talked about, Trump said "life" and that they have "been friends for a long time." West was hospitalized in November for reportedly suffering a nervous breakdown after going on a rant during one of his concerts. The rapper said he didn't vote in the election but if he had, he would have voted for Trump because he's a "genius."
- In devastating headlines, thousands of civilians are fearing for their lives in Aleppo, Syria. A United Nations human rights report said that at least 82 people, including children, were killed by Syrian troops [5] as they took over the besieged city. As they continue to murder civilians on the spot, reporters and activists are tweeting their final messages. A UN humanitarian spokesperson called the crisis a "complete meltdown of humanity," and rebels and military are giving differing accounts as to whether a ceasefire deal has been reached [6].
- If you need some good news, listen to this: the giant panda is no longer endangered [7]. The International Union for Conservation of Nature announced that the beloved animal has been downgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the list of species at risk of extinction. Since 2014, there has been a 17 percent rise in the giant panda population thanks to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund that have worked to establish a network of giant panda reserves.
- While you text your friends about the panda news, you can add some new emoji to the mix. Apple has released a bunch of fun characters with its iOS 10.2 [8] software update that's available now. Some favorites? Avocado, female scientist, fingers crossed, and face palm emoji. Huzzah!