Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by VICE.
Photo by Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
US NEWS
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly offered the role of secretary of the interior to Montana representative Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL commander who said he did not believe climate change was "proven science." Zinke has been a supporter of mining and logging on public lands and called Hillary Clinton the "Antichrist" in 2014.—The New York Times US Calls on Taiwan to Boost Military Spending
An Obama administration official has warned Taiwan to ramp up its military spending to keep pace with threats from China. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Abraham Denmark said US respect for the One China policy remained in place under Team Obama, but Denmark also said Taiwan's defense budget "has not kept pace with the threat developments and should be increased."—Reuters Tom Perez to Challenge Keith Ellison for DNC Role
The Obama administration's outgoing labor secretary Tom Perez is ready to join the race to lead the Democratic National Committee. Sources close to Perez say he will announce his campaign to become DNC chairman on Thursday. He would immediately slide in as a top rival to Representative Keith Ellison, who's backed by 2016 Democratic presidential runner-up Bernie Sanders.—The Washington Post Ohio Governor Signs 20-Week Abortion Ban
Ohio governor John Kasich signed a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks in his state on Tuesday. The ban makes no exceptions for rape or incest cases. The Republican governor also vetoed a separate bill that would have banned abortions at the first sign of a fetal heartbeat, usually around six weeks into pregnancy.—VICE
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Residents of eastern Aleppo are still trying to leave the city, after an evacuation set to start at dawn on Wednesday morning was delayed. Under a deal struck a day earlier, both civilians and rebel fighters were to be taken on buses to rebel-held areas in northern Syria. Rebel leaders blamed Iran's Shi'ite militias for the delay, and the ceasefire with pro-regime forces seemed to fall apart.—Reuters/CNN Gambian Soldiers Seize Electoral Commission HQ
Security forces have seized control of Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission offices. The commission had confirmed the defeat of President Yahya Jammeh by Adama Barrow following a vote earlier this month. A delegation of West African leaders arrived in Gambia Tuesday to convince Jammeh to give up power.—Al Jazeera Protests Against Brazilian Spending Freeze Turn Violent
Activists clashed with police after the Brazilian senate on Tuesday approved a plan to cap public spending over the next two decades. In Brasilia, people protested outside the National Congress building, and riot police blocked a group trying to march on Globo TV offices. President Michel Temer's long-term austerity plan passed by 53 votes to 19.—BBC News ISIS Claims Responsibility for Cairo Church Attack
In a statement shared online, ISIS has claimed it was responsible for the suicide bomb attack on St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday that killed 25 people. A 22-year-old named Mahmoud Shafiq Mohammed Mustafa is said to have carried out the attack.—The Guardian
EVERYTHING ELSE
Kayne West has explained his Trump Tower meeting in a series of tweets and teased a run for the presidency with the cryptic message: "#2024." The artist said it was "important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change."—USA Today Snowden Warns Against Fake News Censorship
Edward Snowden thinks aggressive government intervention would be the wrong way to tackle fake news in a livestreamed interview with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. "The answer to bad speech is not censorship, the answer is more speech," said the NSA whistleblower.—VICE News Beyoncé Has Most Googled Song of the Year
Beyoncé's "Formation" was the most googled song of 2016, according to a top ten list released by the search engine. Prince's "Purple Rain" came second, followed by Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles" and Desiigner's "Panda." – Billboard Margot Robbie Set for All-Female DC Villains Movie
Margot Robbie has reportedly joined the cast of all-female DC superhero movie Gotham City Sirens, repeating her role as Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. David Ayer, who directed the Warner Bros. movie, is set to direct the DC project.—The Hollywood Reporter Arctic Warming in 2016 Is 'Unprecedented,' Scientists Say
A new report from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned of "unprecedented" warming in Arctic temperatures. The polar region has had its warmest year on record, according to the group's Arctic Report Card.—Motherboard