Electoral College Votes

The 538 members of the Electoral College are set on Monday to make President-elect Donald Trump's victory official. In all 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia, electors -- chosen by the state parties of the candidate who carried their state, Trump or Hillary Clinton -- will meet to cast their ballots. There's no national meeting of the Electoral College. Instead, electors gather in each state -- usually in the Capitol. Under federal law electors must gather on December 19. And each elector must sign six copies certifying their votes for president and vice president. Two ballots go to the National Archives. One goes to the president of the Senate (the vice president of the U.S.). Two go to their state's chief elections officer. And one goes to a local judge. After Monday's votes, there is one last step: On January 6, Congress has to officially count the electoral votes. Lawmakers can technically object -- in writing, with objections signed by at least one House and one Senate member -- to individual electoral votes or entire states' results. If the House and Senate support that objection, the vote or votes in question are thrown out. But that has never happened. After the votes are counted, the results are final, and Trump is officially set for his inauguration at noon on January 20.

In Other News An United States underwater drone was seized by the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. The Pentagon has said the underwater vehicle was an unclassified piece of equipment conducting routine operations but a commentary published in the People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's official mouthpiece, said the drone was linked to US efforts to "contain" China. Efforts to evacuate thousands of civilians and rebels trapped in Aleppo have resumed after two buses due to carry people to safety were set ablaze Sunday. At least 4,500 people have left Aleppo since the early hours of Monday morning. The evacuation process restarted ahead of a UN Security Council vote due Monday on a draft resolution which would allow the UN to monitor the process. Thousands more are waiting to be evacuated. The UN Security Council has come under criticism for failing to find a political solution to Syria's brutal war that has killed at least 400,000 people and to even agree on days-long ceasefires. Since March 2011, Syria has been embroiled in an uprising against President Assad. It began as a chain of peaceful protests, followed by a crackdown by the Syrian Army. Assad’s group is backed by countries such as Russia. The Syrian Opposition group is backed by areas such as Turkey. The Syrian Federation Forces are backed by a number of countries, including USA, France, and Britain who participate in the Combined Joint Task Force. They chiefly fight ISIS and support rebel groups perceived as moderate and friendly to Western nations such as the Free Syrian Army. ISIS is also involved in the struggle for power.