"Air strikes believed to have been carried out by Russian warplanes killed scores of people in the center of the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syria on Sunday, rescue workers and residents said." [Reuters]
The FIFA ethics committee banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years for their role in a $2 million dollar bribe and other ethical breaches. [AP]
How the Syrian Kurds are executing a strategy devoid of hierarchy, patriarchy or capitalism. [Akbar Shahid Ahmed, HuffPost]
Since we know you probably didn't watch it, here's the full rundown. [HuffPost]
"It is the chronicle of an underground fighter maimed and darkened by his long fight, the biography -- replete with rivalries and fratricide -- of a proven and once popular Islamist commander whose actions turned more violent and vengeful as he moved into the Islamic State’s orbit." [NYT]
Steve Harvey announced the wrong winner for the Miss Universe pageant, resulting in a crown being removed from Miss Colombia's head and placed on Miss Philippines'. You can't make this stuff up. [Dominique Mosbergen, HuffPost]
Boy, were we in for quite the ride. Here's what the First to Last team learned this year. [Howard Fineman, Jason Linkins and Lauren Weber]
"President Obama said in a radio interview airing on Monday that Donald J. Trump, a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, is exploiting the resentment and anxieties of working-class men to boost his campaign. Mr. Obama also argued that some of the scorn directed at him personally stems from the fact that he is the first African-American to hold the White House." [NYT]
To get The Morning Email, HuffPost's daily roundup of the news, in your inbox, sign up here. And listen to the news in under two minutes here.
WHAT’S BREWING
With a $517 million opening weekend, the movie is on track to be the highest-grossing film of all time. [Reuters]
"Yes, she’s usually laughing, quipping, or goofing off, but throughout her meteoric rise in 2015 Schumer has been stubbornly pushing against any preconceived notions of what it means to be a beautiful, popular, and powerful woman in Hollywood." [Vanity Fair]
It's supposed to be the "warmest" of your "lifetime." [HuffPost]
And it appears to be paying off. [WSJ]
Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni has reportedly won the coveted role in the "Cursed Child," which is set 19 years after the conclusion of the "Harry Potter" series. [HuffPost]
Uplifting thoughts for your Monday. [Vice]
"If I’d carried on smoking I’d probably have died." [HuffPost]
WHAT'S WORKING
"Babies are passed into volunteers arms, wet shoes and socks removed, blankets distributed. There are tears of relief. These boats arrived safely. With inexperienced drivers, chosen randomly at the helm, this is not always the case." [HuffPost]
For more, sign up for the What's Working newsletter.
ON THE BLOG
"With some advance planning, and smart pointers, however, you can come out healthier and more rejuvenated, and maybe even a few pounds thinner in time for the New Year." [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ The Las Vegas strip is closed after a woman intentionally drove into the crowd, killing one and injuring dozens more.
~ The human cost to identifying migrant remains.
~ The link between stress and Alzheimer's.
~ Jimmy Carter is mourning the sudden death of his 28-year-old grandson.
~ Lauren Conrad said goodbye to her red locks.
~ The key to getting through the day is this DJ Khaled-isms autogenerator.
~ This UPS delivery man is a bit over the holiday influx of packages.
~ When a celebrity chef tests out Blue Apron.
~ It was really, really, really hard to get Adele tickets.
~ Take a listen to Mariah Carey's new Christmas song.
~ The night is always darkest before the dawn -- especially since it's the winter solstice tonight.
~ Remember when Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their kid Apple? Apparently that was 11 years ago, as little Apple is a killer guitar player now.
~ Life as Noam Chomsky's assistant.
~ "Inside the Christian App boom."
~ Ever wanted to create an emoji? This woman is in your corner.
Send tips/quips/quotes/stories/photos/events/scoops to Lauren Weber at lauren.weber@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter @LaurenWeberHP. And like what you're reading? Sign up here to get The Morning Email delivered to you.