* Crisis in South Sudan: "American citizens were evacuated from a contested area of South Sudan on Sunday after a local rebel commander provided assurances that there would be no interference, Western officials said. The evacuation, which involved about 15 Americans, was carried out by helicopter from the United Nations compound in Bor, in Jonglei State, which is surrounded by 2,000 armed youths."
* Syria: "At least 25 people were killed in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, antigovernment activists reported, in the eighth straight day of intense government bombardment of rebel-held areas there, while a suicide car bombing that the state news media blamed on insurgents killed at least 10 people in the central province of Homs."
* Kiev: "Ukraine's opposition has vowed to continue pro-EU protests over the holiday period, despite an economic deal signed with Russia this week."
* This is on top of the 1.2 million visits over the weekend: "More than 850,000 people piled on to the federal health insurance website Monday, the last day to log on and sign up for health insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1, federal officials said."
* A symbolic move: "President Obama enrolled in a 'bronze' ObamaCare plan over the weekend in a move the White House described as a "symbolic" gesture designed to promote enrollment. According to a White House official, the president enrolled in the District of Columbia marketplace and selected from among the lowest-cost options available."
* Heartbreaking: "A suburban Denver high school student who was shot in the head by a classmate died Saturday afternoon, hospital officials and her family said. Claire Davis, 17, was in critical condition after being shot at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13."
* By thumbing her nose at Putin upon her release, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova helps define punk rocker: "A member of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot who was freed from prison Monday said President Vladimir Putin's decision to release her showed that he was a weak leader."
* NSA: "If Edward Snowden gave federal courts the means to declare the National Security Agency’s data-gathering unconstitutional, Sonia Sotomayor showed them how."
* You know who's hoping for a better new year? "60 Minutes."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.