After a long weekend of eating, shopping and watching football, there's plenty on the docket for the first week of December.
CYBER MONDAY
After Black Friday sales fell a bit short of their mark this year (a 10 percent drop from 2014), experts are expecting record-setting numbers from online sales on Monday. Check out the best Cyber Monday sales here.
Related: How to protect yourself on Cyber Monday
How did Cyber Monday come to be?
WORLD
Leaders from around the world will descend on Paris this week for a historic summit on climate change organized by the United Nations. Officials from 183 countries — accounting for 95 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions — will discuss ways to slow global warming. 2015 is already projected to be the warmest on record, and the summit hopes to curb that trend by finding solutions to the biggest pollution problems.
Due to the recent terror attacks in Paris, the summit will take place while the city is still in a state of emergency. The extra-large police force has already clashed with protesters and activists.
SPORTS
NBA:
The Golden State may be the reigning champions, but no one expected the Warriors to start the season this hot. The Warriors have already set an NBA record by winning their first 18 games, topping the 1993-94 Houston Rockets that went on to win an NBA title. The Warriors are already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan’s 1996-97 Bulls team, often considered one of the greatest teams of all time.
If reigning MVP Steph Curry (31.9 points per game) keeps making shots like this, the Warriors won’t be losing a game any time soon.
Golden State embarks on an east coast road trip this week, traveling to Charlotte on Wednesday and Toronto on Saturday
College Football:
It’s the home stretch in college football, meaning most teams have just one more chance to leave their mark on the College Football Playoff committee. The Big Ten Championship game (No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan State), the SEC Championship game (No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 12 Florida), the ACC Championship game (No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 14 North Carolina) and the PAC 12 Championship game (No. 9 Stanford vs. USC) should all factor heavily in the playoff picture.
The College Football Playoff selection committee will reveal the four finalists next Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES:
The Hunger Games was again the big winner at the box office this week, and that trend should continue into this weekend. "Krampus," a holiday horror thriller starring Adam Scott, highlights a light week for the silver screen.
MUSIC:
Coldplay’s slow, powerful and emotive singles have been radio staples for nearly 20 years. But it could all come to an end soon, as the band has hinted that it’s seventh studio album “A Head Full of Dreams” could be its last.
In addition, alternative rap wizard Kid Cudi will release his fifth album “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven” this week.
TV:
With the calendar rolling over into December, Netflix is releasing some new titles; most notably "Ray," which earned Jamie Foxx an Oscar in 2005 for best leading actor. Netflix will also add a documentary about rapper Jay-Z, entitled "A Genius Leaves the Hood."
But the most anticipated Netflix release will come on Friday, when the service debuts “A Very Murray Christmas,” starring comedian Bill Murray. Michael Cerra, Amy Poehler, George Clooney and Miley Cyrus will all make appearances.
For a schedule of this week's holiday specials, click here.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
