Outbreak: The Centers for disease control says that if the Ebola outbreak continues on its current curve, there could be 1.4 million cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone by Jan. 20^th. The CDC notes that many cases go unreported and the actual number could be two and a half times the known number of infections. That’s the worst-case scenario. In the best case the CDC says that with proper handling the epidemic could be under control by that same date.

Continuing War: Local reports say new air strikes were carried out against ISIS today inside Syria near the border with Turkey.

Speaking yesterday about the first allied airstrikes against ISIS inside Syria, President Obama revealed strikes as well on an al Qaeda affiliate known as the Khorosan Group. It’s an offshoot of al Qaeda from Pakistan and “Khorasan” is an ancient term for an Islamic empire. The group has been described as an “imminent” threat to the US, although most people have probably never heard of it. American officials said they had some hope that they may have killed the group’s leader.

The countries taking part in the air strikes inside Syria were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar.  Obama said, “The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this is not America’s fight alone.”

At leased 160 munitions were released in the strikes the US said took out major camps, training facilities, and weapon depots.

Thanks for the Memories: Afghan President Hamid Karzai left office with a swipe at the US and the allied countries that bled to free his country from the Taliban. Karzai said, “America did not want peace for Afghanistan, because it had its own agendas and goals here.” He went on, “I have always said this: that if America and Pakistan want peace, it is possible to bring peace to Afghanistan.” Karzai went out of his way to thank countries like India that sent $1 billion in aid, but he snubbed the US, which spent $100 billion fixing Afghanistan.

World: India has successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars to study the Red Planet’s atmosphere. >NATO says it has seen a significant pullback of Russian troops from eastern Ukraine, but says some forces remain. >Speaking to the UN Climate Summit, President Obama called for a more “ambitious” approach to fighting climate change.

Nation: A UPS worker killed two fellow workers yesterday at a facility in Birmingham, Ala., then killed himself. > Wal-Mart is about to open Wal-Bank. The cheaptailer is getting ready to offer its customers checking accounts.

The Obit Page: Will Radcliff, the inventor of the Slush Puppie ice drink has died in Cincinnati at age 74. Although there were other iced drinks on the market in the 1970s, Radcliff tinkered with the balance of iciness/slushiness and sweet/tart until he had the perfect thing. He started the company with less than a thousand dollars and now Slush Puppies are sold in gas stations and convenience stores everywhere.

Your Tax Dollars:For fans of techno-weapons, the US F-22 fighter/bomber, the world’s most expensive and advanced combat jet, made its battle debut over Syria. Conceived and designed in the 1980s, declared combat-ready in 2005, the jet has seen its first action just as it’s getting an update with current technology. The 187 F-22s cost $370 million each before the installation of fantastic new widgets.

Keeping Up: After a year apart and 23 years of marriage, Bruce Jenner and his wife Kris are divorcing. In an agreement made before the filing, Kris gets custody of her 2012 Rolls Royce Ghost, 2014 Bentley CV, 2014 Range Rover, and the house in Hidden Hills. Bruce gets to keep his plastic surgery.

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