Ebola cases cross 10,000 with 5,000 deaths as Israel election hangs

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has infected more than 10,000 people since its declaration in May. Nearly 5,000 of those infected have died. Health officials in Congo state that this is the largest outbreak by geographic scope and the fastest-spreading in history.

The virus has spread from Nigeria to Kenya. It is the second deadliest outbreak on record. Approximately one-third of the fatalities have been children. These figures come from the latest data released by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Israel, election officials have declared the national vote too close to call. Record turnout left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Gadi Eisenkot in a tight race. Eisenkot, a center-right former military chief of staff, challenged Netanyahu for control of the government.

Voters initially saw Eisenkot holding an advantage, but Netanyahu pulled ahead as counting continued. Officials expect to finish counting votes by tomorrow afternoon. If no political bloc secures a majority, party leaders may need days or weeks to form a governing coalition.

The leading candidate will have six weeks to assemble a cabinet. This process likely involves competing for support from defectors in the opposing camps. Eisenkot could gain the majority of lawmakers' support in parliament due to a strong showing by Arab-led parties. These parties have expressed a desire to see him as prime minister.

Eisenkot's camp remains hesitant to form a coalition with Arab parties. This reluctance stems from mistrust and the demonization of Arab political leaders following the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. Analysts note that neither candidate currently has a clear path to a majority coalition.

The outcome in Israel will determine whether Netanyahu remains in office or faces replacement. The uncertainty reflects the narrow margin between the two main contenders in this high-stakes election. Both sides are now waiting for the final tallies to guide their next steps in parliament.

Meanwhile, midterms in the United States continue to draw attention as candidates campaign in tight races. President Trump has campaigned in states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Kansas. His recent pitches have included jokes about rivals, which some observers say distract from economic issues like gas prices.

The Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 3.7% in September compared to the previous year. This marks a larger annual increase than the prior month. Investors do not expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates at its meeting today, though a hike in December remains possible.

Voters in Michigan and Ohio have expressed concerns about healthcare costs and trade policies. In Springfield, Ohio, some residents are voting early due to anger over the administration's treatment of Haitian residents with Temporary Protected Status. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic Senate nomination, a victory for the party's progressive wing.