Good Morning! Today’s edition is 870 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Conflict worsens in Lebanon

• Trump flips polls in key states

• Comparing retirement ages around the world

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Big Story

U.S. violent and property crimes declined in 2023 where my

The FBI's report for 2023 showed that violent and property crimes decreased compared to the previous year.

• Violent crime dropped by 3%, and property crime fell by about 2.8%. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter also went down by 11.6%. Despite some claims that crime has been rising, these numbers suggest an overall decline in crime since the pandemic.

• While most types of crime decreased, auto thefts jumped by 13% across the country, particularly in big cities. Data from major U.S. cities showed a significant drop in violent crime, with homicides falling by 13% in the first half of 2024.

• Despite the overall decrease in crime, hate crimes reached an all-time high in 2023 in major cities. Hate crimes against Jewish people rose by 48%, anti-Muslim crimes by 51%, and anti-Arab crimes surged by 136%. The spikes in theses areas was influenced by the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza.

Big Story

Conflict Worsens in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon killed over 490 people, including many women and children, in the deadliest attack since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

• The strikes targeted Hezbollah and hit areas in southern and eastern Lebanon. Thousands of Lebanese people fled their homes, and Israel warned civilians to evacuate to avoid harm. Israel also hit Hezbollah's weapon storage, claiming they were hidden in homes. Hezbollah responded by firing rockets into Israel.

• Lebanon's health ministry reported that the strikes killed 492 and injured over 1,200. Hospitals and medical centers were also hit. The strikes even reached areas far from the border, like the Bekaa Valley and Byblos. The rising violence has caused widespread fear, and people in both Israel and Lebanon have been evacuating from the conflict zones.

• As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, fears of an all-out war grow. Hezbollah has promised to continue attacks in solidarity with Hamas. Hopes for a ceasefire seem distant as the violence continues to escalate.

Big Story

Octopuses and Fish Hunt Together

In the Red Sea, octopuses and different species of fish team up to hunt for food.

• Scientists used to believe that octopuses did all the work while other fish just took advantage. But new research by Eduardo Sampaio shows that the animals share leadership. The teamwork benefits everyone, as all group members eventually get food they couldn't find on their own.

• Sampaio's research revealed that the fish and octopus each play a role in hunting. The fish search the area, and the octopus picks the best target and scares the prey out of hiding. This helps the fish catch prey that would normally be hard to get. Meanwhile, the octopus gets more food with less effort.

• Some fish, like blacktip groupers, try to take food without helping. When they do this, the octopus often punches them to keep the group working together. Other fish also attack freeloaders to keep the hunt fair. Scientists think the fish know that if the octopus leaves, no one will get food.

Little Stories

• House Democratic leaders said the Republicans' three-month plan to avoid a government shutdown has no major issues, allowing Speaker Mike Johnson to rely on Democratic votes. The bill excludes Republican demands like proof of citizenship to vote but adds funds for the inauguration and Secret Service. It lacks disaster aid and veterans' funding, which Democrats plan to address later. (More)

• Kmart is closing its last big store in the U.S. on October 20 at Bridgehampton Commons in New York, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant retailer. Kmart will still run a smaller store in Miami, and locations in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (More)

• Donald Trump is slightly ahead of Kamala Harris in three key states, according to new polls. In Arizona, Trump leads by 5 percentage points (50% to 45%), and in Georgia, he's up by 4 points. In North Carolina, it's a close race, with Trump at 49% and Harris at 47%. These results flip previous polls from August where Harris was slightly ahead in Arizona and North Carolina. (More)

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran doesn’t want a bigger war in the Middle East, as it would have no winners. Speaking in New York, he said Iran wants peace and doesn't aim to cause instability. Pezeshkian called for dialogue to calm tensions but blamed Israel for stirring conflict, mentioning assassinations Iran believes Israel is responsible for. (More)

• The U.S. Commerce Department proposed banning Chinese software and hardware in internet-connected vehicles, which would effectively ban Chinese cars from being sold in the U.S. This comes from concerns about Chinese companies collecting data on American drivers and infrastructure, and the risk of foreign adversaries controlling connected cars. (More)

Extra Credit

🌊 See photos from the 2024 Ocean Photographer of the Year competition.

👵 👴 Comparing retirement ages around the world.

🍄 The creepiest forest fungus — dead man’s fingers.

📦️ How hijackers became the biggest threat to the global supply chain.