Remembering a Force of Nature: Jane Goodall, Who Studied and Befriended Chimpanzees, Dies at 91 (Bloomberg)

Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist whose groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzee behavior reshaped science and who devoted her life to conservation, climate, and animal welfare, has died at 91. 

Her Toronto-based institute said she died of natural causes on Wednesday while in California on a speaking tour, according to ABC News. She had been scheduled to address students in Pasadena, where a prerecorded message was played of Jane sharing her thoughts on the environment and youth empowerment:

"I've been working on trying to make this a better world for animals, people, and the environment, flat out, since 1986, and one of my greatest reasons for hope in this battered world is the youth," Jane said.

From redefining what it means to be human with her tool-use observations in Tanzania to building a global movement through the Jane Goodall Institute, she leaves behind a legacy of scientific discovery and tireless advocacy for the planet and its species.

Goodall used her fame to expand interest in the welfare of endangered animals and their habitats. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which supports research in Tanzania and works toward community-centered conservation programs.

Jane's "brilliant mind, compassionate heart, and pioneering spirit" deepened our "understanding of the natural world and our responsibility to protect it," Mike Bloomberg said in a statement.

"Last week, we were honored to host her at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, where she reminded us that ‘Every day we live we make some impact, and all of us can choose wisely what kind of impact we make,’ Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patti Harris said in a statement. "We can honor her memory by doing more to care for our planet and one another."

At the September 24 forum, Jane discussed the importance of microfinance and biodiversity on a panel with Henry R. Paulson and moderated by Bloomberg Philanthropies' Antha Williams. Click here to watch the full discussion. 

More on Jane's Legacy: Why Jane Goodall Still Has Hope for Us Humans (New York Times)

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Latest in US Government Shutdown

The US government shutdown began at midnight on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a funding measure, with Democrats pressing for health care protections and Republicans refusing to compromise.
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The closure has sidelined hundreds of thousands of federal workers, slowed major agencies, and cut off services touching nearly every part of daily life.

Data Blackout for Markets: Government Shutdown Could Delay Economic Data at a Critical Moment (New York Times)

The shutdown halts crucial reports like jobs and inflation data, leaving policymakers, investors, and businesses without benchmarks to gauge the US economy.

Economists warn the blind spot is especially risky as the labor market shows mixed signals and the Fed weighs inflation against slowdown fears.

In the absence of official statistics, investors and policymakers turn to private data as an interim gauge. These indicators help track the economy when government releases go dark, though they are not interchangeable with official data.
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One option, highlighted in this week’s Odd Lots newsletter, is Bloomberg’s [WSL ALTE] Terminal function, which compiles private substitutes for BLS jobs data alongside proprietary measures of inflation and spending.

Labor Freeze: How the US Government Shutdown Will Affect Key Agencies (Bloomberg)

About 750,000 federal employees are being furloughed, costing an estimated $400 million per day, while essential functions like border security, active-duty military operations, Social Security payments, and mail delivery continue.

The result is widespread disruption — from halted drug reviews and frozen housing aid to stalled civil rights investigations, curtailed park operations, and reduced public programs.

Climate Disruption, For Some: Trump to Keep Oil Permits Moving in Shutdown, Freezes Renewables (Bloomberg)

The Trump administration is allowing oil, gas, and coal permits, including offshore drilling and lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, to continue during the shutdown, while halting renewable energy projects.
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The Interior Department is keeping staff on “priority conventional energy projects” through carryover funds, saying they are critical to energy supply and national security, but more than 70% of its offshore energy workforce is furloughed.
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Environmental groups condemned the move as another example of prioritizing fossil fuels over clean energy, consistent with Trump’s broader rollback of renewable support.

More on Environment: How the US Government Shutdown Impacts Climate Work (Bloomberg)

The shutdown severely undermines US climate resilience by stalling disaster preparedness, sidelining critical environmental protections, halting new flood insurance policies, and crippling the EPA’s climate programs at a moment of escalating climate risks.

At the Same Time: US Freezes $18 Billion in NYC Infrastructure Funds as Shutdown Hits (Bloomberg)

What I'm Reading

UK Bulletin: Two Dead in Manchester Synagogue Attack, with Suspect Also Believed to Have Been Killed (BBC)

A man carried out a car and knife attack outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, driving into people and stabbing with a knife, leaving two dead, three seriously injured, and the suspect shot by police amid bomb fears, prompting heightened security at synagogues worldwide. 

Vatican Speaks on Climate: Pope Leo XIV Calls for ‘Ecological Conversion’ to Face Climate Change (Bloomberg)

Pope Leo XIV used his first major climate speech to reaffirm the Vatican’s leadership in the fight against global warming, urging a shift from “environmental discourses to an ecological conversion” that changes both lifestyles and policies.
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Standing in front of a melting block of ice at the Vatican, his call comes as global emissions hit record highs and many governments retreat from climate pledges, underscoring the need for political will and collective action ahead of upcoming international climate summits.

In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV denounced people who deny climate change, arguing that they are contributing to the destruction of God's creation, according to Politico.

"Some have chosen to deride the increasingly evident science of climate change, to ridicule those who speak of global warming and even to blame the poor for the very thing that affects them the most," Leo said.

Mideast Latest: Hamas Pressed by Arab, Muslim States to Accept Trump’s Gaza Plan (Bloomberg)

Arab and Muslim leaders are pressing Hamas to accept Trump’s Gaza peace plan, arguing that halting the war must take precedence over technical issues that remain unresolved.

The 20-point proposal, which calls for Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, amnesty for those who commit to peaceful coexistence, and UN-led aid distribution, has already won backing from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

Regional officials emphasize that while the plan leaves questions about governance and security forces unresolved, it represents the most viable path to ending the bloodshed, preventing the displacement of Gazans, and beginning reconstruction.

Security Signal: Trump Promises to Defend Qatar, a Reassurance After Israel’s Strike (New York Times)

The Trump administration issued an executive order pledging to defend Qatar, including with military force if necessary, after Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Doha in September, raising concerns about US security guarantees for the Gulf nation.

Tragedy in Asia: Rescuers in Desperate Search After a Powerful Earthquake Hit the Philippines, Killing At Least 69 (Associated Press)

Kremlin's Next Move: Russia Drafts Plan to Seize Foreign Assets If EU Acts on Funds (Bloomberg)

Factory Slump: US Manufacturing Activity Contracts for Seventh Straight Month (Bloomberg)

US factory activity shrank for a seventh straight month in September, with the ISM manufacturing index at 49.1 and most industries reporting weaker orders and subdued hiring.

While manufacturers saw some relief from falling input costs, ongoing tariffs, soft demand, and trade disruptions continue to weigh heavily on production.

Fed Independence Latest: Supreme Court Refuses to Let Trump Immediately Oust Fed’s Lisa Cook (Bloomberg)

The US Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s attempt to immediately remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, allowing her to stay in her post while she fights her dismissal in court.

Most Valuable: OpenAI Completes Share Sale at Record $500 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg)

OpenAI completed a share sale at a record $500 billion valuation, vaulting the company past Elon Musk’s SpaceX as the world's most valuable startup.

AI in Action: How Bloomberg's GenAI Story Has Evolved (Computer Weekly)

Bloomberg started using machine learning about 16 years ago, according to Wayne Barlow, Bloomberg’s head of terminal products, when the company applied the technology to process news articles to give customers targeted information. Since then, Bloomberg has been applying AI to its software, where it believes it can deliver a better experience to users.

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Today, GenAI has “upped the capabilities”, says Barlow. “Things that we felt were not feasible before are now.”

He tells Computer Weekly that the pace of AI innovation rivals the rise of the web and smartphones, making mastery of the technology critical for meeting customer demands and keeping Bloomberg at the forefront of global finance.

Daily Read Podcast: Today’s news, powered by AI. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and be sure to 'subscribe' to get alerted to each new episode. 

Latest in Tech Products: Apple Shelves Vision Headset Revamp to Prioritize Meta-Like AI Glasses (Bloomberg)

Apple Inc. has hit pause on a planned overhaul to its Vision Pro headset to redirect resources toward a more urgent effort: developing smart glasses that can rival products from Meta Platforms Inc.

NYC Planner for Mid-October: 19 of the Coolest Places You Can See During Open House New York Weekend 2025 (Gothamist)
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The ultimate New York City lover’s treasure hunt is back Friday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 19. That’s when Open House New York will unlock doors across all five boroughs to sites that are typically off-limits, overlooked or simply underappreciated, according to Gothamist.

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You can climb into old towers, walk through brand-new construction or explore the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that makes New York hum. Some tours are led by engineers or city workers, and others by artists, architects, historians and "regular" New Yorkers.

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This year’s lineup boasts 341 sites — making it the biggest and longest Open House New York Weekend ever, according to Executive Director Kristin LaBuz.

Tomorrow at noon, tickets to select sites will be released. And there are hundreds of non-ticketed sites where you can 'just drop in.' Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to check out the full list of locations here.

The iconic Woolworth Building will host the official launch party on Thursday, Oct. 16. Tickets can be purchased here.

The 2025 festival is made possible with support from Bloomberg Connects, the free app that offers access to exhibitions, collections and renowned artists at over 1000 museums and other cultural organizations around the world. Learn more and download the app here.

Here is one of the sites you can visit: A rooftop garden on top of 620 Fifth Avenue in Rockefeller Center features views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue:
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Credit: Rockefeller Center

Best of Late Night

On the US government shutdown:

“Democrats want Republicans to agree to continue funding the Affordable Care Act, whereas Republicans want to use that money to add crab legs to the omelet station at Mar-a-Lago.”
– Jimmy Kimmel

On this week's military meeting called by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that brought together 800 US military leaders from around the world to Quantico, Virginia:

“Listen, we all do weird things when we’re drunk, OK? Some of us slide into an ex’s DMs, and some of us call every US general to a meeting at Quantico.”
– Ronny Chieng

"President Trump took the stage and gave a 73-minute speech where he kept going off topic. At one point, he asked the generals, 'show of hands, who's Team Conrad and who's Team Jeremiah?'"
– Jimmy Fallon

Late Night Duo: The Tuesday editions of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on ABC and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on CBS were a crossover stunt across New York City, with the two hosts trading stages and guest chairs, swapping jokes, and reflecting on their cancellations amid Trump-era clashes.

Watch Kimmel's episode here and Colbert's episode here.