Melinda French Gates is committing $1 billion through 2026 to advance women’s power and influence, while her investment platform is backing women-led funds working on climate solutions. Through Pivotal Ventures, Gates has invested in Planeteer Capital, a climate-tech fund led by Sophie Purdom that backs early-stage companies developing solutions to climate change. The investment comes…

People rest in the shade at the Great American State Fair, during an extreme heat wave (AP photo) A massive heat wave across eastern US pushed electricity demand close to record levels on Friday, prompting the country’s largest power grid operator to activate emergency measures to reduce consumption.PJM Interconnection, nation’s largest supplier which provides electricity…

Nurse impaled by pole during hike forced to trek 10 miles for help: ‘A freak thing’ A 32-year-old nurse walked more than 10 miles down a rocky mountain with a metal trekking pole stuck through his side after a fall near the top of Granite Peak in Montana. David Cifaldi, who lives in Billings, spent…

A US lawmaker criticised the detention of Indian-origin court interpreter Meenu Batra, who was held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite living in the United States for around 35 years and working in the legal system.53-year-old Meenu Batra is described as the only licensed Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu court interpreter in Texas. She has…

Rescue efforts underway as death toll keeps rising The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen to 1,430, with more than 3,200 injured and over 50,000 people missing, as rescue crews raced against time on Saturday to find survivors days after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck the nation.Experts say the first 72…