Bill Gates. File picture
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, in Los Angeles. File
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President-elect Donald Trump recently extended an invitation to Microsoft founder Bill Gates to meet at his Mar-a-Lago residence, revealing the invitation in a social media post intended for Elon Musk. Trump’s message included a warm reference to Musk’s son, X Æ A-Xii, and expressed enthusiasm for an upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration.

According to CNN, Gates has indeed reached out to Trump’s transition team to discuss a potential meeting, although it remains unclear whether the two will actually meet. This development comes on the heels of Trump’s meetings with various tech CEOs and business leaders at Mar-a-Lago since his election victory in November.

Trump’s relationships with tech leaders have been a subject of interest, particularly given his naming of Musk as co-leader of his government efficiency initiative. However, Musk has faced criticism from loyal Trump supporters due to his support for a visa program allowing highly skilled foreign workers to immigrate to the US.

Trump and Gates initially met in December 2016, prior to Trump’s first term as president. Since Trump’s recent election victory, numerous tech CEOs have sought meetings with him, aiming to establish a positive relationship with the president-elect. Several Fortune 500 companies have also committed significant funds to Trump’s inauguration.

As reported by CNN, CEOs who have met with Trump have employed a strategic approach, discussing issues aligned with Trump’s interests, such as bringing manufacturing and jobs back to the US, while also addressing potential policy concerns. Many of these CEOs view the meetings as an opportunity to “start on the right page” with the new administration.
 

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has landed in hot water after referring to India as “a kind of laboratory to try things” during a podcast with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. His remarks, while intended to highlight India’s progress and its collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have revived a controversial 2009 clinical trial — funded by Gates’ foundation — which killed seven tribal schoolgirls and left many others severely ill.

Mr Gates said in the recent podcast, “India is an example of a country where there’s plenty of things that are difficult there—the health, nutrition, education is improving, and they are stable enough and generating their government revenue enough that it’s very likely that 20 years from now people will be dramatically better off. It’s kind of a laboratory to try things that then when you prove them out in India, you can take to other places.” 

“It’s a kind of laboratory to try things. When proven in India, they can then be taken to other places.”
— Bill Gates on India.

In 2009, the American NGO PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), in collaboration with the ICMR, conducted clinical trials of a cervical… pic.twitter.com/66aFVrxCiM

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) December 2, 2024

His choice of words struck a nerve among the Indian audience. Among the critics was a Scotland-based doctor, known as “The Skin Doctor” on X, who brought up a 2009 clinical trial conducted by PATH (Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health), an NGO funded by the Gates Foundation.

In 2009, PATH collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct clinical trials of a cervical cancer vaccine on 14,000 tribal schoolgirls in Khammam district, Telangana, and Vadodara, Gujarat. Months after the trials began, several participants reported severe side effects and seven deaths were recorded, although the deaths were later attributed to unrelated causes.

An investigation into the trials uncovered serious ethical lapses, revealed the skin doctor. The trials were presented as a public health initiative, concealing their experimental nature. Consent forms were allegedly signed by hostel wardens instead of the girls’ parents, leaving families unaware of potential risks.

The trials specifically targeted tribal communities with limited healthcare access and awareness. Severe side effects were reported, fuelling allegations that the trials exploited vulnerable populations under the guise of aid.

PATH denied any wrongdoing, attributing the deaths to infections and suicides.

Critics argue the 2009 vaccine trials are just one example of how India and other developing nations have been used as testing grounds by organisations with foreign funding.

“Who knows how many Gates-funded NGOs are conducting similar trials in India and Africa? It’s disturbing how easily they access our governance and policies, while openly treating us as guinea pigs,” the skin doctor concluded. 

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once gave a brilliant answer to one of the most common job interview questions that would have most of us stumped. During a 2020 interview for NBA star Stephen Curry’s YouTube series called ‘State of Inspiration’, Mr Gates was asked to play the role of a junior software engineer interviewing for a job at Microsoft. He was then asked a few questions to which the tech magnet revealed important points and prospective that might help you for your next big career move. 

One of the most common job interview questions the billionaire was asked was salary expectations. “What is your salary expectation for the role?” the host of the show asked Mr Gates. To this, the tech mogul didn’t give an actual figure, but he explained how best to answer the question. 

“I hope the option package is good. I’m able to take risk and I think the company has a great future, so I prefer to get stock options even more than cash compensation,” Mr Gates advised, per Forbes. “I hear some other companies are paying a lot, but treat me fairly and emphasize the options,” he added. 

By saying he is willing to take shares of a company instead of a mega salary shows the interviewer that he is a risk-taker and believes in the firm, its products and its future. According to Forbes, he also gives himself leverage in any salary discussion by saying, “I hear other companies are paying a lot”. This reminds the interviewer that this job candidate is in high demand, but treat him fairly and he’ll be a team player. 

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In the YouTube show, Mr Gates also answered other job interview questions that candidates dread answering. One important question that interviewers usually ask is: “Why should we hire you?” 

Answering this, Mr Gates responded, “You should look at the codes that I’ve written. I write software programs way beyond any classes that I’ve taken. I think I’ve gotten better over time, so take a look at how ambitious I’ve been there.”

“I do think I can work well with people. I might criticize their code a little harshly, but overall, I like to be on a team. I like ambitious goals. I like thinking through how we can anticipate the future. Software is cool, and I want to be involved,” he added. 

Mr Gates’ answer shows off his achievements while also showing how his skills have improved over time. His answer also points out his ability to work well with others as well as reflects on where he could have improved. Overall, his answer demonstrates his high standards of excellence – an important quality recruiters look for and admire in a job candidate. 

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has repeatedly warned the public about pressing issues like climate disasters and devastating cyberattacks. However, the two crises that concern him the most are war and pandemics.

The Microsoft co-founder told CNBC Make It that the current global unrest could potentially trigger “a major war,” and even if a large-scale conflict is avoided, “there will be another pandemic, most likely in the next 25 years.”

For Mr Gates, the key question during a future pandemic would be whether nations are better prepared than they were for the outbreak of Covid-19. Reflecting on the United States’ response, he noted, “The country that the world expected to lead and be the model fell short of those expectations.”

In his 2022 book, “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic,” Mr Gates criticised various governments for their lack of preparedness in 2020. He also outlined recommendations for countries worldwide, including stronger quarantine measures, enhanced disease monitoring, and increased investment in vaccine research and development.

Speaking about Covid-19, Mr Gates remarked, “Although some lessons from the coronavirus pandemic have been learned, it’s been far less than I would have expected, sadly. We’re still not fully reflecting on what we did well and where we fell short. Maybe in the next five years, that will improve, but so far, it’s quite surprising.”

Earlier, Microsoft co-founder said that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will be transformative for people in the next five years. Speaking to CNN, he added that there is no need to be scared of the latest technology as it will create new opportunities. The comment comes days after International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva said that AI will affect 60 per cent of jobs in advanced economies and 40 per cent across the globe.

“India’s ingenuity, from manufacturing safe vaccines to its Digital Public Infrastructure, is helping not just Indians but the whole world,” Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said as he flagged off the first India Day celebrations in the Seattle area.

Mr. Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation, flagged off the first India Day celebrations in the Greater Seattle area as the Guest of Honour of the Consulate General of India in Seattle on the 78th Indian Independence Day.

A press release issued by the Seattle Consulate Friday (August 16, 2024) said that Gates, addressing over 2,000 members of the Indian-American community at the celebration, referred to India “as a global leader with breakthrough innovations in areas like technology, agriculture and healthcare”.

Mr. Gates emphasised that “from manufacturing safe low-cost vaccines to the remarkable leadership shown by the Indian diaspora to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure — India’s ingenuity is helping not just Indians, but the whole world. Countries across the Global South are leveraging India’s experience to build their DPI systems”.

In a post on the social media site Instagram, Mr. Gates said it was “an honour” to participate in the first India Day celebrations at the Seattle Consulate alongside senior government officials and the Indian diaspora.

“India is a global leader with breakthrough innovations in areas like technology, agriculture, and healthcare that are saving and improving lives. It has been an honour to collaborate with the Indian government, philanthropists, the private sector, nonprofits, and the Indian American community. Happy Independence Day to all Indians!” he said, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the post.

Mr. Gates also posted photos from the celebration on Instagram. Wearing a scarf in hues of the Indian tricolour, Gates is flanked by the Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta and other officials.

The Consulate, in a post on X, thanked Gates for flagging off the first India Day celebrations in the Greater Seattle area.

“Deeply appreciate the participation of Congresswomen Suzan K DelBene and Kim Schrier and Congressman Adam Smith, along with Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

“Thanks also to the Mayors of Bellevue, Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Renton, SeaTac, Snoqualmie and Mercer Island for joining in to support the Indian community,” the Consulate said.

“The Independence Day celebration was showcased for the first time in the Greater Seattle area in all states and regions of India through floats and cultural performances celebrating the theme of Unity in Diversity. Each of the floats was put together by prominent leaders of the Indian American community and reflected some of the important aspects of India’s rich cultural heritage,” the release said.

Further, in a special gesture, five separate official proclamations were issued by governments/city councils of King County, Bellevue City (Washington), Portland (Oregon), Hillsboro (Oregon), Tigard (Oregon) to honour the India Day celebrations.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon also sent a separate congratulatory message on India’s 78th Independence Day.

“India’s achievements in education, healthcare and economic development deserve celebration. The State of Wyoming has many cultural and economic ties to India, including more than 10,000 Indian-Americans living in the state,” Mr. Gordon said.

Mr. Gordon added that Wyoming is excited about the opening of the new Consulate General of India in Seattle.

“We look forward to continuing to build partnerships to advance trade, investment, tourism, education, and friendship,” he said.

Some iconic buildings in Seattle and Bellevue were also lit up in hues of the Indian tricolour to mark the celebrations.

Other distinguished participants at the India Day celebrations included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Congressman Adam Smith, Lt. General Xavier Brunson, Commander of America’s First Corps in Pacific North West, Rear Admiral Mark Sucato, Commander of the Navy Region of North West, Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Chief Justice from Washington Supreme Court Steve Gonzalez.

From city leadership, Mayors of cities of Bellevue, Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Renton, SeaTac, Snoqualmie and Mercer Island also joined in the India Day celebrations.

The Consulate in Seattle, India’s sixth and newest mission in the US, became operational earlier this year and serves the US states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

“The opening of the Indian Consulate in Seattle is a reflection of the Government of India’s strong commitment to deepen India’s relations with Pacific Northwest states of USA,” the Consulate has said.

Mr. Gupta, a career diplomat who has served in various capacities in Beijing, Shanghai, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and in Jakarta, leads the Consulate as the first Consul General of India in Seattle.

India also has Consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco.

Despite his busy work schedule, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates used his meetings with Warren Buffett as an escape from work pressure, a new book, written by New York Times correspondent Anupreeta Das, revealed. In her book, titled ‘Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and his Quest to Shape the World’, Ms Das wrote that every moment of the 68-year-old billionaire’s workday was meticulously planned. His schedule, even down to his free time, was broken down into five-minute increments. But despite his demanding work schedule of back-to-back meetings, there were days when Mr Gates visited Mr Buffet to escape his responsibilities. 

According to Business Insider, Ms Das in her book wrote that Mr Gates would take his private jet to Omaha just to visit Mr Buffett and get away from a “tightly scheduled life, including personal time, largely organised and arranged by” his then-wife Melinda French Gates. 

“When Buffett asked Gates why he couldn’t control his life and live it in a way he wanted to, Gates would simply shrug. ‘Bill likes to have a schedule; I don’t,’ Buffett said in an email,” Ms Das wrote.

The author also revealed that Mr Buffet, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, would even pick Mr Gates up from the airport sometimes, and the pair would have “freewheeling conversations”. And when Mr Gates couldn’t make it to Omaha, they’d play bridge together online, the book said. 

Mr Buffett resigned from the Gates Foundation in 2021 and since then their friendship has cooled over the years. In May, the 68-year-old praised Mr Buffett’s more relaxed approach to scheduling. 

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“It took far too long for me to realize that you don’t have to fill every second of your schedule to be successful,” Mr Gates wrote in a Threads post. “In hindsight, it’s a lesson I could have learned a lot sooner had I taken more peeks at Warren Buffett’s intentionally light calendar,” he added. 

Notably, the friendship between the two began in 1991, when Bill Gates’ mother, Mary Gates, invited him to spend the Fourth of July at their family retreat, the New York Times reported. Among the guests was Mr Buffett, whom Mr Gates initially dismissed as just a “stockbroker”. However, once, they sat down, they connected instantly. This marked the beginning of their friendship that has lasted decades despite their very different personalities. 

New Delhi:

Actress Smriti Irani shared a picture with Bill Gates, the former CEO of IT giant Microsoft. The former actress took to her Instagram and shared a picture from a wedding.

In the picture, Smriti can be seen wearing a pink coloured saree which she paired with a necklace. Bill Gates chose the Indian attire as he was dressed in a sherwani.

She wrote in the caption, “Kyunki Bill bhi kabhi baaraati tha #weddings India wali #saturdayvibes.”

Smriti Irani, who was earlier a Union Minister lost the Amethi seat on a ticket of BJP. She lost by a margin of 1,67,196 votes to Congress leader K.L. Sharma. She had previously defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections to secure the Congress bastion.

The actress switched to politics in 2003 when she joined the 
BJP. She has been with BJP for over 20 years now. In 2024, she was appointed vice-president of the Maharashtra Youth Wing in 2004.

In the 14th Lok Sabha, she contested unsuccessfully against Kapil Sibal from the Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi. This election also witnessed a shock defeat for the incumbent Vajpayee government.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Steve Ballmer passed Bill Gates on Monday to become the sixth-richest person in the world, the first time the former chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp. has been wealthier than the company’s co-founder.

The move came as Microsoft shares rose to a fresh record, bringing their total gain this year to 21%. The company, through its partnership with OpenAI, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence rally that has powered the US stock market higher.

More than 90% of Ballmer’s $157.2 billion net worth is in Microsoft shares, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Gates, meanwhile, has diversified his $156.7 billion fortune: About half his wealth is held through Cascade Investment, which was created with the proceeds of Microsoft stock sales and dividends. He also owns a $21 billion stake in waste-management company Republic Services Inc. through Cascade. 

Gates, 68, has been slowly reducing his fortune through philanthropy. Along with his ex-wife Melinda French Gates and his friend Warren Buffett, Gates has funneled billions of dollars of his personal money to build up the $75 billion Gates Foundation, one of the biggest charitable organizations in the world.

Since they started the foundation more than two decades ago, Gates and his former wife have given almost $60 billion from their personal fortunes. French Gates recently stepped down as co-chair of the foundation and received $12.5 billion to use for her own charitable purposes.

In 2010, Gates, French Gates and Buffett also founded the Giving Pledge, an organization that encourages the world’s richest people to give away the majority of their fortunes in their lifetimes or their wills. Ballmer, 68, who has not signed the Giving Pledge, has his own philanthropic work but nowhere on the scale of Gates.

Gates founded Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen in 1975 and led it until 2000, when Ballmer – one of the company’s earliest employees – replaced him as CEO. Ballmer retired in 2014 and became Microsoft’s largest shareholder that same year. He bought the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014, an investment that is estimated to be worth $4.6 billion today.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)