Melinda French Gates announced on Monday that she would be stepping down as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest private philanthropic organisations in the world.
“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. My last day of work at the foundation will be June 7,” Ms French Gates wrote on X.
“This is not a decision I came to lightly … The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy.”
The couple previously said they intended to continue leading the organisation together on a two-year trial basis following their divorce in 2021.
Under the terms of her agreement with Mr Gates, Ms French Gates will receive an additional $12.5 billion to further her philanthropic work focusing on women and families.
The foundation is one of the most influential forces in global public health, having spent more than $50 billion over the past two decades to bring a business approach to combating poverty and disease.
Microsoft co-founder Mr Gates commended Ms French Gates's efforts and expressed gratitude for her “critical contributions” to the foundation.
“As a co-founder and co-chair, Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality,” he said on X.
“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.”
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
