<h4 class=
Entertainment

A chance to set a precedent: Mercedes Kilmer on father Val Kilmer’s AI-powered final roleA chance to set a precedent: Mercedes Kilmer on father Val Kilmer’s AI-powered final role Apr 30, 2026, 14:19:13 IST PTI Share via Copy link Los Angeles

<br>There was
Technology

There was "no meaningful shift" away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia's world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show.Australia in December banned under 16s from a raft of popular social media platforms

Do the 2026 exit polls signal a comeback for the Congress, or do they underline its shrinking footprint? Projections across key states point to a familiar
Politics

Do the 2026 exit polls signal a comeback for the Congress, or do they underline its shrinking footprint? Projections across key states point to a familiar, uneven story—pockets of resilience in the South, particularly Kerala, but continued struggles in high-stakes battlegrounds like Assam and

For six seasons of Game of Thrones, one phrase defined the looming sense of dread across Westeros — “Winter is coming.
World

For six seasons of Game of Thrones, one phrase defined the looming sense of dread across Westeros — “Winter is coming." When it finally arrived, it brought widespread destruction and one of the deadliest winters in the world, created by George R.R. Martin.For six seasons of Game of Thrones

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, one of the convicts in the murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar
World

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, one of the convicts in the murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, Live Law reported. A bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale also expressed doubts about Kalaskar being identified as the assailant

<h4 class=
Latest News

Yami Gautam says Dhurandhar's success tells ‘it was always about scripts’; reveals Aditya Dhar is ‘unaffected’ by itYami Gautam emphasised that Dhurandhar's success reflected a shift towards quality storytelling, while she and Aditya remain humble and grateful. Apr 30, 2026

In a time when wellness and mindful eating are reshaping everyday kitchens, the focus is shifting from restrictive diets to nourishing
Life Style

In a time when wellness and mindful eating are reshaping everyday kitchens, the focus is shifting from restrictive diets to nourishing, balanced meals that support long-term health. Today’s approach to food is less about cutting out ingredients and more about choosing what truly fuels the body

<strong>US-Iran War:</strong> Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump and warned of
World

US-Iran War: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump and warned of “inevitable and extremely damaging consequences" if the United States and Israel resume military action against Iran, the Kremlin said after the call

Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy

Posted By: Hemant Kumar Posted On: Feb 19, 2026Share Article
Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy

Bill Gates will not deliver his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, his philanthropic organisation said hours before the Microsoft co-founder was due to speak.

The Gates Foundation said the decision was made after "careful consideration" and "to ensure the focus remains on the [summit's] key priorities", but did not elaborate.

Gates's withdrawal comes amid a controversy over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after he was named in new files released by the US Department of Justice in January.

Gates's spokesperson has called the claims in the files "absolutely absurd and completely false", and the billionaire has said he regretted spending time with Epstein.

Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims and the appearance of his name in the files does not imply criminal activity of any kind.

The Gates Foundation said Ankur Vora, president of its Africa and India offices, would speak at the summit instead of Gates.

The organisation added that it remained "fully committed" to its work in India to advance "shared health and development goals".

Gates's decision to not speak to the summit came after days of uncertainty over whether he would attend.

He is currently in India and had visited the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday, where he reportedly discussed initiatives for boosting health, agriculture, education and technology.

After media reports speculated he would pull out of the summit, his foundation said on Tuesday he would deliver the address as scheduled.

Gates's withdrawal is a blow for the summit, which India has pitched as a flagship gathering to position the country as a global AI hub.

The five-day summit features policy discussions, start-up showcases and closed-door meetings on AI governance, infrastructure and innovation.

The event has also seen investment pledges by companies, including Microsoft, to expand AI access and infrastructure in countries such as India.

Delegates from more than 100 countries, including several world leaders, are attending the event.

But it has already been marked by some controversies over mismanagement on the first day and an Indian university's claims to have developed a robot dog - which turned out to be made in China.

Though Gates is not attending, other big names are appearing at the Summit.

OpenAI boss Altman said in a speech the world should "urgently" look to regulate AI.

"Democratisation of AI is the best way to ensure humanity flourishes," he said, adding that centralising the tech in one company or country "could lead to ruin".

"This is not to suggest that we won't need any regulation or safeguards," Altman added.

We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron made similar calls for AI's democratisation and for a shared approach to innovation.

Addressing the Summit, Modi said there was a need to share technology "so that humans don't just become a data point for AI or remain a raw material for AI".

"AI must become a medium for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South," he said.

Macron, who earlier held bilateral talks with Modi, said there was a need to change the discussion around AI from "let's do more" to "let's do better together".

This theme was addressed by other speakers as well, including UN chief Antonio Guterres - who stressed the future of AI should not be "decided by a handful of countries" or left to the "whims of a few billionaires".

Google's chief executive Sundai Pichai underscored India's growing role in the AI landscape.

He said his firm was working on establishing an AI hub in the southern city of Vishakhapatnam, which he said would help bring jobs and cutting-edge AI to Indians.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani meanwhile pledged to invest $110bn (£81.4bn) over the next seven years to build India's AI ecosystem, while Anthropic boss Amodei said it would like to work with India on "testing and evaluation of models for safety and security risks".

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.

Comment on Post

Leave a comment

If you have a News Orbit 360 user account, your address will be used to display your profile picture.


Priyanka Chopra has opened up about the many phases in her career, starting from being a pageant winner to becoming a global star who has conquered both
Entertainment
Priyanka Chopra Says She Knew

Priyanka Chopra has opened up about the many phases in her career, starting from being a pageant winner to becoming a global star who has conquered both Bollywood and Hollywood. Priyanka made her debut in 2002 in Thamizhan. In 2003, she was seen in both The Hero: Love Story of a Spy and Andaaz

4 hours ago

Cristiano Ronaldo moved a step closer to the elusive 1000-goal milestone after scoring in Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al-Ahli SFC on Wednesday
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Nears Landmark Goals Tally

Cristiano Ronaldo moved a step closer to the elusive 1000-goal milestone after scoring in Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al-Ahli SFC on Wednesday. The goal took his official tally for club and country to 971, underlining his remarkable longevity. Kingsley Coman added the second to seal a result that

4 hours ago

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has announced the results of the Class 10 (ICSE) and Class 12 (ISC) board examinations on
Education
ICSE, ISC results 2026

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has announced the results of the Class 10 (ICSE) and Class 12 (ISC) board examinations on Thursday (April 30, 2026) at 11 a.m., officials said. Parents and students can access the official CISCE websites for downloading the

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
World
Operation Child Protector VIII

What is ‘Operation Child Protector VIII’? All about US sting that led to arrest of ‘for-hire Santa Claus’ & 18 othersAs many as 19 people have been arrested during an undercover operation – ‘Operation Child Protector VIII’ – that focused on child predators. Published on: Apr 30

4 hours ago

One of Malayalam cinema’s most anticipated releases, Patriot, is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on May 1. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan
Latest News
Superstars Mohanlal And Mammootty Set For Big-Screen Reunion After 18 Years In Patriot

One of Malayalam cinema’s most anticipated releases, Patriot, is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on May 1. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the spy action thriller has already generated significant buzz, largely due to its star-studded cast and gripping premise

4 hours ago

Strong demand for in China has nearly doubled prices for 's B300 servers to about 7 million yuan ($1 million) each, industry sources said
Technology
Prices of Nvidia's B300 server at $1 million in China on US curbs

Strong demand for in China has nearly doubled prices for 's B300 servers to about 7 million yuan ($1 million) each, industry sources said, as a crackdown on chip smuggling dries up black-market supply.Prices ​of Nvidia's most advanced and powerful server

4 hours ago

At Jus Drums, there is a variety of percussion to choose from at their 24th annual summer camp; the drums, konakkol or the art of vocal percussion which has
Life Style
At Chennai’s summer camps

At Jus Drums, there is a variety of percussion to choose from at their 24th annual summer camp; the drums, konakkol or the art of vocal percussion which has its origins in South India, cajón which is a box-shaped instrument from Peru played by slapping its hide, and the djembe

4 hours ago

Nepal Airlines on Thursday (April 30, 2026) apologised for what it described as cartographic inaccuracies in the wake of a furore showing Jammu and Kashmir as
Politics
Cartographic Inaccuracies

Nepal Airlines on Thursday (April 30, 2026) apologised for what it described as cartographic inaccuracies in the wake of a furore showing Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan in a “network map”. The airlines had deleted the social media post on Wednesday (April 29) following the backlash

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
World
Nancy Guthrie crime scene ‘staged’ to mislead cops

Was Nancy Guthrie crime scene ‘staged’ to mislead authorities? Experts's chilling theory, ‘Killed somewhere else…’A renowned forensic psychologist has suggested that the physical evidence left at Nancy Guthrie’s home may have been “staged.” Updated on: Apr 30

4 hours ago

Skeptical Democrats confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) for the first time since the Trump administration went to war with
World
Congress confronts Hegseth for the first time since Iran war started

Skeptical Democrats confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) for the first time since the Trump administration went to war with Iran, touching off tense exchanges over a costly conflict with unclear objectives that has been waged without congressional approval

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Anti-stigma campaign

Anti-stigma campaign, digital tool help mitigate mental health problems in slums: StudyAnti-stigma campaign, digital tool help mitigate mental health problems in slums: Study Published on: Apr 30, 2026 2:38 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi

4 hours ago

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) that it should
World
Trump warns Iran better

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) that it should "get smart soon" and capitulate to Washington's demands for tight controls on its nuclear programme, as a U.S. naval blockade turned the screws on Iran's economy

4 hours ago

Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.<h4 class=
Technology
Tired of summer power cuts

Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Power cuts this summer are unavoidable: These 10 inverter and battery combos keep you preparedPower cuts during summer can disrupt daily life

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Supreme Court reserves order on Cong leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea

Supreme Court reserves order on Cong leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail pleaSenior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Congress leader Pawan Khera, argued that the case did not justify arrest Published on: Apr 30, 2026 2:42 PM IST By Ayesha Arvind Share via Copy link The Assam

4 hours ago

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appointed Care Ratings Ltd. to function as the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA)
Business
SEBI appoints Care Ratings to vet performance and risk of market stakeholders

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appointed Care Ratings Ltd. to function as the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), according to a circular released 29, April 2026. The agency will vet Investment advisors and research analysts for their past performance and risk

4 hours ago

China will ban the sale of drones in Beijing and require permits to fly them under new rules that take effect on Friday. Drones and key components will be
World
China to ban drone sales in Beijing citing security concerns

China will ban the sale of drones in Beijing and require permits to fly them under new rules that take effect on Friday. Drones and key components will be prohibited from being sold, rented or brought into the Chinese capital. Drone owners will also be required to register their devices with the

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Bengaluru woman gives T-shirt to drenched auto driver

‘He didn’t stop because he accepted my ride’: Bengaluru woman gives T-shirt to drenched auto driver, internet movedA Bengaluru woman shared how she helped a drenched auto driver during rain, winning hearts online. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 2:07 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy

4 hours ago

India’s agricultural transformation has long been driven by technological shifts—from the Green Revolution’s high-yielding varieties to the widespread
Science
Nano urea and public health

India’s agricultural transformation has long been driven by technological shifts—from the Green Revolution’s high-yielding varieties to the widespread use of synthetic fertilisers. Today, nano urea is being positioned as the next leap: a precision input that promises higher efficiency

4 hours ago

Exit polls are revealing potential political shifts across India. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress faces its toughest challenge yet from the BJP
Politics
What the numbers mean for India’s biggest political players

Exit polls are revealing potential political shifts across India. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress faces its toughest challenge yet from the BJP. Assam shows continued BJP dominance. Tamil Nadu sees a complex scenario with the DMK alliance ahead but Vijay's new party disrupting the scene

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Entertainment
Kara Twitter review

Kara Twitter review: Best Dhanush film ‘in recent years’ floors viewers, internet hails Vignesh Raja's gripping thrillerKara Twitter review: Dhanush plays a small-time thief who specialises in robbing the rich in this crime thriller directed by Vignesh Raja. Apr 30, 2026

4 hours ago

The IPL 2026 season isn’t just heating up on the pitch; it’s practically boiling over on social media. A new video released by the Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Latest News
Are You Trolling Virat Kohli

The IPL 2026 season isn’t just heating up on the pitch; it’s practically boiling over on social media. A new video released by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) has fans convinced that the franchise just took a massive, “pink-tinted" swipe at RCB icon Virat Kohli

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Ghost’ claim leads Guj officials to skeletal remains in 30-yr-old case

‘Ghost’ claim leads Guj officials to skeletal remains in 30-yr-old caseThe remains are suspected to belong to Farzana alias Shabnam, a Mumbai resident who had come to Ahmedabad to meet her partner, Shamshuddin over three decades ago Published on: Apr 30

4 hours ago

Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to authorities to face charges alleging that an image he briefly shared on social media posed a threat to the life
World
Comey surrenders over charge of threatening Trump's life in Instagram post

Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to authorities to face charges alleging that an image he briefly shared on social media posed a threat to the life of US President Donald Trump. The case stems from a 2025 Instagram post shared by Comey

4 hours ago

<h4 class=
Life Style
Can autism or ADHD be diagnosed in adulthood

Can autism or ADHD be diagnosed in adulthood? Psychologist shares what they look like in adultsExpert debunks common myths and discloses how ADHD and autism can be masked for years, well into adulthood. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 2:40 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link Austism is usually

4 hours ago

<strong>AP SSC 10th Class Results 2026 Link, results.bse.ap.gov.in Live Updates: </strong>The Board of Secondary Education
Education
AP 10th Class Results 2026 (OUT) LIVE

AP SSC 10th Class Results 2026 Link, results.bse.ap.gov.in Live Updates: The Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP) has announced the AP SSC Results 2026. The overall pass percentage has seen a rise this year. A total of 85.25% of the students passed the AP SSC exams 2026 up from 2025

4 hours ago

When temperatures climb past 40°C, staying cool is no longer about comfort, it’s about survival. In Indian households, two traditional favourites often take
Life Style
Buttermilk Or Lassi

When temperatures climb past 40°C, staying cool is no longer about comfort, it’s about survival. In Indian households, two traditional favourites often take centre stage: buttermilk (chaas) and lassi. Both are made from curd, both are refreshing but when it comes to beating extreme heat

4 hours ago

Hyundai has taken its compact SUV and added a sporty twist with the Venue N Line N10 DCT Dual Tone, priced at Rs 15,66,000 (ex-showroom)
Home
Hyundai Venue N Line N10 DCT – What top model offers for Rs 15

Hyundai has taken its compact SUV and added a sporty twist with the Venue N Line N10 DCT Dual Tone, priced at Rs 15,66,000 (ex-showroom). This is the top model in the Venue N Line range and is aimed at buyers who want a small SUV that is not just practical, but also fun to drive

4 hours ago


Sing Up