BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Bill Gates has announced that beginning in July 2008, he will assume full-time duties at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation while spending only 20 percent of his time as Microsoft's chairman.

    The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation was funded by $29 billion of his donations. As it is getting increasingly influential in fields like global health and education, Gates has decided to spend more time there so that it would have a huge impact on the world. But he is also passionate about his work as chief brain of Microsoft, the company he cofounded in 1975. To solve the dilema, thus he made the decision.

     CEO Steve Ballmer will run the company when Gates is fully involved in the business of his foundation. Enditem

    (Agencies)