Bill Gates Goes Buggy

Too much money, too much time on his hands:

THE net is buzzing with reports that Bill Gates let a swarm of mosquitoes loose in a crowded room at a hi-tech conference.

Mr Gates was giving a presentation on malaria prevention at TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in Long Beach, California.

"Not only poor people should experience this," he reportedly said as he let the mossies loose on his audience.

The mosquito incident has since been confrmed by the media office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A spokesman said said the insects released were not carrying malaria.

Mr Gates retired as head of Microsoft last year to focus more on his foundation.

One of its key projects is ending malaria and it has spent millions on fighting the disease.

During his next talk he plans to release plague-infected squirrels.