Just a quick reminder, we've all lost someone we loved...

Now, go away!

Despite controversy, Halifax bank renews contract with Mugabe's son.

To millions, he is known simply as "The man from the Halifax" - but Howard Mugabe, the public face of the British banking giant Halifax has a controversial relative. His estranged father, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has become an infamous tyrant - but that hasn't stopped Howard from developing his own career, image and identity - despite calls from some quarters for the banking giant to drop him.

This week, the Halifax bank confirmed that it was renewing Howard Mugabe's contract. "I try to focus on the work. Dad and I haven't really spoken to each other for years. But a little of what I do in those ads is for him," says Howard, adding "I try to send him a smile, or a glance and hope that there's a part of him that is proud of me. But I know that he has done some very bad things."

Lead contamination causes Chinese Olympic swimmers to sink.

China has withdrawn its entire swimming team from the Olympic Games following an embarrasing time trial, during which almost all of the country's competing swimmers sank to the bottom of the pools. Tests later revealed that lead, used in a wide variety of products in China, including children's toys, was behind the problem. Lead contamination affects swimmer buoyancy, causing athletes to simply sink to the bottom of the water.

Kremlin hires Patrick Stewart to double for Lenin during restoration.

The embalmed body of the Soviet Union's first leader has been on display in a special mausoleum in Moscow since Valdimir Ilyich Lenin's death in 1924. But, for years Moscow authorities have been insisting that the preserved body is in need of vital restoration work to prevent its condition deteriorating. But rather than present an empty tomb to the public, the Russian authorities have hired noted British actor Patrick Stewart to double for the communist leader during the one month that Lenin's body will be removed for extensive re-embalming. Stewart is reportedly being paid $2 million for the job, which will require him to lie, perfectly still and with eyes closed in Lenin's mauseleum. His hair will be dyed a characteristic red, and he will also grow a beard for the part.

Mike Read: "Buy my single or you just don't care about the world."

Former British DJ Mike Read has released a new charity single which deals with many of the problems faced by the world in 2008. Yet, two weeks on from the CD's release, sales remain woefully low. Speaking at a publicity event for the single named "Read my Lips" Mr Read stated "People have a choice, don't buy the single and do nothing about the world's problems, or set off a chain reaction that gets our leaders to wake up and change the world. That is the choice. I just can't believe people are so apathetic."

Here are the lyrics:

Read my Lips
Written and performed by Mike Read

There was an earthquake in China,
But together we can build a liner,
That takes us to a better place...

There was a monsoon in Burma,
But you don't have to be a learner,
To sail the ship that takes us to a better place...

Read my lips
Read my lips
With some shaking hips,
And the world's microchips,
We - yes, we can do better.

Mugabe committed fraud,
But you don't need to use a sword,
To steer towards a better place...

Fuel costs are climbing,
But together the world is chiming
A bell that lets us know we're going to a better place...

Read my lips Read my lips
With some shaking hips,
And the world's microchips,
We - yes, we can do better.

No real hope for Tibet,
But I'm willing to place a bet,
That this song can take us to a better place...

The Lisbon Treaty is stuck,
The EU is in the muck,
But the EU and the world can find a better place...

Read my lips
Read my lips
With some shaking hips,
And the world's microchips,
We - yes, we can do better.

Read my lips
Read my lips
With some shaking hips,
And the world's microchips,
We - yes, we can do better.

If the whole world sings this song...

Henman Hill buckles under pressure.

A viewing area on the grounds of the All England Club, which hosts the Wimbledon tennis championships has buckled under the pressure of hundreds of spectators crowding to watch tennis matches on a big-screen. The area, known as "Henman Hill" was named after now retired British tennis player Tim Henman. Engineers at the club became worried after hundreds of fans of current British hopeful Andy Murray crowded the site to watch the Scottish player's latest match. Following his victory, they noticed that the hill - also often referred to as "Murray Mound" had began to subside. "The hill just can't take the pressure of all these fans. We may have to find a way of relieving the pressure, or the entire area may collapse," said one official at the site.

BBC orders investigation after phone poll names Blue Peter cat "Mugabe."

The BBC has ordered an immediate investigation after a telephone competition to name a cat on the children's television programme Blue Peter, led to it being christened "Mugabe." Official results showed that the name "Mugabe" won 85.5% percent of the vote, a stunning figure. Other names such as "Kitty" or "Mitty" barely registered at all in the poll. Yet the BBC has rejected accusations that the competition was rigged, insisting that the phone poll was both free and fair.