A New Zealand biotech firm will implant insulin-producing pig cells on into eight diabetics as part of its continuing test of the new treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

Volunteer patients at the Middlemore Hospital in Auckland will be implanted with Living Cell Technologies' branded Diabecell in their abdomens, where it will secrete pig insulin to control their blood sugar levels. With the implants, the patient need not get insulin by injection.

George Clooney has hired to psychic to help him contact his dead pig. The "Leatherheads" star is still mourning the loss of his beloved potbellied pet Max, who died in 2006, and asked a medium to get in touch with the swine.

George reportedly told a friend: "The psychic told me Max had a great life with me. He is very happy in spirit and still hangs out with me sometimes."

Katy Perry has bought a "swine flu" ring. The "I Kissed A Girl" singer bought the jewelry - adorned with a flying pig emblem - following the outbreak of the potentially-fatal disease which originated in Mexico.

She wrote on her blog: "Since swine flu is super trendy I wanted to make sure I was in style with my swine flu ring!"

Noel Gallagher caused a swine flu panic by sneezing. The Oasis rocker arrived in Venezuela with his bandmates this week and was amazed at how people are reacting to the outbreak of the disease - and was even more shocked when he received a worried telephone call from his mother.

He wrote on his blog: "It's all got a bit mad over here. This swine flu malarky is freaking people out. Landed at Crack'a**e airport yesterday. All the ground staff are wearing those little white face masks! ALL OF THEM. It was like something out of a Stephen King novel. I suddenly feel quite naked without one."

A Chinese museum bought a pig for $438 after the animal was discovered in the rubble of a collapsed pig farm a full 36 days after a devastating earthquake struck the region.

According to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, a local museum bought the pig and named it Mr. Strongwill. The pig was raised outside the city of Chengdu. He will live out the rest of his days at the Jianchuan Museum.