North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, who ruled since 1994, has died, it is understood he has died of a heart attack due to physical and mental over-work, on Saturday 17th December. North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of their leader, where state media hailed his untested son as the 'Great Successor' of the reclusive state whose atomic weapons ambitions are a major threat to the region. Experts say Kim Jong-un has the intelligence and leadership skills to make him suited to succeed his father. He is reported to have a ruthless streak that analysts say he would need to rule North Korea.

Doctors said the Duke of Edinburgh was likely to have suffered a heart attack which was halted by emergency surgery to unblock a blood vessel. On reaching Papworth Hospital by helicopter, the Duke would have been subjected to an electrocardiogram test by doctors to measure the activity of his heart. Blood samples would have been taken to measure the level of enzymes, with a heightened presence a tell-tale sign of a heart attack as they leak into the bloodstream when heart tissue is damaged.

Russell Brand announced he has filed for divorce from wife, singer Katy Perry after 14 months of marriage, due to irreconciable differences. The couple met in 2008 and married in 2010.