Kim Jong-il ...who died today.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has died of a heart attack at the age of 69. He had been in power since the death of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994.

The communist country's "Dear Leader" was reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine – and was often criticized for his lifestyle while his people struggled in poverty. In 2010, he was ranked 31st in Forbes Magazine's List of The World's Most Powerful People.

“One is responsible for one's own destiny and one has also the capacity for hewing out one's own destiny.”

Click here to see Kim Jong-iL looking at things.

Kim Jong-il... who died today.

Christopher Hitchens ...who died today.

Author and journalist Christopher Hitchens has died at the age of 62.

He died from pneumonia, a complication of the oesophageal cancer he had, at a Texas hospital.

The publication of his 2007 book ‘God Is Not Great’ made him a major celebrity in his adopted homeland of the United States, and he happily took on the role of the country's best-known atheist.

He called Bill Clinton "a cynical, self-seeking ambitious thug", Henry Kissinger a war criminal and Mother Teresa a fraudulent fanatic.

"I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient."

Socrates ...who died today.

Brazilian World Cup footballer Socrates – full name Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira – has died at the age of 57.

Socrates was widely regarded as one of the greatest ever midfielders and was the star of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup team, scoring in the famous 3-2 win over Italy.

He played in two World Cups, winning 60 caps for his country and scoring 22 goals. He was also a qualified doctor. In 2004, aged 50, Socrates made an appearance as sub for Garforth Town in the Northern Counties League after a one-off deal to become player-coach.

“The beauty comes first. Victory is secondary. What matters is joy.”