Kim Jong Il Is Dead – Our Dear leader has died. As you would imagine, he died from overwork – giving too much to his people. Officially they say he died from “great mental and physical pain.” He was on a train at the time, conducting a “field guidance tour.” No doubt looking at things as he went. It has not been confirmed if he was eating lobster and watching his beloved James Bond films at the time. [cnn]

Drug Mules Mom Thought She Was Going To Brazil – Drug mule Nolubabalo Nobanda’s mother knew her daughter was leaving the country but thought she was headed for Brazil, she said on Friday. “Yes … Nobanda did phone me saying she was at Cape Town International Airport and was due to board a plane to Brazil. When I asked why, she said she was just going for vacation”, her mother Honjiswa Mcepu said from her Grahamstown home. [mail&guardian]

Britney Spears Is Engaged – Pop’s first princess is engaged! Britney Spears’ longtime boyfriend Jason Trawick popped the question on Thursday night — on his 40th birthday. And Spears doesn’t seem to be staying mum with the happy news: “OMG. Last night Jason surprised me with the one gift I’ve been waiting for. Can’t wait to show you! SO SO SO excited!!!! Xxo,” she told her 11.8 million Twitter followers. Yes, there is a prenup. [huffpo / see-the-ring]

Zynga’s Shares Drop 5% On Debur, Raising $1 Billion – Shares of the online games maker slumped in their first day of Nasdaq trading on Friday. Zynga, maker of the popular Facebook game FarmVille, sold 100 million shares at $10 per share, raising about $1 billion. Its shares initially jumped about 15%, but quickly lost steam to end the day down 5% at $9.50. [nydailynews]

Alleged CIA Spy Confesses On Iranian TV – In a pre-recorded interview, Iranian Amir Mirza Hekmati was broadcast saying he had received training from US intelligence services and spent time at military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IRIB channel said he had been sent to Iran to provide misinformation to Iranian intelligence. [telegraph]

Malema Ridicules Zuma As “Shower-Man” – Suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema joined in songs that ridiculed President Jacob Zuma at the ANC’s Limpopo conference – labelling him the “shower man” in reference to his 2006 rape trial, according to the Sunday Times. [news24]

The Cruise’s Birthday Night Out – Katie Holmes and her hubby Tom Cruise hold hands as they leave their hotel on Sunday (December 18) in New York City. The couple, who brought along daughter Suri, ventured out to celebrate Katie’s 33rd birthday at Buddakan! Happy birthday, Katie! [justjared]

Outdoor Sex, Live Cheetahs And A Butler Named Watson On Nettleton Road – The house used to shoot the living quarters of locally produced reality show, Clifton Shores, has hit the headlines. Owned by German man Matthias Schmelz, the property has come under massive scrutiny by its neighbours. PArties, gambling, cheetahs, sex etc. It’s all there. [timeslive]

Qantas Announces In-Flight Wi-Fi Internet – Spurred on by rival airlines outlining their race to equip passenger jets for inflight wi-fi, Qantas today announced a trial of wi-fi internet connectivity in six of its Airbus A380 superjumbos for first and business class passengers, commencing in February. [smh]

Pope Benedict Calls For Wealth Redistribution – Noting a “rising sense of frustration” at the worldwide economic recession, Pope Benedict XVI said that a more just and peaceful world requires “adequate mechanisms for the redistribution of wealth.” The pope’s words appeared in his message for the World Day of Peace 2012, released on Friday (Dec. 16) at the Vatican. [washpo]

Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot Rolls Over – It is not a regular thing to see the US Mega Millions Lottery getting this big. Tuesday night’s draw is sitting on R1.3 Billion ($152 Million). So you could be a billionaire by Christmas! Buy your tickets safely and securely online from anywhere in the world. [2oceansvibelottos]

Video Images From Cairo Of Woman Beating Spark Outrage – Deadly clashes between protesters and the military in Cairo have continued for a third day, leaving at least 10 people dead – as images of a partially-clothed woman being beaten by security personnel sparked outrage. Soldiers in riot gear were filmed beating protesters with batons and long sticks even after they had fallen to the ground. [skynews]