Fidel Castro slips from power

Raul Castro was named first secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party today with his ageing brother Fidel not included in the leadership for the first time since the party’s creation 46 years ago.

Despite raising hopes during the gathering that a new generation of leaders was poised to take up important positions, Raul announced that Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, an 80-year-old long-time confidante, would be his deputy.