Raul Castro named 1st secretary of Communist party

Raul Castro has been named first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party, with his aging brother Fidel not included in the party's leadership for the first time since its creation more than four decades ago.

Despite raising hopes during the gathering that a new generation of leaders was poised to take up important positions, Raul announced Tuesday that 80-year-old longtime confidante Jose Ramon Machado Ventura would be his No. 2. The 78-year-old vice president Ramiro Valdes was named to the No. 3 spot. (AP)