Cuba elects its first non-Castro president in 60 years: Miguel Diaz-Canel

Cuba is poised for the end of an era today as President Raul Castro steps down, formally handing power to his long-time deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel -- and thereby ending his family's six-decade grip on the island.

The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57 -- a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 -- will become the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro.

Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Raul, now 86, has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution.

Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency yesterday.

Actor and songwriter Robert Gene 'Red' West dies at 81

Actor and songwriter Robert Gene "Red" West, a longtime confidant of Elvis Presley, has died in Memphis.

Danita Allen of Memorial Park Funeral Home said West died Tuesday. He was 81. His wife, Pat West, told The Commercial Appeal he died at Baptist Hospital after suffering from an aortic aneurysm.

West met Presley in high school and worked for him for 20 years. He was a friend, driver and bodyguard. He also took small roles in some of Presley's films and co-wrote some songs Presley sang including "Separate Ways" and "If You Talk In Your Sleep."

After West was fired by Presley's father in 1976, he went on to help write a book called "Elvis: What Happened?" The book, published shortly before Presley's death, included details about the singer's drug dependency and unhealthy lifestyle.

West and his co-authors, Sonny West and David Hebler, said the book was an attempt to encourage Elvis to give up his dangerous ways. However, some fans said it was written out of spite because they were fired.

Afterward, West became a full-time actor and appeared on TV shows and in movies. His most famous role was in 1989's "Road House" starring Patrick Swayze.

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