Cuba leader - Fidel Castro dies at 90 (1926-2016)

Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving , leader of revolution and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. His ashes will be laid to rest on 4 December

During Fidel Castro's time in power, 10 different US presidents occupied the White House. 

Fidel Castro defied all of their efforts to topple him and continued to influence Cuban policy even after he handed over the reins of power to his brother, Raul.

And earlier this year, Barack Obama became the first US president to step foot on Cuban soil since 1928 - but the two did not meet.

 

His dramatic life makes his longevity all the more surprising

• 80 rebels landed with him on Cuba to launch the revolution
• 32 was his age when he came to power, toppling Fulgencio Batista
• 49 years as Cuban president, a record for a non-royal leader
• 638 assassination attempts he reportedly survived

Fidel Castro's key dates

• 1926: Born in the south-eastern Oriente Province of Cuba

• 1953: Imprisoned after leading an unsuccessful rising against Batista's regime

• 1955: Released from prison under an amnesty deal

• 1956: With Che Guevara, begins a guerrilla war against the government

• 1959: Defeats Batista, sworn in as prime minister of Cuba

• 1961: Fights off CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion by Cuban exiles

• 1962: Sparks Cuban missile crisis by agreeing that USSR can deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba

• 1976: Elected president by Cuba's National Assembly

• 1992: Reaches an agreement with US over Cuban refugees

• 2006: Hands over reins to brother Raul due to health issues, stands down as president two years later

Meet the Trumps - who is the new first family?

As the first president of the United States to have married three times, the new first family will be one of the largest and wealthiest families the White House has hosted in 200 years of history.

Child born on Mediterranean rescue ship

A Nigerian woman has given birth to a boy on board a rescue ship in the Mediterranean after being plucked from an overcrowded rubber dinghy.

A midwife on board the ship MV Aquarius described the birth as “normal… in dangerously abnormal conditions”.

MSF said that the baby’s parents, Otas and Faith Oqunbor, had named him Newman Otas. They had been making the perilous crossing with their two other children, aged seven and five, and were rescued just 24 hours before the baby was born.

 “The gorgeous little guy was born in international waters so his nationality is still under discussion.”

Mrs Oqunbor said she had been “very stressed” on the rubber boat and had been having contractions for three days.

MSF midwife Jonquil Nicholl, who delivered the baby, said: “I am filled with horror at the thought of what would have happened if this baby had arrived 24 hours earlier – in that unseaworthy rubber boat, with fuel on the bottom where the women sit, crammed in with no space to move, at the mercy of the sea.

Twins conjoined at birth prepare to start school

Conjoined twin sisters who doctors said had a slim chance of survival are now preparing for their first day at school.

Rosie and Ruby Formosa were joined at the abdomen and shared part of their intestine before they had an emergency operation to separate them in 2012.

Parents Daniel and Angela Formosa, from Bexleyheath in Kent, could only wait and hope as their daughters underwent a five-hour operation at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Thankfully it was successful - and Mrs Formosa said the girls had now met their teacher and were "very excited" to be following big sister Lily, who is nine, to school.

Angela, thought she would never see the day. She said: ‘Four years ago it wasn’t in my mind that this would ever happen.’

Professor Paolo De Coppi, consultant paediatric surgeon at Gosh, said: “We’re thrilled that Rosie and Ruby are starting school this September.

“It’s always a joy to witness patients’ progress and to hear that they are reaching new milestones – this makes the job we do all the more rewarding.”

Super Star Cristiano Ronaldo wins Uefa's Best Player in Europe award

Real Madrid and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for the second time.  The last time he won the award was after the 2013-14 season.

Ronaldo, a favorite for a fourth world player of the year award, beat club teammate Gareth Bale of Wales and Atletico Madrid’s France star Antoine Griezmann.

Ronaldo, scored the winning penalty for Real in the Champions League final against Atletico and captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory in July.

The vote, by journalists from UEFA’s 55 member countries, was announced at the Champions League draw Thursday.