Fidel Castro, Cuban leader and scourge of the US, steps down after nearly 50 years in power

the Daily Mail: "Fidel Castro has announced that he is to stand down after 49 years as Cuba's leader.
The country's official newspaper Granma said Castro, 81, had resigned as its president and commander in chief.
His resignation marks the end of an era for the communist country, where he took power in a 1959 revolution.
It had been thought that he would never give up power voluntarily and would continue until he died."