Cuba's Castro to address UN for the first time

Cuban President Raul Castro will address the United Nations gathering of world leaders later this month, making his first speech to the 193-nation assembly.

A UN preliminary list of speakers to the General Assembly session released Tuesday showed that Castro will deliver his address on September 28, the same day that US President Barack Obama is due to speak.

There was no confirmation of the visit from Havana.

In July, Cuba and the United States re-established diplomatic relations after a 54-year break and US Secretary of State John Kerry paid a historic visit to Havana in August to raise the US flag over the newly-reopened embassy.

China's President Xi Jinping will also be making his debut at the UN gathering, delivering his address on September 28 shortly before Russian President Vladimir Putin, who returns to the UN after a 10-year absence.

More than 160 leaders will attend the UN session held during the world body's 70th anniversary.

Source: AFP