Cuba's Raul Castro to address UN

Cuba's Raul Castro to address UN global gathering late this month, same day as Obama

Raul Castro is expected to address the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders later this month for the first time.

An updated U.N. list of speakers released Tuesday indicates that the Cuban head of state will speak at the gathering on Sept. 28, the same day that President Barack Obama is set to speak. Diplomats for the two countries last week formally launched the process of normalizing the U.S.-Cuba relationship.

A spokesman for Cuba's mission to the U.N. did not comment Tuesday and only referred to the list of speakers.

Raul Castro took over from his brother Fidel who stepped down in 2008.

More than 160 heads of state and government are set to attend this month's meeting, including Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time.