The Latest: Ban asks Iran to ease conflicts in Iran, Yemen

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Latest developments at the United Nations summit on the adoption of an ambitious blueprint to eradicate extreme poverty and other global goals. (All times local).

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11:30 am.

The U.N. secretary-general has urged Iran's president to help pursue political solutions to the grinding conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

A statement from Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Saturday says Ban encouraged President Hassan Rouhani to "contribute to a political settlement of the crises in the region, particularly with regard to Syria and Yemen."

The two leaders met shortly before Rouhani addressed a summit of world leaders that have gathered to launch ambitious development goals.

The Iran nuclear deal has raised expectations that Tehran might engage more on other crucial issues. Iran is a top ally of Syria's government, and it supports Shiite Houthi rebels who have held parts of Yemen for months.

Rouhani in his speech said Iran is "eager to cooperate with our neighbors" on development issues.

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11:05 a.m.

10:30

Chinese President Xi Jinping is pledging billions in development aid to the world's poorest nations and says China will forgive the debts due this year of those worst-off.

Speaking at the U.N. summit on new development goals, Xi said China will commit an initial $2 billion to establish an assistance fund to meet post-2015 goals in areas such as education, health care and economic development. He said China would seek to increase the fund to $12 billion by 2030.

Xi said China would write-off intergovernmental interest-free loans owed to China by the least-developed, small island nations and most heavily debt-burdened countries due this year.

He said China "will continue to increase investment in the least developed countries," and support global institutions, including the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that is due to launch by the end of the year.

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10:45 a.m.

Cuban President Raul Castro says the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between his country and the United States constitutes "major progress," but the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba is the "main obstacle" to his country's development.

Castro's speech to a gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday was his first appearance before the world body. He spoke to a summit that adopted a sweeping agenda for global development includes the goal of eliminating poverty in 15 years.

The General Assembly will vote as early as next month to demand the American embargo's end. But this time, U.S. officials have told The Associated Press that the United States could abstain instead of voting against the resolution.

Castro says the embargo "is rejected by 188 U.N. member states."

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9:55 a.m.

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran is expressing regret over the "heart-rending" trampling to death of hundreds of Muslim pilgrims near a Saudi Arabia holy site this week and calling for a swift investigation into it and similar incidents.

The crush killed more than 700 people and was the worst hajj disaster in a quarter-century.

Rouhani addressed the U.N. General Assembly during a development summit Saturday and in advance of his address on Monday to world leaders, including President Barack Obama.

Rouhani also linked violence against man and violence against nature, saying that "terrorists, in fact, tend to grow and thrive in lands deprived and damaged by environmental disasters and easily pour across borders like haze."

He said the recent Iran nuclear deal has created "suitable conditions for regional and international cooperation."