Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, told world leaders Tuesday that his government is prepared to “engage immediately in result-oriented” talks with the United States, but also complained about American economic sanctions and military intervention in the Middle East. In a widely anticipated speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Rouhani said that Iran and the U.S. “can arrive at a framework to manage our differences,” adding that his government has no desire to increase tensions between the two longtime adversaries.

Tags: united states, middle east, iran, united nations, barack obama, hassan rouhani

Contrary to popular belief and stunning Google image search results, the Maldives isn't an island paradise. The network of nearly 1,200 islands off India's coast is hard to get to, even more difficult to govern, and, as it turns out, nearly impossible to hold an election in without everyone accusing everyone else of corruption.

Tags: democracy, corruption, maldives

Lech Walesa has called for Poland to unite with Germany to form one European state, despite the bloody history between the two countries. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Polish president, whose Solidarity trade union played a key role in bringing an end to the Cold War, said the world had changed and needed new ways of organising itself.

Tags: europe, germany, poland, lech walesa

The Saudi Embassy in Canberra organized a cultural exhibition on Sunday to expose Australians to the Kingdom’s culture and traditions as well as to highlight the remarkable progress achieved by the country. Hundreds of Australians visited the show where Saudis welcomed them by serving Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates. The Australians were impressed by the Islamic architectural designs of the embassy building.

Tags: australia, saudi arabia

China's recent history has been marked by two key features: rampant economic growth and tight governmental control on the spread of information. Now, it seems, both are starting to wane, as economic expansion is slowing down and even the government's zealous grip on the internet is beginning to loosen.

Tags: china, social media, twitter, facebook, digital diplomacy, economy, censorship, shanghai free trade zone

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan and Canada have agreed to cooperate more closely on shipments of natural gas as the country seeks new energy supplies after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Abe, speaking yesterday to reporters in Ottawa at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said Canada is a stable source of energy and can provide gas at competitive prices. Abe said the two countries will hold “ministerial level consultations,” without providing details.

Tags: japan, canada, trade diplomacy, economy, energy, natural gas

China and South Korea should boost mutual-understanding through more public diplomacy initiatives including the economic and trade exchanges, personnel exchanges, research cooperation, the mass media and others, officials said Tuesday during the Sino-South Korea forum on public diplomacy held in Seoul.

Tags: china, public diplomacy, south korea, sino-south korea forum on public diplomacy

President Barack Obama, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, appeared to open the door for diplomatic solutions in the Syrian conflict and with Iran. In his 50-minute speech to the General Assembly, Obama pressed the United Nations and its member states to take action to resolve the Syrian conflict, saying that the "crisis in Syria and the destablization of the region goes to the heart of the broader challenges the international community must now face."

Tags: united states, iran, united nations, foreign policy, syria, barack obama