Top stories from DAWNS Digest
Iran Frees Political Prisoners as Diplomatic Opening With Washington Nears
Hassan Rouhani suddenly and unexpectedly freed 11 political prisoners today and it looks as if relations with the US are warming. “Analysts said the prisoner release was a significant step in Mr. Rouhani’s efforts to repair Iran’s relationship with the West, mired in a dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and criticism of its human rights policies. His visit to New York to attend the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly is part of a diplomatic offensive he began after his election in June.” (NYT http://nyti.ms/1eS86ES)
At Least 80 Killed in Mexico Storms
There are more storms on the way. “The death toll from landslides and floods battering Mexico rose to 80 Wednesday as the country braced for new storms and desperate tourists sought airlifts out of an inundated Acapulco. The fatalities spread across 12 of the country’s 32 states after a pair of tropical storms, Ingrid and Manuel, lashed large swaths of the country this week, said national civil protection director Ricardo de la Cruz [at] a news conference. The toll could rise after the mayor of a mountain municipality in the southwestern state of Guerrero said at least 18 bodies were pulled from a landslip that hit more than 20 homes housing 70 people. (AFP http://bit.ly/19gPK7X)