News in Brief-(2023-11-04)

Fire at drug rehab centre in Iran kills 32

TEHRAN, Nov 03: A massive fire that broke out Friday at a drug rehabilitation centre in northern Iran killed at least 32 people, the judiciary said. "Twenty-seven have died and 12 others taken to hospital after a fire erupted at a drug rehabilitation camp in Langarud", a city in Gilan province north of Tehran, said the judiciary's Mizan Online news website quoting provincial chief justice Esmail Sadeghi. — AFP

Apollo astronaut Thomas K Mattingly dies

WASHINGTON, Nov 03: A NASA astronaut who was removed from the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission but helped bring its crew back home safely thanks to his problem-solving efforts from ground control has died at the age of 87. Thomas K. "TK" Mattingly passed away on October 31, the space agency said in a statement Thursday. — AFP

Philippines appoints fishing tycoon to top agriculture post

MANILA, Nov 03: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos handed the post of agriculture secretary to a fishing tycoon on Friday, as the government struggles to rein in surging food prices. Francisco Laurel, president of the deep-sea fishing company Frabelle Fishing Corporation, understood "the problems that agriculture is facing", Marcos said after swearing in the new secretary. Marcos made himself agriculture secretary after becoming president in June 2022 and has overseen a surge in prices for produce, including staples like onions and rice. — AFP