Firefighter Killed, 11 Injured in Maine Lumber Mill Explosion
A massive fire and explosion at a lumber mill in Maine's midcoast region killed a firefighter and injured 11 others on Friday, May 16. The blast occurred at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont while emergency crews were battling the flames. Ten victims were hospitalized in Portland, while one remained in critical condition in Bangor. Authorities are investigating the cause, and officials urged residents to avoid the area.
Berkshire Hathaway Triples Alphabet Stake Under New CEO
Berkshire Hathaway sharply increased its investment in Alphabet and bought more than $2.6 billion in Delta Air Lines shares under new CEO Greg Abel. The company also sold stakes in Visa, Mastercard and Amazon. The moves mark a shift from former CEO Warren Buffett's traditionally cautious approach towards technology investments.
Syria Names New Central Bank Governor
Syria has appointed Abdul Hamid Raslan as the new central bank governor following last week's partial government reshuffle. President Ahmed al-Sharaa replaced Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya, who will become ambassador to Canada. Hasriya had overseen currency reforms, including redesigned banknotes without images of former president Bashar al-Assad and the removal of two zeros from bills.
Mexican Teachers Threaten World Cup Protests Over Salary Proposal
Around 3,000 Mexican public school teachers marched in Mexico City on Teacher's Day, demanding higher pay and threatening major protests during the football World Cup from 11 June. While the government agreed to a nine per cent rise, dissident union members want a 100 per cent increase. Protesters criticised World Cup spending, warning industrial action could disrupt roads and airport access.
US Supreme Court Denies Appeal of Virginia Redistricting Ruling
The US Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by Virginia Democrats seeking to restore a voter-approved redistricting plan ahead of November's midterm elections. The decision preserves existing congressional maps after Virginia's top court ruled lawmakers failed to follow constitutional procedures. The case highlights intensifying nationwide battles over electoral boundaries, as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the House of Representatives.
