Meta is making headlines with its aggressive push to attract top artificial intelligence experts, reportedly offering signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI staff. The claim was made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who spoke candidly about the tech giant’s recruitment tactics during a recent episode of the “Uncapped” podcast, hosted by his brother. Altman described Meta’s offers as “crazy,” emphasizing that while Meta has tried to hire many OpenAI employees, none of the company’s best talent have accepted the lucrative deals so far. “They’ve tried to hire a lot of people at OpenAI. So far, none of our best people have decided to take them up on that,” Altman said. The move comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes a hands-on approach to building a new “superintelligence” team. In a major show of intent, Meta recently invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI, bringing on its CEO, Alexandr Wang, to help lead its AI efforts. The company has also recruited talent from other leading AI labs, including Google DeepMind. Despite Meta’s aggressive strategy, Altman believes OpenAI’s culture and mission keep its staff loyal. “I respect being aggressive and continuing to try new things. But I don’t think they’re a company that’s great at innovation,” he said, adding that meaningful work and a strong workplace culture are more important than large paychecks. Meta has not responded to requests for comments. Industry observers note that Meta’s push comes at a time when the company has faced staff departures and delays in launching new open-source AI models, as it seeks to compete with rivals like Google, China’s DeepSeek, and OpenAI.
Deadly fireworks factory explosion in central China kills 9, injures 26 amid ongoing rescue efforts
An explosion at a fireworks factory in Linli County, Hunan Province, central China, has killed nine people and injured 26 others, authorities confirmed as of Tuesday morning. The blast occurred around 8:23 a.m. on Monday at the Shanzhou Fireworks Factory, a facility specializing in explosives and fireworks production. Rescue operations have been ongoing for more than 20 hours amid challenging conditions. The site is located in a mountainous area with no large water source, complicating firefighting efforts. Rescue teams have used remote-controlled water cannons to extinguish the fire while continuing to search for survivors and treat the injured. The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a team to oversee the rescue and investigation. Officials emphasized the urgency of determining the cause of the explosion and holding those responsible accountable. Industrial accidents like this are not uncommon in China, where safety regulations are often lax. Recent similar incidents include a chemical plant explosion in Shandong Province last month and the deadly 2015 Tianjin warehouse blasts. The local government and emergency services remain focused on rescue, medical treatment, evacuation of nearby residents, and a thorough investigation into the accident.
Israel strikes an Iranian state TV building in Tehran during live broadcast
An Israeli airstrike hit the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in southwest Tehran on Monday, disrupting a live television broadcast and escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The explosion occurred while a presenter was on air criticizing Israel, forcing an immediate cut to the live transmission. Iranian media shared footage showing smoke billowing inside the studio and the anchor fleeing the scene. The Israeli military confirmed the strike targeted a “communication center” used by Iran’s military under the guise of civilian operations. Iran condemned the attack as a “war crime” and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the strike as a “wicked act” and urged the international body to stop what he called “genocidal aggression” against the Iranian people. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also denounced the attack as “inhuman, criminal and a terrorist act.” This strike is part of a broader Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Since Friday, Israeli operations have killed at least 224 people in Iran, including military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks that have killed at least 24 people in Israel. The attack on IRIB, a state broadcaster closely linked to the Iranian government, marks a significant escalation in the conflict, affecting up to 330,000 residents in Tehran who were warned to evacuate the area. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as hitting the “propaganda broadcast authority” and vowed further actions against Iranian targets. The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange attacks, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Israel airport shutdown leaves Tottenham star Manor Solomon and wife stuck after wedding
Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon and his new wife, Dana Voshina, find themselves stranded in Israel following their wedding ceremony due to escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The couple had recently celebrated their marriage at Kahi Events Resort in Israel, sharing joyful moments on social media. However, the situation quickly deteriorated as missile and drone attacks from Iran forced Israeli authorities to close the country’s airspace to all civilian flights, effectively grounding all departures. The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory against all journeys to Israel, warning that even road travel may be disrupted. Evacuation efforts for Solomon and his wife are currently impossible under these conditions. This is not the first time Solomon has faced such turmoil; the Israeli international was evacuated from Ukraine in 2022 while playing for Shakhtar Donetsk. The conflict has also impacted other footballers, including Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, who remains in Tehran after returning home to receive a national award. Tensions in the region have escalated sharply, with Iranian military officials making nuclear threats, although Pakistan’s defense minister has denied any intention of retaliation[Search results]. Solomon, who permanently joined Tottenham in 2023 after a successful loan spell at Leeds United, where he helped secure the Championship title, recently played in Israel’s World Cup qualifiers. His current predicament highlights the human side of geopolitical conflicts that extend beyond the pitch, affecting athletes and their families caught in the crossfire.Fans and the football community await updates on the couple’s safety and potential evacuation plans.
Oracle’s Larry Ellison surges to world’s second richest after $40 billion wealth jump
Larry Ellison, co-founder and chairman of Oracle Corporation, has become the world’s second richest person after a historic two-day surge in his net worth. Ellison’s fortune soared by $40 billion to reach $258 billion, propelled by a record-breaking rally in Oracle’s stock following the company’s latest earnings report. The 80-year-old tech magnate overtook Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, now trailing only Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who remains the world’s richest individual. Oracle shares jumped 13% on Thursday and climbed another 7% by midday Friday, trading at an all-time high of about $215 per share. The rally was triggered by Oracle’s quarterly earnings, which beat Wall Street expectations with adjusted earnings per share of $1.70 and revenue of $15.9 billion for the period ending last month. The company’s impressive performance was largely attributed to surging demand for Oracle’s cloud infrastructure, especially as businesses race to support artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Oracle’s cloud segment has become a critical growth driver, with analysts calling the latest results a “watershed event” that could mark the beginning of an accelerated growth phase for the company. Ellison, who owns 41% of Oracle, saw his wealth increase by $25 billion on Thursday and another $16 billion on Friday. The combined two-day gain added $104 billion to Oracle’s market capitalization, more than the entire value of major companies like Intel or Nike. “Ellison’s net worth accordingly rocketed by more than $40 billion to $258 billion from Wednesday to Friday, enjoying easily the largest daily bump of any billionaire on both Thursday and Friday,” Forbes reported. Oracle’s momentum is closely tied to the global shift toward AI and cloud computing. The company’s infrastructure is now a backbone for major applications and government data, and Oracle is the hosting provider for TikTok’s U.S. user data. Analysts say the expanding adoption of AI technologies is positioning Oracle as a pivotal player in the tech industry. Brad Zelnick of Deutsche Bank described the earnings as a pivotal moment for Oracle, while Derrick Wood of TD Cowen predicted that the company’s 2026 fiscal year could bring even faster growth, driven by AI. Despite his age, Ellison remains deeply involved in technology and politics. He has served on Tesla’s board, contributed to political campaigns, and recently helped launch Stargate, a joint AI infrastructure venture with SoftBank and OpenAI, unveiled alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Helicopter crash near Kedarnath, India, kills all seven onboard amid poor weather
A helicopter carrying seven Hindu pilgrims crashed early Sunday morning near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India, killing all passengers and the pilot, officials confirmed. The aircraft, operated by Aryan Aviation, went down shortly after takeoff around 5:20 a.m. local time, en route to Guptkashi, a popular pilgrimage destination. Initial investigations suggest that poor weather conditions, including dense fog and low visibility, likely contributed to the crash, which occurred in a densely forested area several miles off the designated route. The victims included five adults and two children, hailing from various Indian states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police recovered the charred remains. Due to the condition of the bodies, DNA testing is underway to confirm identities before release to families. This tragedy marks the fifth aviation accident in Uttarakhand during the current pilgrimage season, raising concerns about flight safety in the region’s challenging mountainous terrain. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority have suspended all helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage until further notice. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered a high-level inquiry to investigate the causes and enforce stricter safety protocols. The crash comes just days after a major Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 270 lives which was extensively reported by Dailytech, intensifying scrutiny on India’s aviation safety measures. Authorities continue to investigate the Kedarnath helicopter crash as rescue efforts conclude and families await confirmation of their loved ones’ identities.