Home Blog Page 11

ClickUp’s massive layoffs tell us about the future of work

ash329
-
1
ClickUp’s massive layoffs tell us about the future of work

AI’s biggest champions have argued for some time that the technology will usher in an era of unprecedented productivity gains, massively rewarding workers who use it while displacing those who don’t.

Zeb Evans, CEO of collaboration software startup ClickUp claims this change is imminent. Last Thursday, Evans announced on X that the company, which was last valued at $4 billion in 2021, had laid off 22% of its workforce. However, this cut was not seen as a cost-cutting measure but as a radical embrace of AI that would take the company to the next level.

Evans wrote, “Most of the savings from this change will flow directly back to those who make the most.” We will introduce million-dollar salary bands. If you make a big impact using AI, you will be paid outside the traditional bands.”

ClickUp recently introduced nearly 3,000 internal AI agents to handle a wide range of complex tasks on behalf of its employees. fate chart published several days ago. Rather than performing the work themselves, staff members are now expected to direct these agents and ultimately review the output to ensure it meets company standards.

Evans’ goal, according to his X post, is to turbocharge ClickUp into a “100x org” for AI.

ClickUp is not alone in hoping that AI agents will deliver massive productivity gains.

In fact, according to a recent Gartner survey, nearly 80% of companies using autonomous technology have cut jobs. However, the study found that the workforce has decreased and is not necessarily translated into meaningful financial returns.

While Gartner’s findings show that some companies use unproven AI as an excuse to downsize, ClickUp says its case is not one of them.

Evans told TechCrunch via email that the startup is actually seeing gains in productivity from AI agents. ClickUp is measuring those efficiencies internally and preparing to incorporate them into an upcoming product for its customers.

“Instead of simplifying the cost of tokens, we simplify the value created and time saved,” Evans wrote.

Recently, a growing number of companies have begun monitoring employee token consumption, using it as a metric to see who is actually adopting AI tools. But critics argue that “token maxing” – as the concept is known – is the wrong metric because it simply inflates AI spending.

“People who automate their jobs with AI will always have jobs,” Evans claimed in his post. But if AI continues to take over more tasks, ClickUp will eventually need fewer and fewer people, as it will fail to automate those tasks effectively.

The tech world has long theorised about this scenario.

An extreme example of a high-profile startup using AI automation already exists. Polesia, a year-old startup that claims to handle all software operations for solo entrepreneurs, is run by just one person: its founder and CEO, Ben Brokaw. That efficiency is clearly paying off: Polesia has just grown $30 million. At a valuation of $250 million.



Source link

In Lebanon, everything and nothing has changed since 2000. Israel attacks Lebanon

ash329
-
1
In Lebanon, everything and nothing has changed since 2000. Israel attacks Lebanon

Twenty-six years ago this week, Israel was forced to end its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. Much has changed since then, yet Lebanon and Israel still cling to the same policies that dragged them into today’s war, which has engulfed Iran and the United States and now threatens the global economy.

Palestine remains the central issue resonating throughout the region and the world. This history is why Israel began attacking pro-Palestinian forces in Lebanon in the 1970s, years before Hezbollah was formed, and why local conflict has increased since then. Iran’s support of Hezbollah after 1982 turned Lebanon into a front line between Iran and Israel; Today, as the United States is fighting Israel, that front has turned into a regional war. At its centre stands Hezbollah, the central pillar of the Iran-backed “axis of resistance” that opposes Israeli-American hegemony.

Lebanon may seem like a laggard.

In this regional and global framework, Lebanon may seem like a laggard. But it certainly deserves more scrutiny because it was and remains the spark that expanded 78 years of Israel-Lebanon-Palestine friction into today’s regional war.

A lot has changed in Lebanon since 2000. Advanced missile, drone and radar technology now shapes the balance of power, above all the growing ability of Iran and Hezbollah to evade US-Israeli air defences. Lebanon’s economy has shattered, its people have been repeatedly driven from their homes, and Israel has devastated towns and villages across the south, highlighting the principle of urban destruction that was created in Beirut’s Dahiyah in 2006 and later implemented in Gaza. Hezbollah was hit hard but has been reborn as a leaner, more agile force that has once again thwarted Israel’s campaign to subdue Lebanon or create a more permanent security zone within it.

The regional picture has also changed. Syria’s role as Hezbollah’s link with Iran has collapsed, and Iran has also been harmed by the US-Israeli attack. Yet Tehran is determined to include Lebanon in any regional agreement that ends the war. The United States has openly sided with Israel, pressuring President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to “disarm” Hezbollah and remove the long-standing threat to Israel, or otherwise potentially face a Gaza-style destruction of all of Lebanon. Other powers, including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Russia, have pressured Iran in different ways to end the war and restore peace and Lebanese sovereignty.

Amid this political storm, many of the conditions of the pre-2000 era persist in Lebanon. The population disagrees about Hezbollah’s role as an armed movement that offers the only effective resistance to Israel. The government appears unable to act politically or militarily due to lack of funds, domestic consent, or military dominance. Occasionally it bows to Israeli or American pressure: to “disarm” already marginalised Palestinian camps or to meet with Israeli officials in Washington under the auspices of Washington’s pro-Israel bias.

Washington has also tied financial aid for Lebanon’s reconstruction to Beirut’s compliance with US-Israeli conditions. Its pro-Israel bias is evident in its readiness to ignore Israeli violations of the two previous ceasefires and in formally supporting Israel’s right to attack any Lebanese it deems a threat while denying the same right to any Lebanese threatened by Israel.

The Lebanese government also feels the pressure of a disaffected, desperately poor population that is increasingly fed up with Israeli attacks that, in 2026 alone, have killed more than 3,000 people, forcibly displaced 1.2 million people and devastated dozens of villages and small towns. It justifies its negotiations with Israel as an effort to compensate for its military losses, to use US pressure to stop attacks, and to allow Beirut to re-establish sovereign control over all its lands.

Rising above these old and new dynamics is a historical reality: Iran and Hezbollah, with the support of foreign allies, withstood a devastating Israeli-American attack and twice forced their more powerful, nuclear-armed adversaries to accept a ceasefire and renew negotiations, first on Iran in early April, then a few days later on Lebanon. The Lebanon ceasefire is now meant to translate into a broader US-Iran deal. Both ceasefires appear to weaken the US-Israeli position in the region, deal a deep political blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and create new diplomatic leverage for Iran, Hezbollah and their allies.

What lessons can we learn from all these events? Perhaps that military power, no matter how brutal or genocidal, cannot dictate the realities in the Middle East forever. Buffer and “security” zones, new Israeli settlements, local pro-Israel allies, military checkpoints, constant airstrikes, and the whole US-backed Israeli drama – all of these may become a thing of the past if current trends continue.

It is still unclear how a new diplomatic balance will emerge in Lebanon. But Iran and Hezbollah, having survived their “survivalist” battles, are now pressing for a permanent ceasefire, which could weaken Israel’s position and help reshape Lebanon’s internal dynamics. Ideally, such a development could lead Hezbollah, the Beirut government, and all Lebanese to agree on a serious long-term approach to mutually beneficial relations with an Israel that fully respects Lebanese sovereignty.

If that happens, it will put pressure on all sides to impartially resolve the central issue that they have ignored for 78 years and that has fuelled the perpetual war: Palestinian rights. Only mature and decisive diplomacy, along with legitimate defence strategies, will determine whether current trends lead to the desired outcome.

Source link

SolarSquare in talks to raise up to $60M as India’s rooftop solar market attracts major VC interest

ash329
-
0
SolarSquare in talks to raise up to M as India’s rooftop solar market attracts major VC interest

SolarSquare, an Indian rooftop solar startup that helps homes and housing societies adopt solar power, is in advanced talks to raise fresh capital after securing India’s largest solar venture investment in December 2024, TechCrunch has learned.

B Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners are set to co-lead a Series C round, which could value SolarSquare at between $450 million and $500 million and bring in $55 million to $60 million in new investment, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

This would represent more than a doubling of SolarSquare’s valuation in approximately 18 months – a sign of how quickly investor confidence is growing in India’s residential solar market.

Lightspeed Venture Partners previously led SolarSquare’s $40 million Series B round in December 2024 at a post-money valuation of approximately $200 million.

This time, according to a source, it is investing through its growth fund, which has backed names like Razorpay – India’s leading digital payments platform – and Zepto, the fast-delivery startup.

Existing investor Elevation Capital is also expected to participate in the deal, which is currently in the advanced stage and is expected to close next month. Terms are still subject to change as financing has not yet been finalised. SolarSquare has raised $61.1 million in equity financing to date, according to startup data platform Tracxn.

India aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, of which solar energy is expected to contribute more than half.

The country is set to become the world’s third largest solar power producer in 2025, trailing only China and the US in cumulative installed solar capacity. increased by about 3 GW in 2014 More than 150 GW in 2026 Partly aided by government incentive and subsidy schemes aimed at accelerating the adoption of rooftop solar energy.

Mumbai-headquartered SolarSquare, founded in 2015, is positioning itself as a full-stack residential solar platform in a market that is highly fragmented, dominated by small local installers and dealer networks linked to component manufacturers such as Tata Power, Vaari Energies, Luminous Power Technologies and Exide Industries.

The startup designs, installs, and maintains rooftop solar systems for homes, housing societies (common apartment complexes and gated communities in urban India), and enterprises, and, according to its website, has over 150 MW of installed solar capacity and a presence in 29 cities across nine states.

According to a source, SolarSquare has provided electricity to around 50,000 homes and around 400 housing societies. The startup has also deployed rooftop solar systems for large enterprises, including Swiggy, Zepto and ID Fresh Food.

Residential customers and housing societies now account for the majority of SolarSquare’s business, according to people familiar with the startup’s operations, as the startup has increasingly turned to low-margin industrial rooftop solar projects recently.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the startup has crossed an annual revenue run rate of more than ₹10 billion (about $104 million) in homes and housing societies combined. It also aims to reach 200 MW in its residential solar portfolio this year, the source said.

SolarSquare declined to comment. B Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Elevation Capital did not respond to requests for comment.

Source link

US Iran war live: Strait of Hormuz to be opened under peace deal ‘largely agreed’

ash329
-
1
US Iran war live: Strait of Hormuz to be opened under peace deal ‘largely agreed’

The post read: ‘I am in the Oval Office of the White House, where we have President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates; Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani; and Qatar’s Minister Ali al-Thawadi.’

Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah; Pakistan’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey; President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt; King Abdullah II of Jordan; and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

We had excellent talks regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran and all things related to peace.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 20, 2026. Trump is headed to New London, Connecticut, to deliver the commencement address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 2026 graduating class. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

An agreement has been substantially negotiated, which is subject to finalisation between the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and various other listed countries. Separately, I had a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, which, similarly, went very well.

“The final aspects and details of the deal are currently under discussion and will be announced soon. In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump”



Source link

Oleksandr Usyk’s options reviewed after dramatic 11th-round victory over Rico Verhoeven in Giza | Boxing News

ash329
-
1
Oleksandr Usyk’s options reviewed after dramatic 11th-round victory over Rico Verhoeven in Giza | Boxing News

Mandatory against Agit Kabayel? A rematch with Rico Verhoeven? What’s next for Oleksandr Usyk after his dramatic victory in front of the Pyramids?

Usyk survived a horror scare, stopping Verhoeven in the final seconds of round 11 just as the Dutch kickboxer threatened to pull off one of boxing’s biggest upsets.

On a night when the champion looked unusually weak, the shockwaves of his performance rippled throughout the division, suddenly reshaping the heavyweight landscape — and Usyk’s options.

Agit Kabyle

The WBC mandatory challenger has been patiently waiting for his shot at Usyk and is now in pole position.

After defeating Verhoeven, Usyk must next defend his WBC title against Kabayel or risk being stripped of the belt.

Kabyle was at ringside to witness Issek’s performance and came to the ring to personally challenge Issek.

“First of all, congratulations to Alexander,” he said. “I’ve waited so long for this situation; I’m ready.

“Germany is waiting for the fight. I know many Ukrainians live in Germany. Let’s fight in a stadium in Germany. Boxing fans want this fight; let’s do it.

Usyk replied: “Okay, no problem, brother, I’m ready.”

Rico Verhoeven Rematch?

Oleksandr Usyk stopped Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round of their WBC heavyweight title match in Egypt.
Image:
Oleksandr Usyk stopped Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round of their WBC heavyweight title match in Egypt.

As the final bell rang, the possibility of an immediate rematch became real.

Ring magazine CEO Rick Reno added Kabiel to Ring, as did Turki Al-Sheikh, who made it clear that Verhoeven’s performance had changed the conversation.

The Dutchman may have fallen short, but he pushed Isk to the brink in a way few expected – and that only fuelled calls for a second meeting.

Al-Sheikh outlined his vision for how the next chapter should unfold, balancing imperatives with an appetite for blockbuster returns.

“It’s Usyk’s choice. It’s not the right time,” he said. “That [Kabayel] is on the line, but Rico deserves a rematch after Kabyle. We want to see Kabyle and then a rematch with Rico in the Netherlands.”

A rematch in the Netherlands – Verhoeven’s home turf – would be a huge commercial event, and given how close he came to pulling off a seismic upset, there is an appetite to see him again.

Frank Sanchez

Cuban Frank Sanchez (left) puts his name in the hat to fight Usek after defeating Richard Torres Jr.
Image:
Cuban Frank Sanchez (left) puts his name in the hat to fight Usek after defeating Richard Torres Jr.

Fresh off a devastating second-round knockout of Richard Torres Jr. in an IBF final eliminator, Frank Sanchez wasted no time getting his name in the mix.

The Cuban has long been regarded as one of the most elusive fighters in the division, and with momentum behind him, he’s made it clear he wants to keep his shot at the very top.

“I have been working full-time in the gym with my team, keeping myself in shape while waiting for this opportunity,” he said.

“It came, I took it, and now I’m ready for whatever comes next. Usyk, we’re ready for you whenever you want.”

Catching time with Usyk?

Oleksandr Usyk defends WBC world title against Rico Verhoeven.
Image:
Oleksandr Usyk defends the WBC world title against Rico Verhoeven.

Was this performance the first sign that time was running out on Usyk?

The 39-year-old, who weighed in at a career-high 16 st 9 lb, looked unusually flat during the middle rounds – the phase of the fight where he usually takes control.

His reactions were slow, his feet were a touch heavy, and for a long time he was pushed back by a man with only one professional boxing bout to his name.

Oleksandr Usk

Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew, who lost a title fight to Usyk in 2018, believes Verhoeven exposed weaknesses in the Ukrainian that had never been exposed before.

“This bout is the only time in his entire career that I’ve seen Usyk outworked on a consistent basis. At the back end of every round, he was losing and getting out.

“Rico Verhoeven came out victorious. He may not have had his hand raised, but as we expected, he produced one of the biggest surprises boxing has ever seen.

“We’ll never know if Verhoeven would have made it to round 12, so we should probably do it again. At least that’s the lad after the performances he’s put in so far.”



Source link

Bahrain calls on Iran to immediately stop its attacks

ash329
-
1
Bahrain calls on Iran to immediately stop its attacks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday it would be “regrettable” if a U.N. Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz did not pass, adding: “Let’s see if the U.N. still works.”

Iran must immediately cease its attacks and threats against ships.

The draft resolution introduced by Bahrain calls on Iran to immediately stop its attacks and threats against ships in the strait and to end attacks on Persian Gulf states. It also addresses Iran’s efforts to place sea mines in the vital waterway and impose tolls on commercial vessels using the strait.

Speaking to reporters before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio said the draft resolution had “the highest number of co-sponsors of any resolution” in the council, the UN body tasked with maintaining peace and security through legally binding resolutions.

“Unfortunately, some countries in the Security Council are considering vetoing it,” he said. “That would be regrettable.”

A similar resolution, also introduced by Bahrain, was vetoed last month by China and Russia, which, like the US and the council’s two other permanent members, can unilaterally block a measure.

“We are doing everything we need to do to achieve global consensus to prevent such an event from happening again,” Rubio said. “Let’s see if the UN still works.”

“Almost every country represented here today” has co-sponsored the resolution, he said, “and if they haven’t done so, I’m sure they will do so soon because I don’t know anybody in the world… who would be in favour of a tolling system in international waterways.”

On May 22, 2026, Iran observed ships amid a shipping standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, told reporters in early May that the draft was “extremely flawed and one-sided.”

Saeed argued that the solution to the crisis in the strait is a permanent end to his country’s US–Israeli war and the US blockade of Iranian ports and ships.

Source link

US-Iran Tensions Escalate: A Complete Breakdown of the 2026 Crisis

ash329
-
0
US-Iran tensions escalate as naval confrontations

The long-fraught relationship between Washington and Tehran has entered another dangerous chapter. As US-Iran tensions escalate this week, global oil markets are volatile, diplomatic channels are strained, and the world is watching the Strait of Hormuz with growing concern.

Whether you’re an investor, a policy student, or simply a concerned citizen, understanding this conflict matters. Let’s break down exactly what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what will come next.

US naval ship patrolling the Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran tensions escalate in May 2026

What Triggered the Latest Escalation?

To understand why US-Iran tensions escalate today, you need to look at the events of the past 72 hours.

According to reports from May 23-24, 2026, the immediate trigger appears to be a naval standoff near the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum passes. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels reportedly approached a US naval convoy at high speed, ignoring standard radio warnings.

While similar incidents have occurred before, three factors make this one different:

  1. The timing — coming just weeks after collapsed nuclear negotiations in Vienna
  2. The rhetoric — President Donald Trump stated publicly he is “losing patience” with Iran
  3. The response — Iran warned it could “open new fronts” if attacked, a phrase widely interpreted as activating proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen

President Trump’s statement on Saturday was unusually direct: “Iran has been warned.” We are not backing down. Let’s see what happens.”

The Nuclear Factor: Why Diplomacy Failed

Before the current naval crisis, US-Iran tensions had already been building over the nuclear file.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the 2015 nuclear deal — has effectively been dead for years. Despite intermittent talks hosted by Oman and Qatar, Iran has continued enriching uranium at levels approaching 90% (weapons-grade threshold). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in March 2026 that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium had grown by another 40% since January.

The US demand: Iran verifiably rolls back enrichment and allows unfettered IAEA inspections.

Iran’s demand: Full lifting of all economic sanctions, including those on oil exports and access to the international banking system.

Neither side has budged. And without a diplomatic off-ramp, US-Iran tensions escalate toward military confrontation.

Map of Strait of Hormuz showing why US-Iran tensions escalate over this critical chokepoint

What Iran Wants — And What It’s Prepared to Do

To predict where the situation is heading, you need to understand Tehran’s strategic calculus.

Iran does not want a full-scale war with the United States. Its military, while formidable in asymmetric tactics, cannot match US conventional power. However, Iran has spent decades building what it calls “extended deterrence” — the ability to inflict pain through proxies.

If US-Iran tensions escalate into open conflict, here’s what Iran can do within hours:

  • Close the Strait of Hormuz using mines, small boats, and coastal missiles
  • Launch drone and missile attacks on US bases in Iraq, Syria, Qatar, and the UAE
  • Activate Hezbollah in Lebanon to fire rockets into Israel
  • Target Saudi oil facilities again, reminiscent of the 2019 Abqaiq attack
  • Cyber attacks on US financial, energy, and port systems

For the average American, the situation means potential gas prices spiking to $6-8 per gallon within a week. For global markets, it means a supply shock worse than 1973.

How the US Is Responding

The Biden administration (assuming the timeline – please update with actual current US leadership) has taken a three-pronged approach:

1. Military Posturing

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remains in the Arabian Sea. Additional Patriot missile batteries have been deployed to US bases in the region. The Pentagon confirmed that B-52 bombers conducted a “show of force” flyover on May 23.

2. Diplomatic Pressure

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (update as needed) has been on the phone with allies in London, Paris, Berlin, and Riyadh. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session on Monday, May 25.

3. Economic Leverage

The US Treasury announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s metal exports — a $12 billion annual industry that Tehran uses to fund its Revolutionary Guard.

What Comes Next? 3 Possible Scenarios

As US-Iran tensions escalate, analysts are watching for which path actually unfolds.

Scenario 1: De-escalation (30% probability)

A third-party mediator — likely Oman, Qatar, or possibly China — brokers a temporary truce. Iran releases detained vessels. The US dials back rhetoric. Both sides claim victory and return to the nuclear negotiating table. Oil prices stabilise.

Scenario 2: Limited strikes (55% probability)

The US conducts precision strikes on an IRGC naval base or a nuclear facility. Iran responds with limited proxy attacks, then pulls back. No full-scale war. This is the “most likely” scenario according to regional intelligence sources.

Scenario 3: Full-scale war (15% probability)

Miscalculation leads to a US or Iranian asset being destroyed. Tehran closes the Strait. The US launches a sustained air campaign. Hezbollah and Iranian proxies open multiple fronts. Oil hits $200/barrel. This is the “low probability, high impact” scenario — and the one keeping defence planners awake at night.

How This Affects You (Even if You’re Far From the Middle East)

You don’t need to live near the Persian Gulf to feel when US-Iran tensions escalate. Here’s what changes for everyday people:

  • At the pump: Gas prices will rise within days. Historically, each $10 increase in oil prices adds about 25 cents per gallon at US pumps.
  • In your portfolio: If you have a 401(k) or IRA, energy stocks may rally while airlines, shipping, and consumer discretionary stocks fall.
  • On your phone: Expect an increase in disinformation campaigns, including fake videos and AI-generated “breaking news”.
  • For travel: The State Department will likely issue Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for the Gulf region.

Bottom Line: Stay Informed, Not Panicked

As US-Iran tensions escalate, the situation is serious — but not yet catastrophic. Both Washington and Tehran have shown restraint before. The question now is whether that restraint holds.

We’ll update this post as events unfold. Bookmark this page and check back for daily briefings.

What do you think? Will diplomacy win, or are we headed for conflict? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Geopolitical situations change rapidly. Verify all information with official government sources before making any financial or travel decisions.

1...101112...234Page 11 of 234