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OnlyFans, the UK-based adult video platform, has reached a valuation of over $3 billion as it engages in advanced talks to sell a minority stake to US investment firm Architect Capital. The London-based company is looking to offload less than 20% of its shares, with sources confirming the talks to the Guardian.The deal comes at a significant time for OnlyFans, following the death of its founder, Leonid Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American billionaire who passed away from cancer last month at the age of 43. Radvinsky's death has prompted the company to seek a minority stake sale as a means to guarantee stability for the business.OnlyFans has reportedly chosen Architect Capital for its expertise in the financial services sector. This aligns with the UK company's plans to offer banking products to its creators, who have historically struggled to access such services due to the nature of their work.The platform, synonymous with adult content, operates with a strict 18+ age limit and has 4.6 million creator accounts registered. These creators split their subscription proceeds 80:20 with the platform. OnlyFans also boasts 377 million fan accounts, allowing users to purchase videos and send messages to their favorite performers.In terms of financial performance, OnlyFans posted $1.4 billion in revenues for the year ending November 30, 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684 million, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. The platform also reported $7.2 billion in payments to creators, a nearly 10% increase.Radvinsky himself received $701 million in dividends from OnlyFans in 2024, adding to the over $1 billion he had previously received. The company had previously explored sale talks with various investors, including a potential 60% stake sale to Architect Capital and a consortium led by Forest Road Company.If the minority sale proceeds, control of OnlyFans will remain with the family trust holding Radvinsky's shares. OnlyFans has declined to comment, while Architect Capital has been contacted for a statement.

The cyberpunk genre is renowned for its arresting imagery, with petroleum flares illuminating the perpetually rainy landscapes of movies like Blade Runner. Replaced, a new 2D action-platformer from Belarus-based Sad Cat Studios, adopts a similar visual style but with a unique twist: it incorporates softly diffusing sepia and warm primary colours, creating a comforting rather than ominous atmosphere.The game's story follows Warren, a scientist who merges with a powerful AI, becoming a man-machine entity. The gameplay involves platforming and combat, but the article notes that Replaced relies heavily on familiar action-platformer tropes in its early stages. However, as the game progresses, it introduces a refugee encampment with a more relaxed pace, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment.Despite its beautiful visuals, Replaced's generic irradiated wilds often detract from the experience. The game's most memorable section involves sneaking back into a heavily guarded facility, where the atmosphere and tension are palpable. This section stands out for its powerful evocation of real-world issues, such as the Mexico-US border wall and the West Bank barrier.Replaced is now available for £16.99/$19.99, offering a unique blend of cyberpunk nostalgia and action-platforming gameplay, albeit with some familiar flaws.

LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil has acknowledged that the rebel golf tour's finances are being managed very tightly and that structural changes are on the horizon, which may necessitate raising additional funds. However, he emphatically stated that the league will not fold.O'Neil's comments come on the heels of reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a key backer of LIV Golf, is cutting its funding for the league. Despite this, O'Neil described the situation as 'business as usual' and expressed confidence in the tour's future prospects.In an interview with LIV employees during the broadcast of the tour's Mexico City event, O'Neil hinted at upcoming structural changes but did not provide specifics. He suggested that these changes could involve new formats or business structures, possibly including team-based elements.O'Neil also downplayed speculation about the tour's financial health, stating that LIV Golf had secured almost $500 million in sponsorships last year from major brands like Rolex, HSBC, and Aramco. He emphasized the tour's global appeal, particularly in markets such as Australia and Asia, where it has attracted significant interest.While acknowledging that fundraising may be necessary, O'Neil expressed optimism about the tour's trajectory, suggesting that continued revenue growth could mitigate the need for external funding. He concluded by stating that LIV Golf is poised for long-term success and will continue to evolve in the coming months.

US tech firms, including Microsoft, have successfully influenced the EU to conceal the environmental impact of their datacentres, an investigation has revealed. The EU's proposal to create a database of green metrics for datacentres was amended to include a secrecy provision, almost verbatim from industry lobbying efforts in 2024. This confidentiality clause, included in EU rules, restricts public access to individual datacentre emissions data, leaving only national-level summaries of energy footprints. Researchers and legal scholars warn that this blanket confidentiality may violate EU transparency rules and the Aarhus convention on public access to environmental information. The rise of AI chatbots has led to a surge in datacentre construction, increasing demand for power, partly met by burning fossil gas. The EU aims to triple its datacentre capacity in the next five to seven years to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. Industry groups, including DigitalEurope and Video Games Europe, lobbied for the change, citing commercial interests. Microsoft stated it supports greater transparency while protecting confidential business information. Legal experts argue that the confidentiality clause contravenes EU transparency rules and the Aarhus convention. The EU is obliged to ensure systematic availability of environmental information to the public under the convention.

The UK government has taken a significant step in boosting its tech sector by announcing its first investment in a £500m sovereign AI fund. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has urged the public to 'make AI work for Britain', despite concerns about job disruption and cybersecurity risks.Kendall acknowledged that 'people are worried about the risks and what it means for their jobs', but emphasized that AI entrepreneurs believe they can create new employment opportunities. The government has taken an undisclosed shareholding in London-based Callosum, a company that helps different types of computer chips work together efficiently to train and operate AI models.The investment is part of a broader effort to support national AI champions and ensure that internationally competitive companies can start, scale, and stay in Britain. The sovereign AI unit, designed to act like a venture capital fund, has also provided access to a network of government-funded supercomputers to help six UK companies develop AI models.These companies include Prima Mente, which is building 'biological foundation models' to tackle diseases like Alzheimer's; Cursive, a company developing autonomous AI agents founded by Google DeepMind alumni; and Odyssey, which develops 'world models', an approach to AI where systems interact with a convincing simulation of the real world.Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said that by supporting national AI champions, the UK could ensure that internationally competitive companies can 'start, scale and stay here in Britain'. The investment is seen as a key step in establishing the UK as a leader in the AI sector.

Modern combat has been reshaped by the Russia‑Ukraine war, the Gaza clashes, India‑Pakistan skirmishes and the recent US‑Israel strikes on Iran, driving an unprecedented global appetite for drones, missiles and sophisticated air‑defence systems. Turkey, a leading military power in the Middle East, is positioning itself as a key supplier in this booming market. At the heart of Turkey’s push is Roketsan, a firm founded in 1988 to equip the Turkish Armed Forces. Today the company exports to roughly 50 nations and is counted among the fastest‑growing defence enterprises worldwide. Bypassing Western embargoes has been a catalyst for this growth. After the United States imposed CAATSA sanctions in 2020 and removed Turkey from the F‑35 programme, Ankara was forced to develop an indigenous defence ecosystem. The result is a network of nearly 4,000 small and medium‑sized enterprises that now supplies over 90 % of the components used in Turkish weapons. Financially, the strategy is paying off. In 2025 Turkish defence exports reached $10 billion. Roketsan’s General Manager Murat Ikinci told Al Jazeera the firm sits at 71st place among global defence firms and is targeting a climb into the top 50, then top 20, and ultimately the top 10 by the end of the decade. To fuel this ambition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated a suite of new facilities last week, including: Europe’s largest warhead production plant. A new R&D centre employing 1,000 engineers. The “Kirikkale” complex dedicated to rocket‑fuel research. Infrastructure for mass‑producing ballistic and cruise missiles. The construction represents a $1 billion outlay, with an additional $2 billion earmarked for scaling up production capacity. Roketsan’s R&D engine—the third‑largest in Turkey with 3,200 engineers—draws heavily on lessons from ongoing wars. The Ukraine conflict highlighted the effectiveness of cheap FPV and AI‑guided kamikaze drones, prompting Roketsan to field systems such as the ALKA and BURC air‑defences and the laser‑guided CIRIT missile. Recent US‑Israel operations against Iran have underscored the threat posed by low‑cost Iranian‑designed Shahed drones, now upgraded with Russian “Kometa‑B” anti‑jamming modules. These swarms have overwhelmed regional defences and even struck a British base in Cyprus in March 2026, while NATO intercepted three Iranian ballistic missiles that entered Turkish airspace. In response, Roketsan is advancing the “Tayfun” (Typhoon) missile family. The flagship Tayfun Block 4 is a hypersonic ballistic missile designed to pierce advanced air‑defence layers at extreme speeds. When pressed for specifics, Ikinci declined to disclose the exact range, noting only that it is “sufficient.” Strategically, Turkey is shifting away from Western dependence toward an “Eastern” partnership model. Roketsan now offers joint production and technology‑development agreements, establishing co‑located facilities and R&D centres across the Middle East, Far East and Europe. Qatar has been cited as a flagship example of this collaborative approach. Roketsan has identified five priority product lines to meet rising global demand: Long‑range ballistic and cruise missiles. Advanced air‑defence systems, including “Steel Dome”, Hisar‑A, Hisar‑O and Siper. Submarine‑launched cruise missiles leveraging the AKYA system. Smart micro‑munitions for armed drones. Long‑range air‑to‑air missiles, a capability highlighted by the recent India‑Pakistan clash. The timing is critical. Ongoing conflicts have depleted the stockpiles of high‑end air‑defence assets worldwide. During the US‑Israel‑Iran confrontation, the United States relied heavily on Patriot and THAAD systems, raising concerns that interceptor inventories could run low. Gulf states, which have logged over 1,000 drone sightings in their airspace, are actively seeking alternative solutions—an opening that Turkey’s self‑sufficient supply chain is poised to fill. Analysts warn that even major powers like the United States will need years to rebuild their air‑defence inventories due to the complexity of production. Turkey’s claim of near‑complete domestic manufacturing positions it as a ready supplier for nations eager to diversify away from traditional Western sources. As demand for missiles and drones surges, Roketsan is reinvesting its revenues into expanding production infrastructure, aiming to cement its place among the world’s elite defence exporters.

Lionel Messi has officially taken ownership of UE Cornella, a Barcelona‑based club competing in Spain’s fifth division, after finalising the purchase earlier this week.The Argentine legend, who spent two decades at FC Barcelona amassing multiple La Liga titles, Champions League trophies and Ballon d’Or awards before departing in 2021, is now venturing into club ownership.In a statement the club described Messi’s arrival as “the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history,” emphasizing a long‑term vision and a strategic plan that blends ambition, sustainability and a deep connection to its working‑class neighbourhood roots.Founded in 1951, UE Cornella has previously nurtured talent such as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba, the latter of whom currently shares the pitch with Messi at Inter Miami.Now 38‑year‑old Messi is also focused on representing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup in North America, where the Albiceleste will defend their title.The club announced the deal on Thursday but did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is leaving the streaming service he co-founded 29 years ago, as the company regains its footing after losing a $72 billion deal for Warner Bros Discovery to Paramount Skydance.In a letter to investors released on Thursday, Netflix said Hastings will not stand for re-election at its annual meeting in June and plans to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.The company's stock plunged about 8 percent on the news of Hastings's departure. The co-founder is credited with helping to revolutionize how movies and television shows are delivered in homes, upending Hollywood's business model.“Netflix is growing revenues double-digits, expanding margins in 2026 and gushing free cash flow,” said LightShed Partners media analyst Richard Greenfield. “While the Q1 was uneventful financially, the departure of Reed Hastings has spooked investors.”Netflix reaffirmed in a 14-page shareholder letter that its mission remains “ambitious and unchanged” – to entertain the world, providing movies and series for many tastes, cultures and languages. The company’s full-year outlook remained unchanged.The company did not say how it plans to spend the $2.8 billion termination fee it received after losing the Warner Bros movie studio and HBO, and lifted its earnings per share to $1.23 in the first quarter compared with 66 cents per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue rose to $12.25 billion, an increase of 16 percent from the year-ago period, modestly exceeding analyst forecasts of $12.18 billion.Netflix, which long told investors that a Warner Bros acquisition was a “nice to have, not need to have” proposition, highlighted areas of future growth.The company said its investment in expanding its entertainment offerings, with video podcasts and live entertainment – such as the World Baseball Classic in Japan – is driving engagement.It plans to use technology to improve the user experience and improve monetization, as advertising revenue remains on track to reach $3 billion in 2026 – a twofold increase from a year ago.

President Donald Trump's ambitious plan to erect a colossal arch in Washington, DC, has cleared a significant hurdle with the US Commission of Fine Arts giving its approval to the proposed design. The arch, which would stand at 76 meters (250 feet) high, is intended to be built on Memorial Circle, between the Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The commission's approval is a crucial step forward for the project, which has faced criticism and legal challenges. The arch would be significantly larger than the Lincoln Memorial, which stands at 99 feet (30 meters) tall, and approximately twice as tall as the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which the design resembles. The proposed monument, dubbed the 'Triumphal Arch,' would feature the phrases 'One Nation Under God' and 'Liberty and Justice for All' in gold lettering atop either side. However, the design has faced opposition, with about three out of every four people who delivered public comments expressing opposition, many citing its enormous size. Criticism has also centered on the potential impact on views of the national cemetery, a resting place for war veterans. Public Citizen Litigation Group is representing some Vietnam War veterans in a lawsuit against the proposed construction, arguing that it needs congressional approval. Even within the Commission of Fine Arts, there was some dissent. James McCrery II, the vice chair, suggested modifications to the design, including removing the winged statue and eagles on top and the lions at its base, citing that African animals are 'not a beast natural to the North American continent.' The project is part of Trump's efforts to leave his mark on the physical landscape of Washington, DC. The commission still needs to vote on final approval for the proposal after reviewing updated designs. If given final approval, the arch would tower above other landmarks in the national capital.