Latest news with #BigSmoke
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
7 things that would shock us if Rockstar did them in GTA 6
Image via Rockstar Games Rockstar Games doesn't follow the rules. They rewrite them. Every GTA drop has brought wild surprises, but even then, there are certain things that would genuinely make fans go: 'Wait, WHAT?' With the GTA 6 trailer already sparking frenzy, here are five curveballs that would leave us absolutely speechless if Rockstar actually pulled them off. 1. A Story With Zero Betrayal or Double-Crossing Plot twists and betrayals are GTA staples: Lance Vance flipping sides or Big Smoke selling out. Imagine a GTA storyline where the protagonists make it from start to end without being stabbed in the back. No hidden traitors. No twist endings. Just a straightforward criminal rise... and maybe a peaceful retirement? Sounds wholesome. And very un-Rockstar. Will GTA VI Have CROSSPLAY?? 2. Full Crossplay Between Console & PC Sounds normal in 2025, but this is Rockstar , they usually roll slow with multiplayer innovations. If GTA Online 2 launches with full crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC? That's a major shift. It would also signal a more connected, unified community from day one. And yes, that means console players getting sniped by PC modders (again). 3. A Main Character That Dies Mid-Story Remember how Red Dead Redemption II broke our hearts? Now imagine you're 60% into GTA 6's story, deeply invested in Jason or Lucia, and BAM. One of them dies permanently, changing the game's tone and shifting your control to a brand-new protagonist. 4. Crossovers with Red Dead Redemption or Other Rockstar Universes Rockstar's games have always existed in parallel but separate worlds. If GTA 6 suddenly pulled a multiverse move and introduced characters, Easter eggs, or even missions linked to Red Dead Redemption, Bully, or Max Payne, it would break the internet. 5. No Cheat Codes Picture this: You boot up GTA 6, eager to punch in the classic 'lower wanted level' or 'spawn helicopter' combo… and it doesn't work. No jetpacks. No invincibility. No infinite ammo. Rockstar removing cheat codes would cause chaos in the community. GTA 6 Will Let You Be A Cop? 6. A Fully Playable Cop Character You've always been running from the cops. What if, for once, you played as one? A morally grey cop who bends the law or goes undercover in Vice City's underworld would be a mind-bending twist. That would flip the GTA formula on its head, and we'd honestly love to see it 7. No Guns Mode or Non-Violent Gameplay Option A GTA without guns? That sounds like ordering pizza without cheese, but think about it. What if Rockstar gave players the option to play the game without violence, focusing on stealth, hacking, manipulation, or social climbing? This would not only flip expectations but also open the game to a new kind of strategy and creativity. Rockstar has built its legacy on pushing boundaries, and GTA 6 already looks like its boldest leap yet. But if any of the above happened? That wouldn't just be bold. It'd be revolutionary. Until then, we wait. And speculate. And scroll through those 70 new screenshots like maniacs.
Global News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Chill, Ontario: Why warm, sunny days are on the way after very cool May
After a cold, snowy winter followed by a cool start to spring, many Ontarians were hoping for a summer start to June but were forced to keep their winter gear on their torsos Sunday as temperatures fell below 5 C. 'The low temperature of 4.9 C at Pearson airport was the coldest June temperature in the last 20 years,' Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell said. 'It was also a chilly start to the day on this June 2nd with mid-single digits across the GTA. 'This comes after a chilly second half of May, which was cooler than the first half of the month. This doesn't happen very often.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy This is a far cry from just two years ago when the Toronto area experienced record temperatures of 30.9 C and is much closer to the record coldest June 1 which was in 1945, when the temperature fell to of 1.1 C. Story continues below advertisement Sunday's cool weather followed on the heels of a blustery last couple of weeks of May but Farnell says things are about to get much warmer. 'The warmest it got in May was only 27.5 C, so we are overdue for some hot weather around here and it is coming,' he said. 'Temperatures will warm up through the first half of the week, with the hottest day of the year so far coming on Wednesday.' On Sunday, the meteorologist released his outlook for the summer, with the Big Smoke and surrounding areas expected to encounter a wet June before sweltering temperatures arrive over July and August. 'My summer forecast is still calling for a hot summer across most of Canada, but for us around the Great Lakes, June will be closer to normal before the heat and humidity sets in for July and August.'
Time Out
23-05-2025
- Time Out
Travellers are avoiding London this year, per Google data – here's where they're going instead
There are infinite reasons London is a bucket-list destination for travellers across the globe – its world-class restaurants, its industry defining theatre, its outstanding architecture and its wild and fascinating history, to name but a few. However, if Google data is anything to go by, the Big Smoke seems to be falling out of favour. Travel insurance firm Insure and Go has analysed year-on-year global search trends for flights, hotels and itineraries on Google and discovered that London is one of the destinations for which search interest is going down. Researchers found that there has been a two percent decrease in travel searches for London year on year. While international tourist numbers have increased slightly in the capital, they have remained below the 2017 and 2019 peaks of 21.71 million. The numbers also show that tourist spending in the city and across the UK was down in the first half of 2024. Rising crime, bad weather and high prices could all be reasons for the declining interest. Experts have also cited the UK governments decision to drop tax-free shopping for European visitors as a reason London has become less attractive. Other cities that have reportedly seen a drop in online travel searches include Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm and Las Vegas. At the other end of the spectrum, searches for travel in Tokyo have skyrocketed by 64 percent year on year while interest in Rio de Janeiro has grown by 61 percent and searches for Beijing are up 60 percent. The cities travellers are ditching in 2025, according to Google data (and their percentage decrease) Havana, Cuba - 28 percent Miami, USA - 15 percent Kingston, Jamaica - 11 percent Nadi, Fiji - 11 percent Gdansk, Poland - 9 percent Las Vegas, USA - 9 percent Apia, Samoa - 8 percent Stockholm, Sweden - 5 percent Brussels, Belgium - 5 percent Berlin, Germany - 4 percent London, UK - 2 percent Wellington, New Zealand - 2 percent Singapore - 1 percent Dubai, UAE - 0.3 percent Delhi, Indai - 0.3 percent The cities travellers are turning to in 2025, according to Google data (and their percentage increase) Tokyo, Japan - 64 percent Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 61 percent Beijing, Chine - 60 percent Lucerne, Switzerland - 51 percent Kuwait City, Kuwait - 44 percent Seville, Spain - 43 percent Chicago, USA - 41 percent Belize City, Belize - 39 percent Chiang Mai, Thailand - 38 percent Tbilisi, Georgia - 37 percent Hanoi, Vietnam - 33 percent Nassau, Bahamas - 31 percent Jakarta, Indonesia - 30 percent Santiago, Chile - 29 percent Buenos Aires, Argentina - 28 percent
Time Out
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This foodie feast one hour from London is the perfect summer day trip
Don't believe the haters: summer in London is mega. But everyone needs a break from the Big Smoke sometimes – and here's one you can book right away. Out in the Chiltern Hills, just beyond the M25, there's a place called Oxmoor Farm. Since 2022, they've been hosting an annual series of 'Wild Feasts', with top British chefs rocking up on the farm to cook up lunches and dinners using super-fresh local produce. Their creations are served at long tables, supperclub-style, in the blissfully relaxed surroundings of the Buckinghamshire countryside. Each chef serves up both a Saturday dinner and a Sunday lunch across one weekend. Previously held in tents, the feasts have now moved into a spacious, airy barn. As well as the long tables, there's a fireplace and sofas for post-feast lounging, and a firepit and seating outdoors for alfresco aperitifs if the weather's good. Kids aren't invited, but dogs are very welcome. I headed down to Oxmoor Farm in early May, with chef Ivan Tisdall-Downes (formerly of Native) taking over the open kitchen to serve up a menu of seasonal bangers: wild garlic flatbreads, wood-roasted beef sirloin from cows reared locally, charred asparagus and leeks and a rhubarb millefeuille. The chat along the table was very pleasant, with a crowd of mostly clued-in locals, a couple of whom lived less than a mile away. Locally-brewed beers and natural wines from a nearby supplier washed things down nicely. This year's feasts are set to continue right through to December. Over the next few months, the chef line-up includes three big London talents. This weekend, it's Abby Lee – chef-patron of Mambow, one of Time Out's favourite London restaurants – plus Ollie Dabbous (formerly of the Michelin-starred Hide), and Masaki Sugisaki of Dinings SW3. More culinary talents are due to be announced in June. Getting to Oxmoor Farm is easy from London: hop on a train from Marylebone station to High Wycombe, then take a taxi from the station. If you pre-book your cab, the whole trip should take less than an hour. Want to make a day of it? There are some lovely walks direct from the farm, and the nearby chocolate-box village of Great Missenden was once the home of Roald Dahl – it now hosts a museum and 'story centre' dedicated to the author. And if you can't make it to the Wild Feasts dates? The barn that hosts them doubles as a restaurant and café, serving all comers from Thursdays to Sundays. Besides food and booze, the farm also hosts workshops and events, spanning everything from foraging and fermentation to pottery and flower-pressing. There's even an outdoor, wood-fired sauna, complete with countryside views and outdoor plunge baths. Start planning your escape from the city for a day of gourmet country living.
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
I tried Wetherspoons' new menu and it tasted better than KFC and Honest Burger
TUCKING into a juicy burger, I could've been in a posh chain like Honest Burger - but I was sat in Wetherspoons trying its new menu. The pub chain is adding posh burgers to its menu from tomorrow May 14 and I was surprised by how delicious they were. Advertisement 7 I got to try out the new gourmet burger menu before it launches on May 14 Credit: Paul Edwards 7 The new burgers are the Big Smoke, Cheese Meltdown, Buffalo and BBQ Stack Credit: Paul Edwards 7 Each of the burgers comes with onion rings and either chips or a salad as a side Credit: Paul Edwards There are four burgers to choose from - the Cheese Meltdown, the BBQ beef-filled Big Smoke, the spicy Buffalo chicken burger and the plant-based BBQ Stack. They cost £10.19 with a soft drink or £11.72 with an alcoholic drink - cheaper than you would get at a chain like Honest Burger, which costs £11.95 for a burger and side and extra for a drink. The chicken burger was way better than anything you'd get at KFC or McDonald's and everything seemed like very good value for money. That's especially as they all come with a side of onion rings and either chips or a salad. Advertisement More on Spoons Here's what I thought of each one... Cheese Meltdown 7 The Cheese Meltdown has either beef or chicken with a slice of American cheese and an emmental and cheddar cheese sauce Credit: Paul Edwards The aptly-named Cheese Meltdown is quite literally covered in a melted cheese sauce. It was messy to eat - but tasted great. Advertisement You can get this either with fried buttermilk chicken or a beef patty, but I tried the beef version. Most read in Money If you go for beef it's 732 calories or 839 if you get chicken. Some people might find it a little too rich, but as a cheese lover I really enjoyed the strong flavour here. 4.5/5 Advertisement Buffalo 7 The Buffalo features fried buttermilk chicken, Naga chilli sauce, American cheese and a blue cheese sauce Credit: Paul Edwards If you like your burgers with a slight kick, this one's for you. The Buffalo comes with fried buttermilk chicken topped with Naga chilli sauce, American cheese, and a delicious blue cheese sauce. Then to top it all off (quite literally) it comes with a chicken wing nestled on the burger bun. Advertisement The Naga chilli sauce had just the right amount of spice - enough to give it a bit of a zing but not so much that I had to reach for my bottle of water. It was also balanced nicely with the creamy blue cheese sauce at the bottom. The fried buttermilk chicken was nice and crispy, and I was impressed by the chicken wing too which had a slight citrus flavour. I'm personally a fan of a chicken burger and this one was a winner for me - although I actually preferred the beef burgers, but I think that's down to preference. Advertisement This one is 819 calories. 4/5 Big Smoke 7 The Big Smoke comes with either beef or fried chicken and is topped with pulled BBQ beef brisket, American style cheese and maple cured bacon Credit: Paul Edwards I wouldn't have guessed it beforehand but this was hands-down my favourite. Advertisement Like the name suggests, this burger is full of rich smokey BBQ flavours. You can choose either a thick beef patty or fried buttermilk chicken, which is topped with pulled BBQ beef brisket, American style cheese and maple cured bacon. I thought the combination of three different meats would be too much for me but the flavours combined wonderfully. The bacon was crispy (as it should be) and the BBQ sauce was the perfect combination of sweet and smokey. Advertisement Again it's a little messy, but it's worth it. Bear in mind, though, this one is the most calorific at 1,170 kcal with beef or 1,310 kcal with chicken. 5/5 BBQ Stack 7 The BBQ Stack has a plant-based patty, onion rings and a sweet and smokey BBQ sauce Credit: Paul Edwards This burger is TALL. I was a bit unsure of how to tackle the three thick onions sitting on top of the plant-based patty that's drizzled in smokey BBQ sauce. Advertisement But after squishing it down, I managed it. I think the burger could have been a little dry if it didn't have the BBQ sauce - something that I've found can be a problem with plant-based burgers. I liked the crispiness of the onion rings and again the BBQ sauce had the perfect sweet and smokey flavour. This was my least favourite of the four options, but I think as far as vegetarian burgers go it's pretty decent. Advertisement Plus, it's the least calorific at 439 kcal. 3/5 How often does Wetherspoons change its menu? Wetherspoons makes changes to its menus several times a year to give it a refresh and compete with rivals. As well as introducing its new gourmet burgers, the pub chain is also bringing in a range of Korean-style chicken meals. Advertisement However it's also scrapping some customer favourites. Steaks, mixed grills and gammon will be gone from the menu on May 14. A spokesperson said these were the "biggest loss-makers" and the chain is " confident that its menu provides a variety of choices and value-for- money meals ".
