Latest news with #TikTok-style
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
3 paths the GTA 6 story could take
Image via Rockstar Games GTA 6's second trailer has set the internet on fire. Lucia and Jason, the Bonnie and Clyde duo, are ready to take over Leonida. But here's the thing: Rockstar didn't spill the whole story. They gave us chaos, crime, and a love story dipped in adrenaline… and left us with a million theories. Here are 3 totally possible (and totally wild) directions the GTA 6 story might take based on what we did see, and what Rockstar didn't say. Is GTA 6 a Bonnie and Clyde Story in Miami? 1. Modern-Day Bonnie & Clyde Lucia and Jason scream ride-or-die. The trailer shows them robbing stores, making TikTok-style clips, and speeding through Vice City like they own it. This could set the stage for a full-blown crime spree narrative, where the duo starts small with petty thefts, small-time stickups, but slowly spirals into high-stakes heists, cartel deals, and maybe even a full SWAT showdown. Expect: Tension between staying loyal vs. going solo Risky love story moments that blur logic Decisions that test the morality of both characters This path would let Rockstar explore dual perspectives, much like GTA V did, with added emotional complexity. 2. Revenge + Redemption Arc What if Lucia is out for revenge? Maybe she was framed. Maybe she lost someone to Vice City's corrupt system. And maybe this whole crime spree isn't about money, it's about sending a message. Her partnership with Jason could be about convenience at first, but it evolves into something deeper as they take down everyone responsible for wrecking her life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This angle adds a moral layer. You're not just wreaking havoc, you're doing it for a reason. Maybe even the right reason. Expect: Flashbacks and character-driven missions Complex villains with ties to Lucia's past A story that walks the line between justice and vengeance Breaking Down The Jason Undercover Cop Theory | GTA 6 3. Undercover Gone Wrong Another twist? One of them (most likely Jason) could be undercover. Think: classic deep-cover cop storyline, but with a GTA edge. Jason might be sent in to infiltrate Lucia's crew, or vice versa, and end up genuinely caring for them. Or worse, falling in love. But in true GTA fashion, this wouldn't end clean. Betrayals, backstabs, and bloodbaths would follow. And you, the player, might have to choose who lives and who dies. Expect: A narrative packed with paranoia and suspicion Brutal consequences for trust Alternate endings depending on who you side with This storyline could give the campaign some serious weight and replay value. Whatever Rockstar's cooking up, one thing's clear - GTA 6 isn't just another sandbox. It's shaping up to be a wild, layered, story-rich experience. Whether we're blasting through Vice City as rebels in love, pawns in a twisted game, or vengeance-fueled anti-heroes, we're in for a ride. Buckle up.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Ukraine offers cash, perks and TikTok pitch to lure Gen Z into military amid troop shortage
The Ukrainian military's manpower shortage has grown acute as the war drags on. Most eligible men aged 18 to 60 have either already joined, gone into hiding or attempted to flee the country illegally. With compulsory conscription in place, Ukraine has struggled to recruit enough fresh soldiers, particularly younger men who were initially largely exempt from mandatory service due to government concerns over preserving the country's future workforce. read more This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian State Emergency Service Press Service on May 25, 2025 shows firefighters operating on burning houses following Russian strike in Kyiv region, amid Russian invasion in Ukraine. AFP Photo Ukraine is offering unprecedented incentives, including hefty cash bonuses, free education and lifestyle perks to attract Gen Z recruits to its military as it faces a deepening manpower shortage in the ongoing war with Russia, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Kyrylo Horbenko, now 19, was just 16 when he and his friends first tried to enlist. Though initially turned away for being underage, he joined the military as soon as he turned 18 in March 2023. His decision was driven not only by patriotism, but also by the Ukrainian government's new 'Contract 18-24' programme—a voluntary initiative targeting young adults with financial and social incentives for a one-year commitment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Horbenko's contract includes a $24,000 signing bonus, interest-free mortgage support, and opportunities for overseas travel. These benefits surpass the earnings of many veteran soldiers and are designed to make enlistment attractive to youth wary of long-term military service. As Ukraine's war with Russia stretches into its third year, the country is grappling with dwindling numbers of eligible recruits. Most men aged 18 to 60 have either already served, gone into hiding or attempted to escape the country to avoid being drafted. Younger men had previously been largely exempt from conscription due to concerns over preserving the workforce. The Contract 18-24 program is designed to be voluntary, offering lifestyle perks and short service periods in exchange for a year of military commitment. The initiative is marketed with TikTok-style campaigns and social media content tailored to Gen Z. Despite the buzz, uptake has been slow, with bureaucracy and family pressure deterring many. To address this gap, the government has introduced a package of benefits for 18- to 24-year-olds willing to sign a one-year contract. Alongside the hefty signing bonus, recruits receive monthly pay of nearly $3,000—about six times the national average—plus free university tuition and discounted healthcare. The recruitment campaign leverages social media platforms popular with Gen Z, including TikTok, with creative ads highlighting the financial advantages of joining. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the incentives, only around 500 young adults have signed up so far, with many deterred by bureaucratic hurdles, family pressure, or fear of combat. Older soldiers have voiced resentment over the preferential treatment of these recruits, referring to them as 'the millionaires' due to the lucrative bonuses. Experts and soldiers alike suggest that longer mandatory service and improved military education might better address recruitment challenges. For some Ukrainian teens, like 19-year-old Oleksandr Bahach, the urgency is clear. 'The bitter truth is that we're losing this war,' he said, citing devastating losses in Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Bahach joined after seeing an ad for the 18-24 program and now trains alongside Horbenko for Ukraine's elite 25th Airborne Brigade. With no clear end to the conflict in sight, Ukraine's efforts to entice its youngest generation to take up arms reflect both the country's dire military needs and the complex choices facing its youth.
India Today
20-05-2025
- India Today
Telegram CEO slams WhatsApp as cheap copycat, offers Rs 2.72 Lakh bounty to expose it
Telegram and WhatsApp's long-running rivalry just got more interesting. And, to top it all, it can fetch you a cool Rs 2.72 billionaire co-founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has launched a scathing attack on WhatsApp, calling it a 'cheap copycat', while simultaneously announcing a $50,000 (roughly Rs 2.72 lakh) bounty to expose it. As part of the contest, Telegram is now asking people to create TikTok-style videos that highlight how WhatsApp has been copying its many announcement comes in response to ongoing reports that suggest WhatsApp has allegedly engaged in smear campaigns against Telegram. Durov aims to raise awareness amongst WhatsApp users about how many of their favourite features were in fact rolled out first by Telegram. To help creators get started, Telegram has released a list of 30 features it says it pioneered before WhatsApp went and allegedly copied them. Durov also claimed the list is 'far from complete,' meaning that Telegram still offers many more tools that WhatsApp doesn't. The contest is open to everyone. The deadline for submission is May 26, 2025. The winners will be announced in June. Telegram notes that these videos must be in English and under 180 seconds in length. Creators can also use AI to make these isn't the first time Durov has called out WhatsApp. Back in 2022, he accused the platform of having built-in backdoors that allegedly compromised user security. He warned, 'If you have WhatsApp installed, all your data from every app is accessible.''Use any messaging app you like, but stay away from WhatsApp,' he advised other news, Durov recently alleged that a Western European government – hinted to be France – asked Telegram to censor conservative voices in Romania ahead of the country's presidential elections. 'I flatly refused,' Durov said, vowing to protect free speech.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
US rests case in landmark Meta antitrust trial
WASHINGTON: The US government rested its case against Facebook-owner Meta on Thursday, as it tries to persuade a US judge that the tech giant bought Instagram and WhatsApp to neutralize them as rivals. The landmark case, brought by the Federal Trade Commission, could see Meta forced to divest itself of the two apps, which have grown into global powerhouses since their buyouts. The trial, held in a federal court in Washington, is presided over by Judge James Boasberg who will decide the outcome of the case. At the heart of the antitrust battle is the question of whether the crucial ingredient that undergirds Meta's success is its ability to make connections between friends or family across its apps. The argument -- that real-life connections are the glue that make Facebook's apps successful -- is the foundation of the government's argument that describes a world where only youth-targeted Snap is a credible, if very distant, rival. Meta counters that its rivals are YouTube and TikTok and that it competes furiously in a much wider and ever-changing market to capture the eyeballs and attention of the world's users. The trial, expected to continue for several more weeks, has seen top Meta executives take the stand, including founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Meta chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. Much of the testimony has been devoted to government lawyers building their case that Facebook and its family of apps constitute a market that is distinct from TikTok and YouTube, apps where personal connections have very little impact on usage. The US government argues that Meta's hold on friends and family offers a unique ability to build out its products and rake in billions of dollars in profits every quarter. As a sign of the monopoly, the government also points to widespread reports of customer dissatisfaction with Meta products but continued success and growth of its apps. Meta executives argue that its apps are facing major headwinds and that calling them a monopoly is wrong. On the government's last day of calling its witnesses, the head of Facebook, Tom Alison told the court the company is in an 'upheaval,' facing generational changes in online habits as young users prefer TikTok-style short video content over sharing pictures and text. 'The reality is that Facebook was built 21 years ago and Gen Z users have different expectations,' Alison said. But the government believes that Facebook's hold on friends and family shields its business from swings in the market and that it bought Instagram and WhatsApp, in 2012 and 2014 respectively, to remove potential threats to its dominance. 'Failed' Testimony in the past weeks has included revelations by Kevin Systrom, the founder of Instagram, that he felt that Zuckerberg had undermined the success of his photo-sharing app in favor of Facebook once he was bought out. This seemed to back the government's argument that the purchase of Instagram was originally intended as an effort to remove a potential rival, before it became successful in its own right. Meta on Thursday began calling its own list of witnesses, beginning with executives from Snap. 'After five weeks of trial, it is clear that the FTC has failed to meet the legal standard required under antitrust law,' a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. 'Regardless, we will present our case to show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: Instagram competes with TikTok (and YouTube and X and many other apps),' Meta added.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
FTC Rests Antitrust Case Against Meta Over App Buyouts
WASHINGTON: The US government rested its case against Facebook-owner Meta on Thursday, as it tries to persuade a US judge that the tech giant bought Instagram and WhatsApp to neutralize them as rivals. The landmark case, brought by the Federal Trade Commission, could see Meta forced to divest itself of the two apps, which have grown into global powerhouses since their buyouts. The trial, held in a federal court in Washington, is presided over by Judge James Boasberg who will decide the outcome of the case. At the heart of the antitrust battle is the question of whether the crucial ingredient that undergirds Meta's success is its ability to make connections between friends or family across its apps. The argument -- that real-life connections are the glue that make Facebook's apps successful -- is the foundation of the government's argument that describes a world where only youth-targeted Snap is a credible, if very distant, rival. Meta counters that its rivals are YouTube and TikTok and that it competes furiously in a much wider and ever-changing market to capture the eyeballs and attention of the world's users. The trial, expected to continue for several more weeks, has seen top Meta executives take the stand, including founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Meta chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. Much of the testimony has been devoted to government lawyers building their case that Facebook and its family of apps constitute a market that is distinct from TikTok and YouTube, apps where personal connections have very little impact on usage. The US government argues that Meta's hold on friends and family offers a unique ability to build out its products and rake in billions of dollars in profits every quarter. As a sign of the monopoly, the government also points to widespread reports of customer dissatisfaction with Meta products but continued success and growth of its apps. Meta executives argue that its apps are facing major headwinds and that calling them a monopoly is wrong. On the government's last day of calling its witnesses, the head of Facebook, Tom Alison told the court the company is in an 'upheaval,' facing generational changes in online habits as young users prefer TikTok-style short video content over sharing pictures and text. 'The reality is that Facebook was built 21 years ago and Gen Z users have different expectations,' Alison said. But the government believes that Facebook's hold on friends and family shields its business from swings in the market and that it bought Instagram and WhatsApp, in 2012 and 2014 respectively, to remove potential threats to its dominance. 'Failed' Testimony in the past weeks has included revelations by Kevin Systrom, the founder of Instagram, that he felt that Zuckerberg had undermined the success of his photo-sharing app in favor of Facebook once he was bought out. This seemed to back the government's argument that the purchase of Instagram was originally intended as an effort to remove a potential rival, before it became successful in its own right. Meta on Thursday began calling its own list of witnesses, beginning with executives from Snap. 'After five weeks of trial, it is clear that the FTC has failed to meet the legal standard required under antitrust law,' a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. 'Regardless, we will present our case to show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: Instagram competes with TikTok (and YouTube and X and many other apps),' Meta added.
