Aid requests pop up randomly anywhere? Also those black minions, any info for them?

It was actually leaked last year when SF6 Season 3 also got leaked. The timelines of the releases are a little messed up, but the first two points have been basically confirmed now. This discord post was from a year ago.

The days of forums for matchmaking are dead. Its all just Discord now for matchmaking. For Fighting games join Indian FGC discord. Literally every FG player is here, from beginners to veterans. https://discord.gg/AsuVxRNRfF

Exactly halfway through the story. 36+ hours in.

Finished. 133 hrs total. DLC + Base Game + all side quests (around 60 percent gigs but not all) Tried out all the endings too. IMO Panam ending is the best. Didnt know about the secret one. Only saw it later on YT. The DLC is really amazing. One of the best content pieces of all time. The choices you have to make are also heartbreaking in their own way.