Pokemon Go celebrated its 10th anniversary, reporting more than 1 billion downloads across iOS and Android and millions of daily active users. The augmented‑reality game, which uses GPS and smartphone cameras to overlay virtual creatures in real‑world locations, originated from Nintendo’s Game Boy in 1996 and launched as a mobile app in 2016. Since its debut, it has hosted live events in more than 60 countries, averaging over 400,000 attendees per year since the first Go Fest in 2017, and players have collectively traveled more than 100 billion kilometres, roughly 334 round trips between Earth and the Sun. Michael Steranka, vice president of product at Scopely, the game’s publisher, said the experience has always centered on community. He noted that the 2025 Wild Area event was held in Doncaster, United Kingdom, marking the first European occurrence of the feature. Twitch creator j0beats, who runs a major Pokemon Go channel, described the gatherings as similar to music festivals, emphasizing the social energy of in‑person meetups. Austin, a player from Maine, said the game helped alleviate anxiety and depression by providing a reason to go outdoors and meet strangers. Safety groups have warned that excessive focus on catching virtual creatures can lead to distracted walking, and Scopely has acknowledged periods when server capacity was strained. The game’s popularity surged during the pandemic, but strict lockdowns initially limited outdoor play, according to Steranka. In 2025, Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, completed a $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic, the original developer. Steranka said the company remains focused on community, shared memories, and experiences that families can enjoy together.
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Gibraltar will eliminate its border controls with Spain on July 15, enabling free movement of people and goods between the two territories.
Gibraltar will eliminate its border controls with Spain on July 15, enabling free movement of people and goods between the two territories.
Residents of the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción, who commute daily to Gibraltar for work, have long faced queues of up to 15,000 crossings during rush hours.
The border, established in 1908, has been a point of tension since Spain's 1969 blockade and the 13‑year customs restriction following the United Kingdom's 2016 EU referendum.
The new arrangement aligns Gibraltar with the European Union customs union and the Schengen free‑travel zone, meaning that goods sold in Gibraltar must now meet EU regulations and a new transaction tax of 15 % will be introduced, rising to 17 %.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the change will bring complete and utter fluidity of people and goods between Gibraltar, Spain and the EU.
Mayor Juan Franco of La Línea de la Concepción noted that the local economy depends heavily on trade with Gibraltar, with a third of business income coming from the territory.
Shilpi Chotrani, a daily commuter, said the removal of the border is a long‑overdue improvement for residents.
Businesses such as Anglo Hispano Company expect increased visitor numbers but warn that the new tax and regulatory requirements may affect competitiveness.
The United Kingdom and European Parliament must still approve the provisional implementation.
The change marks a shift from the restrictive frontier policies of previous decades toward a more open border, with potential economic benefits for both sides.
Boardmasters, a music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, has expanded its wellness offerings over the past decade. The festival now includes yoga classes, run clubs, sound baths and plans for a boutique spa in 2026. The UK wellness industry was valued at more than £160 billion in 2024, and the average consumer spent about a third more than five years earlier, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Organisers said demand for wellness activities has shifted from a niche add‑on to a core reason for attendance. The 2026 programme will feature treatment tents, facials and aromatherapy to provide moments of serenity. Run Weekends, a travel company, ran a three‑day run club during the festival. Participant Lizzy McNamara described the club as welcoming and low‑impact, noting it helped her maintain a routine despite limited sleep and festival food. OneRetreat Wellness, a one‑day event organised by Alex Hyde and Sam Carter‑Smith in Birmingham, offered exercise classes, sauna sessions and professional talks. Hyde said in‑person retreats are preferred because attendees seek real‑world interaction. The Mind Body Spirit Festival, founded in 1977 in London, now draws more than 30,000 attendees annually at venues in London and Birmingham and showcases organic food, crystals and supplements, organisers said. Event managers noted that participants often report feeling inspired and motivated after attending.