Niantic has announced that Jessie and James from Team Rocket will be flying around in-game in their Meowth balloon and that Team GO Rocket has taken over the GO Fest Weekly Challenge.

Battle Jessie and James by finding their Meowth balloon!

Trainers, A mysterious duo has arrived in Pokémon GO via a...Meowth balloon? The two call themselves Jessie and James, and it looks like they’re up to no good! Help us defeat them!

As Team GO Rocket’s balloons prowl the skies, we’ve been investigating them further. The Grunts piloting the balloons are just as perplexed as we are as to where these characters came from. From what we understand, Team GO Rocket has assigned Shadow Pokémon to protect Jessie and James as they seek to create more Shadow Pokémon.

This is where you all come in! Check the map to see whether Jessie and James’s Meowth balloon is flying by. When the Meowth balloon appears, tap it to battle Jessie and James.

Plus, avatar items inspired by Jessie and James are now available in the shop!

It looks like Jessie and James won’t be here for long, so let’s GO teach these silly villains who’s boss before they leave.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/teamgorocket-jessie-james/

YouTube Clip - Jessie and James have arrived in Pokémon GO

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Q-BgCfLw8

Team GO Rocket has taken over the GO Fest Weekly Challenge!

Trainers, Remember when we said week two of the GO Fest Weekly Challenges would be battle-themed? There’s been a slight change of plans. Technically, it’s still battle-themed. However, with Team GO Rocket balloons appearing more often and other disturbances in the world of Pokémon GO that we believe are related, the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research will focus entirely on taking down Team GO Rocket!

GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle

Date + Time
Friday, July 10, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time

Features
In addition to all previously announced details about this week’s Timed Research and events, the following disturbances have been detected in the Pokémon GO world.

• Poison-type and Dark-type Pokémon are appearing in the wild, in Eggs, and in raids.
• Team GO Rocket balloons are appearing more often.
• The Meowth balloon seems to be appearing at a higher rate.
• Suicune has been turned into a Shadow Pokémon. Defeat Giovanni to save it! Complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research to receive a Super Rocket Radar that will help you track Giovanni down!
• Our findings show that the following Pokémon are being captured and turned into Shadow Pokémon now. Please go rescue them!
  • Nidoran ♀
  • Nidorina
  • Nidoran ♂
  • Nidorino
  • Machop
  • Machoke
  • Gligar
  • Shuckle
  • Stunky
  • Skuntank
  • We’re receiving word that the Team GO Rocket Leaders have found additional species of Pokémon to turn into Shadow Pokémon, too!

We’ve intercepted messages from Team GO Rocket that indicate they’re planning to take over more PokéStops and capture more Pokémon! There will be an increased amount of Team GO Rocket activity in your area soon, and we’re sure this won’t be the last time. We’ll share any other intercepted messages we receive if something like this happens again! Sources seem to point to the following information.

Date + Time
Sunday, July 12, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time

Keep your eyes peeled for...

• Team GO Rocket balloons in the skies and more Team GO Rocket Grunts capturing PokéStops for the duration of the take-over!
• 2× Stardust when you defeat Team GO Rocket Grunts and Team GO Rocket balloons
• The Meowth balloon appearing more often than usual
• The opportunity to use a Charged TM to let your Pokémon forget the move Frustration and learn a new move
• Team GO Rocket music playing in Pokémon GO

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/gofestweeklychallenge-teamgorocket/