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Over the past year, it may have appeared that the pro-Palestine protest movement in the United States has lost momentum in the face of smears, crackdowns, indifference and fatigue.

But a string of electoral wins by critics of Israeli abuses appears to indicate that activism’s success can only be measured in the long term.

In New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier, an activist who participated in the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, won a Democratic congressional primary against a five-term incumbent.

“It’s just so satisfying to feel like the tide is finally turning,” said Maryam Alwan, who participated in the Columbia protest in 2024.

“Public opinion has shifted to a point where it’s unavoidable and undeniable, and I think we’re finally starting to see the ripple effects of movements like the encampment that happened two years ago.”

Avila Chevalier’s win was one of several victories for pro-Palestine candidates in New York last week.

Last year, Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City, in part thanks to the efforts of young pro-Palestine activists who powered his campaign.

In Colorado on Tuesday, Melat Kiros, who was fired from her law firm in 2023 for a letter defending Palestinian rights supporters from accusations of anti-Semitism, ousted a House member who had been in Congress for nearly 30 years.

Candidates backed by supporters of Palestinian rights also won key races in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Columbia case

Avila Chevalier’s victory especially stands out in the context of the long-term impact of the student protests.

The democratic socialist nominee, who is likely to cruise to victory in a safe Democratic district in November, will represent large parts of Columbia University’s campus, where it all started.

Witnessing horrific atrocities in Gaza that were partly funded by their own government, students at Columbia set up the first encampment in support of Palestinians, kick-starting a national movement.

Students nationwide then turned their campuses into a front line for political activism against Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians.

Dozens of encampments sprang up on campuses across the country in 2024 and chants of “free Palestine” rang out in schools from Seattle to Miami.

The students demanded an end to their own schools’ complicity in Israel’s abuses. They called for divestment from Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers.

A security crackdown soon ensued, leading to the arrest of hundreds of students and the removal of encampments.

Avila Chevalier herself was arrested in 2024 as an alumna taking part in the protests.

Many students faced academic disciplinary action and others were charged with alleged crimes related to the protests as politicians from both major parties portrayed the movement as anti-Semitic.

Then, Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025 and went after student activists who were not US citizens, pushing to deport them.

With the encampments removed, the protests getting quieter and the activists going on the defensive to preserve their own personal reputations, safety and freedom, it appeared that the pro-Israel camp successfully suffocated the student movement.

‘New wave of hope’

But the story is not over yet, activists say, and the recent elections show it.

“There’s no words to describe the joy and satisfaction that comes from seeing Darializa, a former leader and organiser of the encampment, represent the school that arrested her,” Alwan said.

She added that while students may not have succeeded in securing divestment despite rallying and suffering personal costs, change is proving to be a “gradual process”, and public opinion is now more aligned with the protesters.

“We’re experiencing a new wave of hope,” Alwan told Al Jazeera.

Cameron Jones, who participated in the protests at Columbia, said Avila Chevalier was always supportive of younger activists and unafraid to speak up for Palestinian rights, even when it wasn’t popular.

“It’s really inspiring to see how, even though we have faced such immense repression and have been organising in such a hostile environment, the power of the people is still able to overcome all the barriers that are being set by the federal government, Columbia, the media,” Jones said of Avila Chevalier’s win.

The Columbia protests were part of Avila Chevalier’s political identity as she launched her campaign last year.

One of her criticisms of her now-defeated opponent, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, is that he did not adequately support Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil as he was targeted for deportation by the Trump administration.

Heba Gowayed, a sociology professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), said the recent electoral wins for pro-Palestine candidates would not have been possible without the student protests of 2024.

“When we think about social movements, we think about them as bursts of action, as temporally limited things,” Gowayed told Al Jazeera.

“And when the students are dispersed and the students are expelled and the university doesn’t divest, we see that as the loss of a movement.”

She added that there have been many articles declaring the defeat of student protests and claiming they have petered out and questioning the lack of campus activism in the Trump era after the crackdown.

“But here we have Darializa’s win, Mamdani’s win and the win of the entire socialist slate,” she said. “This does not happen if those students don’t encamp; it just doesn’t happen.”

Wednesday’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium was thoroughly deserved and earned Pochettino’s side a date with Belgium in Seattle on Monday evening (01:00 BST on Tuesday).

It did not, however, come without a price.

Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old former Arsenal youngster, who inspired the US to a thumping win over Paraguay with two goals to begin their campaign, added his third of the tournament to break the deadlock shortly before half-time.

He might have had a hat-trick, firing one effort wide of the near post, seeing an effort ruled out for offside and slicing a shot onto the bar from close range, but just after the hour mark his night, and potentially his World Cup was ended.

What looked an innocuous tussle with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic for a looping ball down the left channel ended with the forward being shown a straight red card.

As Balogun attempted to shield the ball, Muharemovic managed to get in front of him, and as the forward’s boot returned to the ground it landed on the back of the Bosnian’s ankle, causing it to twist gruesomely.

In real time, and in all likelihood in reality, it looked entirely accidental, but Brazilian referee Raphael Claus was sent to the monitor to watch a super slow-motion replay, which gave him little choice but to brandish the red card.

It etched Balogun’s name further into the record books.

On the night when he became just the third American to score three goals in a World Cup edition, he also became the fourth player to both score and be sent off in a knockout match, following Brazil’s Garrincha in the 1962 semi-final, his compatriot Ronaldinho in the 2002 quarter-final against England, and France’s Zinedine Zidane in the infamous 2006 final against Italy.

The sending-off brings an immediate one-game ban, ruling him out of the Belgium match, but it could yet be extended by Fifa officials to potentially rule him out of the quarter-final and semi-final, should the Americans make it.

Long-time Fulham target Ricardo Pepi is the man most likely to fill Balogun’s boots , though he has not scored in his 184 minutes on the pitch at this tournament, nor in the four friendly games before it.

The PSV man’s last international goal came in a Nations League game in November 2024.

Crystal Palace and US defender Chris Richards said the players were supporting Balogun.

“We told him we have got his back,” he said. “We are a team of 26, not just one.

“Ultimately we are going to miss him for the next game but we know whoever is going to step up is going to do a job just as well as he did.

“I think it’ll keep us stronger. One man is down, the next guy steps up. We are a team, we are more than just one player, we are more than just 11 players.”

Pochettino added: “When Balogun received the red card, I thought that is the moment we need to show we are a team and the eyes of the players were [saying], ‘Coach, we are ready to go and fight’ and that is amazing.

“These guys are creating a legacy in this country and with our amazing fans everything is possible. Why not us?”

WITH thousands of people flocking to the seaside to cool off, beach safety is all the more important.

And there is one phenomenon called “square waves” which are extremely dangerous for anyone in the water.

Also called cross waves, the unusual wave pattern is formed when two different weather systems collide, creating the checkered effect.

This is because of the waves hitting each other as the they come rom different directions.

While they may look pretty, or even not very strong, they actually are much more dangerous than they appear.

They are similar to rip tides which can make it hard for people to get out of the water.

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They can be found both close to the shoreline and far out at sea – which has even resulted in causing shipwrecks, according to the European Space Agency.

Some of the places they have been spotted include La Rochelle in France, where they can seen from above via the lighthouse.

Last year, they were also spotted off the coast of Turkey, in the Aegean Sea.

Lisbon in Portugal and Hawaii are all places where they can occur too.

One person previously wrote on social media: “We were always taught to keep an eye out for the ‘squares’ – the grid can pull you back and fourth for hundreds of feet and make it hard to stay calm.”

If you want to avoid the ocean entirely, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best inland beaches in the UK.

Beneath azure skies and fluffy white clouds, three giggling toddlers and their mothers arrive at a candy-colored water park in the town of CoComelon.

It’s the opening of “Fast Little Fishy Splash Water Park Adventure,” a three-minute episode of “CoComelon,” the popular children’s cartoon series that is perhaps as controversial as it is appealing to young children.

Moonbug Entertainment, the studio behind “CoComelon,” says the episode, which debuted on YouTube in May, is the result of a years-long collaboration with a UCLA think tank.

In an unconventional move for a privately held entertainment company, the studio released its child development guidelines on its website Tuesday. Moonbug’s head of communications Bao Nguyen said the company began to incorporate findings from the research into its creative process in late 2025.

“It’s a great example of what we’ve been trying to do,” said Rich Hickey, Moonbug’s chief creative officer, referring to the episode. “Inclusive storytelling and learning through play — they’re all evident within that episode.”

Nina and Cody, ecstatic about visiting their neighborhood splash pad, run through fountains and hop in kiddie pools, but protagonist JJ is a bit more skeptical.

With support from his friends and his mother, who offers him goggles and a pair of orange arm floaties, JJ decides to face his fears. He joins his friends under a tipping bucket, and — spoiler alert — realizes that he actually enjoys playing in water. (“I just love to swim, swim, swim,” he sings.)

The guidelines, called the “Moonbug Learning Principles Framework,” are informed by academic research and advise that Moonbug shows should help young viewers navigate “real life moments” and “model positive relationships among children and their friends and caregivers.”

Other priorities include creating shows that encourage kids to learn through play, as this helps them develop their imagination and creativity, and featuring characters from diverse backgrounds (“CoComelon’s” Nina is Mexican American, Cece is Korean American and Cody is Black) — and giving said characters depth — across all Moonbug shows.

“We’re a digital-first company and we realized that there may be some … hesitation to sharing online content with children,” Hickey said. “This is really to keep building on the trust we think we’ve built.”

“CoComelon” is Moonbug’s flagship preschool show, and the series’ origins date back to 2006 when commercial director Jay Jeon shared a YouTube video of an alphabet cartoon set to music. The videos began to revolve around toddler JJ in 2017.

By 2020, “CoComelon” was the most-watched YouTube channel in the world, averaging 3.5 billion monthly views. That year, the show made its streaming debut on Netflix — where it broke ratings records — and was bought by London-based entertainment company Moonbug.

Moonbug was then acquired by Candle Media, a firm led by ex-Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, for a reported $3 billion. Disney+ has since obtained the exclusive streaming rights to “CoCoMelon.”

“CoComelon‘s” image woes aren’t new. The series has developed a reputation for keeping children glued to the screen, as seen in videos that have gone viral on social media of babies bolting to the television upon hearing the marimba theme song.

In 2020, a Guardian columnist wrote that “CoComelon” was “like crack” for a preschool child. A New York Times report in 2022 gave the public more insight into Moonbug’s audience development process, which included testing “CoComelon” videos on young children to make its shows as attention-grabbing as possible.

The program has been a hot topic on parenting forums. The exchange typically goes something like this: Someone asks if “CoComelon” is “bad” and a gaggle of parents weigh in. “Very overstimulating,” said a user in one Reddit thread. “It moves too fast for kids’ brains to process, which can cause a speech delay,” wrote another.

Asked to respond to the criticism, Hickey said he believes Moonbug makes “age-appropriate content” and produces a range of videos to cater to different moments throughout a child’s day, from slow bedtime videos to faster-paced ones meant to encourage movement, Hickey said.

In 2023, Moonbug recruited the Center for Scholars and Storytellers, a think tank at UCLA that bridges entertainment media and psychology research, to “create the best possible product” for its audience, Hickey said.

The center was tasked with analyzing Moonbug’s content and crafting the learning principles to guide the studio’s future preschool programming, which also includes the “Blippi” and “Little Angel” franchises.

A scene from Moonbug Entertainment’s “Blippi’s Job Show.”

(Jessica Perez / Moonbug)

Moonbug also asked the center to determine if there was research showing that audiovisual content could be addicting for preschoolers, said Yalda T. Uhls, an assistant adjunct professor of psychology at UCLA and executive director of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers. Uhls said the center’s review of existing peer-reviewed research found that there was no such evidence.

And despite oft-repeated claims that long-form content is better for kids than short-form content, “there isn’t really actually any evidence for that,” Uhls said. “It’s very inconclusive.”

The center found that preschool children struggle to learn as much from content with frequent cuts, though consuming it doesn’t impact their attention span negatively, Uhls said.

As such, the principles the center crafted recommend Moonbug “minimize distractions and tangential songs or storylines” when characters are navigating real-life situations to make sure it does not interfere with preschool children’s ability to learn lessons.

The center interviewed members of Moonbug’s creative teams and formed an advisory council of academic experts in child development to evaluate a selection of Moonbug’s episodes, assess the quality of socio-emotional learning and find areas for improvement, Uhls said.

“The content certainly had a lot of places where it could improve, but it wasn’t horrible,” Uhls said. “There was some learning within the episodes. … It wasn’t all good, it wasn’t all bad.”

Uhls said she recalled several instances of episodes modeling unsafe behavior, but declined to share specifics.

The center plans to continue to work with Moonbug to integrate child development research much earlier in the studio’s creative process and aid with the integration of the learning principles into its content slate, Uhls said.

MOST people don’t sit down and properly work out what it costs to live in the UK.

They know rent is high, energy bills are painful, and the weekly food shop keeps creeping up, but it’s only when you add everything together that the number starts to land properly.

For a couple, a fairly typical month now comes in at around £2,180 – rent sits at roughly £1,350, energy at £150, food at £400, water at £50, council tax close to £190, and broadband at around £40.

That’s before you factor in transport, meals out, or anything unexpected, which is how most people end up comfortably over £2,200 a month just to live at home.

At the same time, I spend most of my time analysing holiday pricing and staying in hotels – more than 200 at this point – and recently one trend has become difficult to ignore.

There are now multiple four-week, all-inclusive holidays for two people, including flights, coming in at the same price or less than that monthly cost.

And when you look at what is actually included, the comparison becomes even more interesting.

Your accommodation is covered, all meals are included, drinks are available and there are no household bills to think about, plus most hotels also include fast WiFi, so working remotely is entirely possible.

So I tested it properly, and here are ten examples where the numbers genuinely stack up.

Skanes Serail, Tunisia – £795pp

I found a 28-night deal at Skanes Serail, all inclusive, for £1,590 which works out at £795 per person.

October here is exactly what most people want from a long stay – mid-20s, dry, and consistently sunny without feeling relentless. What stands out with this hotel is how easy it is to settle into.

You’ve got big pool space, direct beach access, and food and drink available throughout the day. Wi-Fi is included, and it is the kind of setup where days naturally fall into a routine.

At £1,590 for two people, you are comfortably under what most couples are paying just to live in the UK, but with everything already covered.

Riadh Palms, Tunisia – £860pp

I found a 28-night deal at Riadh Palms, all inclusive, for £1,720, which works out at £860 per person.

Sousse holds its warmth in October, sitting around 24 degrees, so you still get that proper beach holiday feel.

This is a classic, lively beachfront hotel where everything happens on-site. There are multiple places to eat and drink, a big central pool, and entertainment running throughout the day.

It is built for people who want atmosphere as well as sunshine, and you could easily spend weeks here without getting bored. At £1,720 for two people, you are still below UK living costs, with none of the usual monthly bills to think about.

Hotel Riviera Sousse, Tunisia – £875pp

I found a 28-night deal at Hotel Riviera Sousse, all inclusive, for just £1,750, which works out at just £875 per person.

You are looking at around 24 degrees in October, which is ideal for a longer, more comfortable stay. This one feels slightly more activity-led, with pools, slides, and more going on during the day.

It is a good example of a hotel that gives you options, whether you want to switch off completely or keep busy.

Food, drinks, and WiFi are all included, so you are not dipping into your pocket constantly. At £1,750 for two people, it still comes in under what many couples are spending at home each month.

Ramada Resort by Wyndham Side, Turkey – £970pp

I found a 28-night deal at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Side, all inclusive, for just £1,940 which works out at just £970 per person.

Antalya in October is still pushing 25 degrees, so it feels like you are extending summer rather than chasing it. This is a more modern, polished setup, and you can feel that in how everything runs.

The all-inclusive offering is strong, with multiple restaurants, bars and well-kept pool areas, plus reliable WiFi throughout.

It is the sort of hotel where everything just works, which matters over
a longer stay. At £1,940 for two people, you are still coming in below typical UK monthly costs.

Oludeniz Beach Resort by Z Hotels, Turkey – £1,035pp

I found a 28-night deal at Oludeniz Beach Resort, all inclusive, for just £2,070, which works out at just £1,035 per person.

October in Oludeniz sits around 24 degrees, and the setting does a lot of the work for you — mountains, coastline, and one of the best beaches in Turkey. This is less about staying in one place and more about having everything on your doorstep.

The hotel covers all the essentials with food, drinks, and facilities, but you have a lot to explore locally as well, which makes it well-suited to a longer stay. At £2,070 for two people, it’s still under the average UK living costs, but you are getting far more back for it.

Laico Hammamet, Tunisia – £1,045pp

I found a 28-night deal at Laico Hammamet, all inclusive, for just £2,090, which works out at just £1,045 per person.

Hammamet stays around 24 degrees in October, so it is warm without being overwhelming. This is where you start to notice the step up into five-star.

The spaces are bigger, the finish is cleaner, and the overall feel is more relaxed and considered. You still get the full all-inclusive setup, but with a bit more comfort built in.

At £2,090 for two people, it is effectively matching UK living costs, but with a very different standard of day-to-day life.

Sun Star Beach Hotel, Turkey – £1,050pp

I found a 28-night deal at Sun Star Beach Hotel, all inclusive, for £2,100, which works out at £1,050 per person.

Alanya sits around 25 degrees in October, so you are still getting reliably warm days throughout your stay.

This is a simpler, more no-fuss hotel that does exactly what it needs to -food and drinks are included, there is a pool and beach access, and WiFi is available.

At £2,100 for two people, it still stacks up against what most couples are paying to stay at home.

Iberostar Selection Royal El Mansour, Tunisia – £1,080pp

I found a 28-night deal at Iberostar Selection Royal El Mansour, all inclusive, for just £2,160 which works out at just £1,080 per person.

Mahdia sits at around 24 degrees in October, and tends to feel a bit quieter than some of the bigger resorts. Iberostar is one of those brands I trust from experience.

The food is consistently good, the service is well organised, and the overall standard is reliable.

That becomes more important the longer you stay, because small things add up. At £2,160 for two people, you are right in line with UK costs, but with everything taken care of.

Tiana Beach Resort, Turkey – £1,090pp

I found a 28-night deal at Tiana Beach Resort, all inclusive, for just £2,180, which works out at just £1,090 per person.

Bodrum sits around 24 degrees in October, which makes it one of the more comfortable climates for a longer stay. This hotel leans more towards a slower pace.

It is compact, easy to get around, and everything you need is included without it feeling over-complicated.

Food, drinks, Wi-Fi and facilities are all covered, which makes it easy to switch off properly. At £2,180 for two people, it is effectively on par with UK living costs.

Dosi Hotel, Turkey – £1,105pp

I found a 28-night deal at Dosi Hotel, all inclusive, for just £2,210, which works out at just £1,105 per person.

Side stays warm at around 25 degrees in October, so you are still very much in summer territory.

This is a classic all-inclusive setup that leans into simplicity.

Everything is in one place, food and drinks are always available, and there is enough going on to keep things interesting without needing to plan anything.

At £2,210 for two people, it sits just above the bare minimum UK monthly costs.

But when you consider not having to cook and no surprise takeaway costs, this becomes a total no-brainer.