How two assassinations left the Middle East on the edge

Last month, Melania Trump helped broker a temporary ceasefire that allowed hundreds of Ukrainians to be evacuated from Oleshky. But as talks on ending the war resume in Abu Dhabi, what are the prospects for a more lasting peace?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Russell Brand, once an award-winning comedian and Hollywood actor, has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. The judge paid tribute to the ‘determination and bravery’ of the women who came forward in the case, and described Brand as a sexual predator of ‘staggering arrogance’. Police are investigating two further additional rape allegations and have urged all rape and sexual assault victims to report what happened, ‘no matter how long ago it occured’. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

A crisis in post-adoption support in England is making some adoptive parents feel they have nowhere to turn when things go wrong. Jessica Murray reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Today’s political conversation is dominated by one topic above all: race. The Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik has been way ahead of the pack in diagnosing how immigrants, their children and grandchildren are reshaping not just politics but western societies. On the latest episode of Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty, Nesrine talks about where never-ending culture wars and real wars in the Middle East have left people of colour. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Global tech stocks have plunged after the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections, with fears of a slowdown in AI development. Major tech corporations including Apple, Tesla and Nvidia shed about $1tn in a single trading session. Is this stock market jitters, or a sign the AI bubble might be about to burst? Lucy Hough speaks to senior economics correspondent Richard Partington – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus