Today in Focus

In the decades he’s spent on our screens, Russell Brand’s been a comedian, an actor, a presenter and a political anarchist. Now he has been convicted of rape and sexual assaults. Emine Sinmaz reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Andy Burnham has asked countries affected by Britain’s role in slavery to help shape a formal apology through a ‘structured dialogue’. During the prime minister’s visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, Downing Street said affected countries would play an indispensable role in crafting an enduring message. Though the plans for talks were received positively, the British government is still ruling out the idea of paying reparations, which for decades campaigners have been calling for. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Caribbean correspondent, Natricia Duncan – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Journalist Molly Ball reports from Washington DC after the Republicans’ resounding midterms defeat. Will the party finally distance itself from Donald Trump? And what will the Democrats do with the power they’ve just gained? Send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Democrats have won a historic sweep in the US midterm elections, winning back control of Congress in a major setback for Donald Trump. Senate seats went blue in traditional Republican strongholds such as Texas, South Carolina and Kansas, where the Democrats had their first win since 1932. Voters have sent a strong message of discontent to the Trump administration over the economy, the cost of living and rising gas prices. Trump is now a lame-duck president for the rest of his term. Lucy Hough speaks to our Washington editor, Ankita Rao – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

North Korea is said to be behind the theft from the crypto exchange Binance. How did they pull it off and what will they do with the money? Kalyeena Makortoff and Jean H Lee report
. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Supermarket fridges and freezers in several European countries have malfunctioned after a reported cyber-attack, with their thermostats remotely cranked up. It is unclear who is behind the latest apparent attack but the EU has condemned what it said was ‘a deliberate attempt to disrupt our food supply’. It comes as the UK’s cybersecurity body warns AI-powered malicious software is ‘highly likely’ to be used in hacking attacks against the UK’s power stations, airports and hospitals by 2028. Lucy Hough speaks to global tech reporter Aisha Down – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The UAE’s spymaster is also one of the richest financiers on the planet. Now he has his sights on AI dominance. Jack Shenker explores the sheikh’s shadowy world. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed the Republican candidate for the Senate after a spat with her party’s own candidate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed. The endorsement stunned Stevens’ Democrat colleagues, with one calling it a ‘despicable betrayal’ on the eve of the midterm elections. So what will it mean for the race? Lucy Hough speaks to US southern bureau chief and host of Anywhere but Washington Oliver Laughland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

What happens when Elon Musk and a bunch of tech bros try to rip up the US government? Journalist Michael Lewis – the author of Moneyball and of The Big Short – talks to Nosheen Iqbal about his new book Blockers, which tracks the story of the civil servants who stood up to Elon Musk’s ‘department of government efficiency’ as it tried to dismantle the US government. Send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

What if someone told you the truth about the economy? For years, governments have tried spending more, spending less, cutting red tape, Brexit, levelling up – and still failed to increase growth per person in the UK. So what’s the lesson from the great British fairytale? On the latest episode of Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty, rebel economists Karel Williams and Sukhdev Johal explain why they believe praying for growth is a fool’s dream – and why it won’t improve your life. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus