Three stories worth knowing today, in plain English: what happened, why it matters and what comes next.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed on Monday that settlement will normally take ten years. Care workers who met their visa terms keep a five-year route. A 15-year wait for lower-paid workers has been dropped.
Why it matters: Hundreds of thousands of people who planned around five years now face a longer wait. The government has not published what the change will save.
What next: The rules will be laid in December and phased in during 2027.
Sources: Home Office response, gov.uk · LBC, 2 November
The British Medical Association says consultants will strike for two days. It says the action can be avoided if Health Secretary Yvette Cooper commits to formal pay and conditions talks.
Why it matters: Planned operations and clinics are likely to be postponed on strike days, which could slow the fall in the NHS waiting list.
What next: The strike starts on Wednesday 25 November.
Sources: Morning Star, 26 October · Yorkshire Evening Post
All 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats are up, plus two Senate special elections, according to Ballotpedia. Republicans control both chambers. A PBS/NPR/Marist poll gave Democrats a 14-point edge on the generic ballot.
Why it matters: Control of Congress decides whether President Trump's agenda can pass and whether his administration faces investigation.
What next: The new House is sworn in on 3 January 2027.
Sources: Al Jazeera explainer, 26 October · Ballotpedia election hub