Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, January 28

Lockdown beginning to slow spread of coronavirus, study shows 

Lockdown is beginning to slow the spread of Covid in many areas of the country, new research has found.

The research, which saw more than 167,600 volunteers tested in England between January 6 and 22, showed that Covid-19 infections remained ‘very high’.

One in 64 people infected throughout this time, the study showed.

The findings from Imperial College London’s React study showed infections in England have flattened but are at the highest level recorded by the researchers.

There was, however, an indication of a decline in the last week of the survey.

Cases are decreasing in the capital, in the South West and South East, but increasing in the East Midlands, the researchers said.

PM talks up ‘great benefits’ of Union in tackling Covid ahead of Scotland trip

Boris Johnson has talked up the “great benefits” of the Union amid the pandemic as he prepares to visit Scotland.

The Prime Minister will use the trip north of the border today to argue that the Union has been integral in administering the Covid vaccine, in testing and economic support.

His visit comes as calls grow for a second independence vote for Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is arguing that should her SNP group win a majority at the Holyrood election – currently still scheduled for May – then that would be grounds for a new border poll.

EU fails to make breakthrough amid row over AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries

AstraZeneca and the European Union have failed to make a breakthrough amid a row over delayed Covid vaccine deliveries.

The EU is pushing the company to supply more doses of its vaccine from plants in Europe and Britain after the delivery set backs were announced.

The bloc has demanded access to vaccines being produced in the UK, amid frustrations over its inoculation programme.

Seven inches of snow to blanket parts of country... as heavy rain brings flood risk

Parts of the UK could be blanketed with up to seven inches (20cm) of snow in the coming days, while a band of heavy rain is expected to trigger flooding.

Yellow weather warnings for “heavy snow” have been issued by the Met Office, covering much of Scotland and parts of northern England.

Forecasters said snowy conditions could bring “significant” disruption to travel across central and northern Scotland.

An alert is in place until 9am tomorrow.

Another warning of heavy snow for parts of England, covering north of Lancaster, west of Newcastle, is in place until 3pm today.

HS2 tunnel protesters: We will not be coming out any time soon

Protesters who have dug tunnels under a central London park in opposition to the HS2 rail development last night said they would not be coming out “anytime soon”.

At least four activists remained in the 100-foot network of tunnels dug under Euston Square Gardens yesterday evening despite efforts to evict them.

The HS2 Rebellion campaigners claim the small green space outside Euston Station will be built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developers as part of the high-speed rail plans.

Kate Moss and daughter Lila on catwalk together for Fendi show

Kate Moss and her daughter Lila have walked the catwalk together at a Fendi fashion show in Paris.

The pair modelled clothes for the designer’s spring/summer show on Wednesday.

It is reportedly the first time that supermodel Kate, 47, and Lila, 18, have appeared on the same catwalk.

Lila was pictured wearing a beaded caped dress, while her mother wore a silver satin dress.

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