Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, October 1

Infection rate begins to slow in sign tighter restrictions are working, major study finds

The Covid-19 infection rate is starting to slow after tighter restrictions came into force, results from the country's largest study into the virus has found.

The R rate appears to have fallen from 1.7 to around 1.1 this month based on early results from a study by Imperial College London and Ipsos Mori.

The director of the programme said this could mean efforts to control the virus could be working and that this reinforced the need for protective measures.

PM's father and Jeremy Corbyn caught breaking coronavirus rules

Boris Johnson's father has apologised after he was pictured shopping without wearing a face covering in west London.

Stanley Johnson said he was "extremely sorry" after he was caught perusing the shelves at a newsagents on Tuesday, without a covering over his mouth and nose.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also been caught breaking coronavirus rules as he was pictured at a dinner party for nine people.

The MP for Islington North has since apologised for his “mistake,” acknowledging that he breached the strict “rule of six” measures.

Spain orders Madrid lockdown amid resurgence of coronavirus cases

The Spanish government has ordered a lockdown in the capital Madrid and surrounding areas badly affected by Covid-19 following a spike in cases.

Residents will be barred from leaving except on essential trips under the new rules set to come into force in the coming days.

As the the move to introduce new measures on the country’s capital were announced, local authorities complained the decision had no legal basis.

Debate commission promises changes after chaotic exchange between Trump and Biden

Changes will be made to the debate process after Donald Trump and Joe Biden engaged in a fiery exchange full of insults and interruptions.

The long-awaited battle between the US leader and former vice president in Cleveland resulted in an event that was lacking in policy discussion as Mr Trump repeatedly interrupted his rival.

The debate commission is yet to make clear what changes will be made but, according to reports, the possibility of turning off a candidates’ microphone when rules are violated is being considered.

Britons brace for three days of downpours

Heavy rain and powerful 65mph winds are set to lash the UK from today as storms move in from Europe.

Britons are expected to be hit with downpours and gales along the coasts until Saturday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning for tomorrow.

It will come as Storm Alex - named by the French meteorological service - moves across northern France and into the Channel.

Alex is set to bring potential flooding, large waves and delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport to southern England.

Most of the UK will see downpours across the three-day period.

Kevin Hart and Eniko Parrish welcome second child

Kevin Hart and his wife Eniko Parrish have welcomed their second child together.

Parrish, who married Hollywood comedian and actor Hart in 2016, announced on social media she had given birth to a daughter.

Writing that she is "thankful, grateful, blessed," the 36-year-old model said the baby's name is Kaori Mai Hart.

On this day...

1843: The News of the World was first published.

1868: The Midland Railway opened St Pancras station in London.

1880: The Edison Lamp Works began operations in New Jersey to manufacture the first electric light bulbs.

1890: Master of the monologue Stanley Holloway was born in London.

1908: Henry Ford introduced the model T car at a price of 850 dollars. Within 18 years, production techniques reduced that to 300 dollars. He is rumoured to have told customers, "You can have any colour you want as long as it's black".

1918: Arab forces under Emir Faisal, and including British officer TE Lawrence, captured Damascus from the Turks.

1969: Concorde 001 broke the sound barrier for the first time during a test flight in France.