Thursday morning news briefing: PM is 'dicing with political death'

No 10 ally warns PM over draconian approach to Covid

Will Downing Street's draconian approach to the pandemic "come back to haunt them in calmer times"? That is the view of an ally of No 10, who has called on Boris Johnson to change his coronavirus strategy and focus more on the economic impact. Amid mounting criticism of the Government's handling of the crisis, James Frayne - who is close to Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's chief adviser - accused it of "dicing with political death in recent times". He is not alone. Allister Heath argues that "this Jekyll and Hyde government is infuriating even the PM's loyalists". It came after the Bank of England's chief economist warned "Chicken Licken" fears could wreck hopes of a recovery.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson defied calls for an easing of Covid restrictions by insisting the "only way" to fight the second wave of the virus is by making sacrifices that might have to get worse. He earlier agreed a deal with Tory rebels who demanded Parliament should be given more say. Read the inside story of how up to 80 Conservative MPs won their battle. Camilla Tominey describes them as "tigerish Tories baying for blood". And Matt sees the funny side of local lockdowns in today's cartoon.

Migrants who arrive in Britain via EU to be rejected

Asylum seekers who enter the UK from Europe face being turned away after Brexit under a shake-up planned by Home Secretary Priti Patel. The proposed changes would mean asylum claims by migrants who come through the EU and enter the UK illegally would be "inadmissible". It follows a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Channel and concern that the system is "not fit for purpose". Meanwhile, the National Crime Agency reveals that people smugglers have slashed prices to cross the Channel to as little as £450 as they cram more migrants on boats.

Mark Zuckerberg planning to kill off the iPhone

Video calling has become a staple of staying connected during the pandemic. Even technology's fiercest critics could not begrudge the industry for making available a mode of communication that made lockdown much easier than it could have been. But it may not be the go-to for long - at least, if you believe Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg. Technology Correspondent Michael Cogley explains how, in the future, we are likely to be wearing a pair of specs with augmented reality.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

• Apology | Boris Johnson's father caught shopping without mask

• Fines | 'Wrong' address means hundreds escape quarantine fee

• Alcohol | Study reveals extent of Britons' drinking in lockdown

• Hospitals | NHS at risk of becoming 'Covid-only' health service

• Podcast | Planet Normal: Serious Covid cases are 'on the floor'

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Catch of the day | Britain offered Brussels a three-year transition period on fishing during trade negotiations, it has emerged, as the Government hailed a historic fisheries treaty with Norway. Brussels Correspondent James Crisp explains how negotiators submitted plans to scale down EU fishermen's share of the catch in UK waters in a bid to allay fears over the impact of Brexit on European coastal communities.

• Spy chief | West 'got it wrong on China', warns MI6 boss

• Manchester attack | Bomber was flagged up 18 times to MI5

• Elderly | Rear Admiral sues Hancock over £5bn care 'scandal'

• Clean power | Nuclear fusion reactor 'just four years away'

• Parliament's art | Gladstone's portrait could carry slavery plaque

Around the world: Turkey 'fanning the flames'

Nato allies France and Turkey have exchanged angry accusations over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijani and Armenian fighters were engaged in a fourth day of fighting in the worst flare-up of violence in decades. Read our report by Middle East Correspondent Campbell MacDiarmid and view our daily gallery of more striking world images.

Comment and analysis

• Michael Deacon | Will a ban on laughter be coming next?

• Madeline Grant | Covid briefing gave a misleading impression

• Zoe Strimpel | At last, millennials can decide on Mrs Thatcher

• Julie Etchingham | What I've learnt from moderating debates

• Reader letters | Boris Johnson relies on a lucky dip of slogans

Editor's choice: Features and arts

1. Meet the 'reverse movers' | 'I'm selling my country house and moving back to London’

2. That's All Folks! | How political debate turned into a cartoon fight and race for ratings

3. Dog-mania | How canine luxury has hit five-star hotels, from Beverly Hills to London

Business and money briefing

Housing crisis | The Government is looking to clamp down on so-called "rabbit hutch housing" with new building standards. It follows concerns that unscrupulous developers were taking advantage of the lower scrutiny of not having to go through the planning process to deliver tiny homes unfit for living. Rachel Millard explains the changes.

• Toxic fund | Neil Woodford savers face another year's wait

• Investment tip | As second holding unravels, time to let go

• Alex cartoon | See our cartoonist's latest work on world of finance

Sport briefing

'Lack of talent' | British tennis is embroiled in a furious public row, with coaches, players and their parents criticising the Lawn Tennis Association after the nation's failure at the French Open. Jamie Murray joined Heather Watson in voicing his frustration with the system that meant no Britons reached the second round of the grand slam.

• Brighton 0 Man Utd 3 | Mata scores 50th goal for United

• Burnley 0 Man City 3 | Raheem Sterling enjoys poacher's role

• Carefree contest | Worcester and Saracens exchange 10 tries

Tonight's dinner

Yogurt soup with spiced lamb meatballs | This meatball dish by Diana Henry is a bit of a hybrid - inspired by both Iran and Turkey. Read on for the recipe.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

Black Mirror meets Britain's Got Talent | Studio crowds have been replaced by floating heads plucked from Charlie Brooker's fevered imagination. But what is it like to be in one? Kat Brown examines the dystopian nightmare of TV's virtual audiences.