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Friday morning news briefing: End of the coal fire

Fire
Fire

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Coal fires banned in fight to cut emissions

Is this the end of the roaring hearth? Domestic coal and certain types of wood are to be banned from next year in an effort to cut air pollution. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said the move was necessary as wood-burning stoves and open fires were considered "the most harmful pollutant" affecting people in this country. The Government is keen to be seen at the forefront of global efforts to tackle climate change and air pollution. But it risks accusations of targeting consumers rather than industry as it approves a new deep coal mine. Bags of traditional house coal will be banned from sale by next February, while deliveries of loose coal will be phased out by 2023. The ban, which will affect mostly rural households, also includes wet wood. Environment Editor Emma Gatten answers all your questions.

Meanwhile, the Home Office's top civil servant has been accused of obstructing and undermining successive home secretaries following an extraordinary clash with Priti Patel. Sir Philip Rutnam, the permanent secretary, is accused of trying to block announcements, thwart staff moves and undermine the Home Secretary in Cabinet. Charles Hymas has more details of how Ms Patel was "obstructed" by the mandarin.

PS: Matt focuses on the battle over the Elgin Marbles in today's cartoon.

Grace Millane's mother confronts killer in court

The mother of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane said she will be forever "haunted" by the violent end her daughter met, as her Tinder date murderer was jailed for life. Gillian Millane confronted the 28-year-old New Zealand man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in court on Friday morning. Before the sentence was passed, she made a moving victim impact statement via video link from England, telling the killer she thinks about "the terror and pain she must have experienced at your hand". As Amanda Saxton reports from Auckland, Grace's murder sparked soul-searching over New Zealand's domestic violence record.

Woah-ho, we're halfway heir... Harry to join Bon Jovi

When the Duke of Sussex relinquished his official duties and headed for a new life in North America, many people suggested he might succumb to the lure of an LA-style celebrity lifestyle. But Harry appears to have exceeded even the most fanciful predictions by hinting at a collaboration with Eighties rock superstars Bon Jovi. The Duke will return to the UK from Canada next week for 12 days. Part of the visit will be to launch an eco-travel scheme - which will include a recording session with Jon Bon Jovi. Read a mocked-up text conversation between Harry and Bon Jovi.

News digest

Gallery: The big picture

Going Dutch | Staff wheel a newly discovered Rembrandt into place at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. View more of the day's best images.

The painting - Let the Little Children Come to Me - was unearthed in Amsterdam. CREDIT: REX - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX 
The painting - Let the Little Children Come to Me - was unearthed in Amsterdam. CREDIT: REX - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX

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Business and money briefing

Stamp duty | Next month's Budget is a golden opportunity to reform Britain's broken stamp duty system and get the country moving again, MPs, economists and campaigners have said. Industry experts say the tax on property sales is stopping families from moving and preventing millions of young people getting on the housing ladder.

Sport briefing

Europa League | Manchester United came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-32 tie. Read James Ducker's match report. And Arsenal had to wait until the 81st minute to break the deadlock away to Olympiacos in a hard-fought 1-0 win. Sam Dean reports from the Karaiskakis stadium.

And finally...

'Artistic mastery' | A court in New York has granted a $6.7 million (£5.2 million) award for nearly two dozen artists whose graffiti at a once-famous site were destroyed to make room for high-rise luxury residences. The graffiti site was a tourist attraction that drew thousands of people. Click here for pictures of what it looked like.