The News Matrix: Thursday 30 June 2011

Hair fetish man convicted of murder

An Italian man with a hair fetish has been convicted of the murder of Heather Barnett, whose body was found in Bournemouth in 2002 with a clump of hair in each of her hands. Danilo Restivo, 39, is also linked to the murder of a teenager in Italy. MORE

Cost of the war on terror to top $4trn

The total cost to America of its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus the related military operations in Pakistan, is set to exceed $4 trillion – more than three times the sum so far authorised by Congress in the decade since the 9/11 attacks. MORE

Flames rage closer to nuclear laboratory

A wildfire burning near the laboratory birthplace of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico, has raised fears that it will reach drums of plutonium-contaminated waste. MORE

Stabbing burglar in self-defence is ‘legal’

Kenneth Clarke said it would be legal for a homeowner to stab an intruder under plans to toughen up the law on self-defence. The Justice Secretary said people were entitled to employ “whatever force necessary” to protect their homes from a burglar.

Evidence against Knox ‘unreliable’

A report yesterday disputed much of the forensic evidence against Amanda Knox. The experts said that tests of DNA traces used to convict the American student in the murder of her room-mate was below international standards.

Suu Kyi party to fight on despite warning

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party has vowed to continue its struggle despite a demand from the authorities to cease political activities. Several of the country’s state-owned newspapers yesterday published details of a letter from the regime calling on Ms Suu Kyi and her party to end “illegal activities”. MORE

Jagger’s Urdu song for ‘global’ group

Mick Jagger makes his Urdu singing debut on a new album by a “global supergroup” also featuring AR Rahman and the Jamaican reggae singer Damian Marley. Other members of the group, called Super Heavy, are Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and British soul singer Joss Stone. MORE

Tour boat leaves snorkeler behind

A dive boat company left behind a US man snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, who had to swim for help. The company denied Ian Cole was ever in danger, but the case drew comparisons to Tom and Eileen Lonergan, whose death at sea while diving in 1998 inspired the film Open Water.

Terence Conran digs deep for design

Sir Terence Conran has donated £7.5m to London’s Design Museum, with another £10m expected to come from selling the current museum’s lease. Museum trustees said the gift would help make them world leaders in contemporary design and architecture.

U2 put their giant ‘claws’ up for sale

U2 are to flog the giant “claw” stages from their current 360° tour when it comes to an end on 30 July. The four 390-tonne steel structures each cost between £15m and £20m to build, and the plan is to “recycle” them into permanent venues, such as pavilions or amphitheatres.

Woman dangled for a day from a ladder

An 86-year-old woman has been rescued after hanging by her foot from a ladder for 24 hours. A friend found her at home in Ipswich. The woman is now in hospital being treated for hypothermia and leg injuries. An ambulance spokesman praised her friend for saving her life.

‘Happy Feet’ set for long journey home

The young emperor penguin that turned up on a New Zealand beach won’t be taken back to its Antarctic home – but it will get a little help. A conservation group will release the penguin, dubbed “Happy Feet”, into the Southern Ocean, south-east of New Zealand, and let it swim back.