The News Matrix: Monday 5 August 2013

Arrest after tourist dies in car rampage

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a driver plowed his car into pedestrians on the Venice Beach boardwalk, killing an Italian tourist on her honeymoon and injuring 11 others. Nathan Campbell, 38, was taken into custody after the car involved was found in nearby Santa Monica.

Empty shops may be turned into housing

The Government is planning to encourage councils to turn empty shops into new homes in a consultation paper due out this week. The housing policy represents a change in direction from a government that hired Mary Portas to consult them on revitalising high streets.

Up to one million on zero-hours contracts

As many as one million workers may be employed on zero-hours contracts, according to a survey of businesses. The figure is four times that estimated by the Office for National Statistics and has prompted fresh calls for a ban on the contracts. MORE

New president lends support to Assad

Iran’s new president expressed his country’s support to Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime yesterday, saying nothing will be able to shake their decades-old alliance. Hasan Rouhani’s comments came as mountain battles were fought between Assad’s troops and rebels.

‘Pogo stick’ polo... no need for a horse

An entrepreneur is to set up the UK’s first Segway polo team. Nick Magliocchetti hopes to have his first players in training by October. The “pogo-stick on wheels” is banned from UK’s roads and pavements. MORE

Beard reports Twitter threats

The classicist and broadcaster Professor Mary Beard has reported threats of rape and decapitation via Twitter to the police. The threats came as high-profile tweeters such as the broadcaster Caitlin Moran, the comedienne Sarah Millican and the journalist Suzanne Moore boycotted the social-networking site for a day to as a protest against online abuse. MORE

M23 rebels threaten to resume fighting

The M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has said it will not rule out retaking the city of Goma unless there is progress on talks. A statement signed by the M23 president Bertrand Bisimwa said that if the government does not respect its vow to hold talks, rebel fighters could be redeployed.

Schizophrenia gene found by new study

A gene thought to be involved in nerve development carries a greater risk of schizophrenia when damaged, new research shows. The findings are further evidence of a genetic basis for schizophrenia and may help us to understand the physical faults leading to the genetic disorder. MORE

Talking robot shoots off into space

Kirobo, a knee-high talking robot, has blasted off from Japan for the International Space Station to test how machines can help astronauts. The robot, which speaks Japanese, is equipped with voice and facial-recognition technology.

Celebrating theft and merriment

Thousands of Robin Hood enthusiasts will flood into Nottinghamshire this week for the annual festival devoted to the outlaw, with attractions including jousting, falconry and medieval music.

Marilyn Monroe photos up for grabs

A rare set of photographs from Marilyn Monroe’s final sitting is going under the hammer. Freeman’s auction house in Philadelphia estimates the limited-edition portfolio of 10 photos, made from fashion photographer Bert Stern’s original negatives could fetch up to £10,000.

Zeppelin flies again over Parisian fields

Tourists seeking an original way to take in France’s countryside have a new way to do it – in a helium-filled Zeppelin. Airship Paris’s five-storey airship, with room for 12 passengers, yesterday began flights north-west of Paris. The company had “lots of” flight reservations.