The News Matrix: Monday 22 July 2013

Britons killed in helicopter crash

Two British men were killed in a horrific accident during a fishing holiday in a remote region of northern Russia when the helicopter they were disembarking from tipped over and hit them with its rotor blades. Their Russian guide was also killed in the accident, which is being blamed on pilot error, in the Lovozersky region on the far northern Kola peninsula. MORE

Voters back tough action on economy

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition won a comfortable majority in the upper house of parliament in elections yesterday, giving it control of both chambers and a mandate to press ahead with difficult economic reforms. MORE

Trains collide at Norwich station

An investigation has been launched after two trains collided at Norwich railway station yesterday morning. Eight people received minor injuries when a Greater Anglia passenger train, travelling from Great Yarmouth, struck an empty, stationary East Midlands train at low speed.

PM pledges vote on any Palestine deal

Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his promise that any peace deal with the Palestinians would be put to a referendum. The Israeli Prime Minister’s remarks come days after an apparent breakthrough in a US-led push to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table. MORE

Supermodel ‘inventor’ mourned

John Casablancas, who founded the Elite Model Management agency and launched the careers of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, has died aged 70. Casablancas revolutionised the comparatively staid world of international glamour in the 1970s. MORE

Gascoigne charged with assault

Paul Gascoigne has been charged with two counts of common assault. The former England footballer, 46, has also been charged with being drunk and disorderly. He is due to appear before magistrates next month.

Feuding families gunfight kills seven

At least seven people were killed in the Philippines after two families locked in a long-standing feud fought each other. Armed members and followers of the Macugar and Capal families confronted each other in a village in Lanao del Sur province, sparking a gunfight that left seven dead and five wounded.

Wellington rocked by earthquake

New Zealand’s capital Wellington was rattled by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that ruptured water mains, smashed windows and damaged the country’s parliament building. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck under the Cook Strait 35 miles south-west of Wellington, six miles underground.