The News Matrix: Thursday 19 December 2013

Tories will vote on any new coalition

Tory MPs will be given a vote before they enter into another coalition like the deal that David Cameron struck with Nick Clegg in 2010, the chairman of the 1922 committee has said. Graham Brady has told the Conservative Home website that David Cameron has agreed MPs will take part in a definitive consultation with a vote if there are coalition talks after the 2015 election.

500 die in ethnic conflict in capital

Up to 500 people are feared dead and 20,000 residents of the capital Juba have fled to United Nations-run shelters following conflict. Parts of the city are said to have been reduced to rubble by the fighting, caused by ethnic rivalry, which started on Sunday. MORE

Flood warning as storms strike

Flood warnings and alerts were issued last night as storms battered the West and North. About 900 homes in the Neath Valley in Wales were without power after gale-force winds brought down a power cable.Emergency services said they had received hundreds of calls.

Russia deal averted bankruptcy, says PM

Ukraine’s decision to suspend a deal on closer EU ties and sign a Russian aid agreement instead has helped avoid bankruptcy, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told ministers in Kiev yesterday. Russia has agreed to buy $15bn (£9.2bn) of government bonds and slash gas prices to the country.

Teenage skier dies in avalanche

A British teenager has been killed in an avalanche while skiing in Austria with his father and twin brother. The group were engulfed while following a ski guide on an unauthorised route near the resort of Lech am Arlberg. The guide faces a criminal investigation. MORE

Highest number of journalists jailed

More journalists have been jailed in Turkey than in any other country for the second consecutive year, followed closely by Iran and China. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the three countries accounted for more than half of the 211 journalists behind bars on 1 December.

Actress wins claim over false sex rumours

A US-based Chinese dissident website has been forced to apologise to Zhang Ziyi after repeatedly printing rumours that the actress was paid millions of dollars to sleep with Chinese officials.

Singer gets 35 years for sex offences

Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was jailed for 35 years yesterday for a string of child sex offences. The 36-year-old shook visibly as he was sentenced. Two accomplices, named only as Woman A and Woman B, were jailed for 14 and 16 years. MORE