The News Matrix: Thursday 2 January 2014

Top JP Morgan staff earned £2.1m each

More than 100 top staff at JP Morgan Chase, America’s biggest bank, earned an average of almost £2.1m each in 2012, it emerged yesterday, reigniting the debate over executive pay. The bank reported net income for the year of $21bn (£12.7bn) despite the fallout from multibillion-dollar losses from the “London Whale” scandal. MORE

President declares state of emergency

The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, declared a state of emergency in two regions of the country last night, according to the government’s Twitter feed. The announcement came as government officials and rebels meet for peace talks in Ethiopia after weeks of fighting. MORE

Several missing after heavy storms

Several people across the country are missing as a result of ferocious weather, including a 27-year-old man in Cornwall feared dead after being swept out to sea. Storms also brought flooding misery to home owners as forecasters warned of more strong winds and heavy rain. MORE

Putin visits bombing victims in Volgograd

Vladimir Putin has made a pre-dawn visit to Volgograd, the city reeling from two suicide bombings this week, bringing gestures of sympathy for the victims and calling the incidents an “abomination”. The bombings at the main railway station and on a city trolley bus killed 34 people.

Web security leak ‘to improve security’

Secret details of 4.6 million users of photo-messaging service Snapchat were posted online yesterday, after a website, SnapchatDB, released the database with two digits of phone numbers blanked. The aim, the group said, was to “raise awareness” of security vulnerability.

‘British Forrest Gump’ muggers return gear

The “British Forrest Gump”, who was mugged during a 5,000-mile run across Canada, has had his possessions returned. Jamie McDonald, 27, said the men who attacked him in Banff, Alberta, seemed to have had a “change of mind”.

Stag attack victim has throat operation

A woman gored by a stag has had an operation to repair her windpipe. Kate Stone, 44, from Cambridge, was injured by the animal near Fort William in the early hours of Monday. She was taken to Belford hospital and later airlifted to Glasgow’s Southern General hospital.

Condition of Ariel Sharon worsens

The condition of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a comatose state since 2006, deteriorated yesterday. The 85-year-old, who was incapacitated by a stroke, was reportedly suffering from a renal condition.

Whistleblower is hit by online attack

A whistleblower who helped expose failings at Stafford Hospital has been attacked on Facebook and Twitter after being awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list. Posts accused Julie Bailey of “wrecking” health services in Stafford.