'Loose hardware' found on more Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 planes after mid-flight blowout

Alaska Airlines has said more "loose hardware" has been found on some of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet of aircraft.

It follows the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounding all 171 737 MAX 9 planes operated by US airlines after a window and chunk of fuselage blew out of one Alaska Airlines aircraft on 5 January shortly after it took off from an airport in Portland, Oregon.

Six crew members were seriously injured after the door plug - used to replace an exit that would be installed on planes configured to carry more passengers - tore off around six minutes into the flight to Ontario, California, causing depressurisation and forcing pilots to turn back.

In its latest statement the airline said: "Initial reports from our technicians indicate some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft".

It added that all aircraft were being "thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing".

On Monday, United Airlines reported it has found loose bolts on plug doors on multiple 737 Max 9 aircraft during inspections.

South Korea agrees historic ban on dog meat industry

South Korea has voted to ban the centuries-old dog meat industry - with campaigners calling it "history in the making".

Hundreds of thousands of dogs are farmed and killed in South Korea each year, but attitudes have changed in recent times and demand is at an all-time low.

The ban will make the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs and dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027.

There will be penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30m KRW (£18,000).

Setting up new dog farms, slaughterhouses and cooking and processing facilities will be banned immediately.

However, the bill does not stipulate penalties for eating dog meat.

More than 100 flood warnings in place as UK shivers through more cold and frost

More than 100 flood warnings remain in place following last week’s Storm Henk deluge as large parts of the UK endured a cold, frosty morning.

The Environment Agency (EA) said 126 flood warnings remain in England where flooding is expected, including a flood warning on the River Thames southwest of London in Wraysbury.

The EA says flooding of property and roads was expected around Friary Road, The Embankment, Ousley Road and Riverside areas.

The majority of flood warnings are in the south of England and the Midlands, particularly through Reading, Slough, Oxford, Salisbury and further north in Cheltenham and Peterborough.

UK General Election: Rishi Sunak is falling behind in the polls

Recent polling suggests that the conservatives are falling behind in the polls with the Conservatives have around 25.5% support from the public whereas Labour is seeing 43.3% of the public backing them, so could this be the beginning of a trend towards a general election?

Matthew Price, Research Executive at deltapoll.co.uk explains to Hugh Murphy, GMN Journalist. 

South Korean opposition leader stabbed during visit to airport site

Police said as you can see an unidentified man approached Lee Jae-myung for an autograph before lunging in with a 18cm long knife he had bought online. 

Jeongmin Kim an Editorial Director at KOREA PRO and a Lead Correspondent at NK News explains to Hugh Murphy, GMN Journalist some of the key moments and what the future looks like for the opposition leader.

Knife Crime: The Rising Epidemic

New statistics highlight an dramatic increase in Knife Crime particularly in London and the epidemic appears to show no sign of slowing down.

Patrick Green | CEO of The Ben Kinsella Trust explains to Hugh Murphy, GMN Journalist some of the key issues and how the foundations of funding and crime prevention is being failed by those in power.

Also during the interview we discuss: How a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder of 16-year-old Harry Pitman in north London on New Year's Eve.

Justice secretary in talks with senior judges to 'expedite' appeals of those convicted in Post Office scandal

The justice secretary is meeting with senior judges today to discuss ways to accelerate the appeals of those convicted in the Horizon scandal, with cabinet minister Mel Stride saying an announcement could come this week.

The government is facing fresh calls to act following the airing of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office which returned the spotlight to the scandal.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 Post Office branch managers were convicted after the faulty Horizon software made it look like money was missing from their shops.