SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Tuesday in its preliminary investigative report that four key bolts were "missing" when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in midair on Jan. 5.

"Overall, the observed damage patterns and absence of contact damage or deformation around holes associated with the vertical movement arrestor bolts and upper guide track bolts in the upper guide fittings, hinge fittings, and recovered aft lower hinge guide fitting indicate that four bolts that prevent upward movement of the MED plug were missing before the MED plug moved upward off the stop pads," the NTSB said in the report. (US-Boeing-NTSB)

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CAIRO -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians on Tuesday, the Egyptian presidency said.

Blinken, who arrived in Cairo as part of a regional tour to consolidate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, also expressed U.S. support for the strategic partnership with Egypt and its role in promoting peace and stability in the region, presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement. (Egypt-US-Gaza Conflict Discussion)

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CAIRO -- Arab League (AL) secretary-general slammed Tuesday some countries' suspension of funding to the UN relief agency for Palestinians, calling it "immoral" and dangerous.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit said halting the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) not only seriously impacts the Palestinians but also "endangers the regional security and stability." (Egypt-Arab League-Gaza)

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SANTIAGO -- The death toll from the forest fires affecting the region of Valparaiso in central Chile has risen to 131, the country's Legal Medical Service (SML) reported on Tuesday.

The agency said in a statement that 35 of the deceased have been identified, while medical and technical teams have performed 82 autopsies. According to the statement, eight deceased individuals have been handed over to their families. (Chile-Forest fires-Death) Enditem

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