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A leak of toxic chlorine gas at Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba has killed 13 people and injured more than 260 others, state media report, BBC reported.

Authorities said a chemical storage container fell while being transported as a result of a crane malfunction.

CCTV footage showed the container being hoisted into the air and then suddenly dropping on to a ship and exploding.

A large cloud of bright yellow gas is seen spreading across the ground, sending people running for safety.

State media said on Monday night that 123 of the injured were still being treated at local hospitals for chemical exposure. Some were reportedly in a critical condition.

Chlorine is a chemical used in industry and in household cleaning products. It is a yellow-green gas at normal temperature and pressure, but is usually pressurised and cooled for storage and shipment, according to BBC.

When chlorine is inhaled, swallowed or comes into contact with skin, it reacts with water to produce acids that damage cells in the body. Inhaling high levels of chlorine causes fluid to build up in the lungs - a life-threatening condition known as pulmonary oedema.

Residents of Aqaba city, which is 16km (10 miles) north of the port, were advised to stay inside and close windows and doors following the leak, which happened at 15:15 (12:15 GMT) on Monday. 

Aqaba's southern beach, which is only 7km away and is a popular tourist destination, was also evacuated as a precaution, AFP news agency reported.

After several hours Minister of State for Media Affairs Faisal Shboul declared that there was no longer any risk to the city and its residents.

The Civil Defence Department sent specialist teams to the port to deal with the leak and clean-up operation. 

Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh flew to Aqaba and visited a hospital that was treating some of the injured.

He ordered Interior Minister Mazen Faraya to oversee a transparent investigation into the "regrettable" tragedy and to guarantee "all resources to ensure the total security of workers at the ports and all necessary precautions in relation to hazardous materials".

The deputy director of Aqaba's port told AlMamlaka TV that an "iron rope" carrying the container "broke" while it was being loaded on to a vessel, BBC reported.

The container was filled with between 25 and 30 tonnes of chlorine and was being exported to Djibouti.

Nepal reported 44 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 852 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 38 returned positive. Likewise, 946 people underwent antigen tests, of which six were tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 17 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 229 active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index plunged by 11.82 points to close at 1,921.31 points on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index fell by 3. 22 points to close at 372. 60 points.

A total of 3,037,680 units of shares of 230 companies were traded for Rs 1. 05 billion.

Likewise, all sub-indices saw red in today’s market except for Life Insurance and Banking.

Meanwhile, CYC Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9.99 percent. Likewise, Laxmi Equity Fund was the top loser with its price dropped by 5. 73 percent. 

At the end of the day, total market civilization stands at Rs 2. 73 trillion.

A traffic policeman brutally assaulted a doctor in Lalitpur.

An on-duty traffic policeman assaulted doctor Kul Bahadur Ghising at Kusunti In Lalitpur on Sunday evening.

The victim's relative said that Tamang sustained serious injuries on his mouth. He is undergoing treatment at the Lalitpur-based Alka Hospital.

According to the Traffic Police Office, Satdobato, Tamang was beaten up by Rajendra Thapa and the process to take action against him has been taken ahead.

Saying that Thapa assaulted Tamang while he was walking on the footpath, kith and kin of Tamang demanded stern action against Thapa and also the treatment expenses.

Incessant rain since this morning inundated around 40 houses in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City.

Locals have been left panic stricken after the flooded Tyangra River and Kheti River gushed into the settlements.

The main bazaar area has been inundated due to torrential rainfall.

A dozen settlements in ward 4, 5, 9, 10 and 12 of Itahari have been deluged.

The flooded Tyangra River also obstructed the Highway.

DSP Khagendra Khadka of the Area Police Office, Itahari said that 40 houses have been damaged owing to the floods.

Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav said that Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel have been deployed to divert the river.

A US Navy aircraft's flight through the Taiwan Strait last weekdemonstrated a US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the US military said on Tuesday (June 28), after China complained it endangered peace and stability, Reuters reported.

China said it had sent aircraft to monitor and warn the P-8A anti-submarine aircraft as it flew over the sensitive waterway on Friday.

"US Navy vessels and aircraft routinely interact with foreign warships and aircraft while operating throughout the region," the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.

"All interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation," it said.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows including within the Taiwan Strait. The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

The fly-through came after Taiwan scrambled fighters twice last week to warn away two large-scale incursions by China's air force into Taiwan's air defence zone, according to Reuters.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified by force, if necessary.

This month, China said it "has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait" and called it "a false claim when certain countries call the Taiwan Strait 'international waters'".

Both the United States and Taiwan have rebuffed that, saying they do consider it international waters.

In recent years, US warships, and on occasion those from allied nations such as Britain and Canada, have sailed through the strait, drawing China's anger, Reuters reported.

Nepal Communist Party Ekta Rastriya Abhiyan Coordinator Bamdev Gautam has decided to form a new political party. 

Gautam is organizing a press conference in the Reporters’ Club at 3 pm today for the same. 

Ekta Rastriya Abhiyan Publicity Department Chief Nimkanta Pandey said that a new party will be announced today.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said that the meeting will be held in Baluwatar at 3 pm today.

It has been learnt that the meeting will discuss contemporary issues and daily administrative works.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba had reconstituted the Cabinet by four ministers and one state minister of the CPN (Unified Socialist).

This will be the first Cabinet meeting of the new ministers representing CPN (Unified Socialist) in the government.

Similarly, the Janata Samajbadi Party has also decided to recall all the ministers from the government.

A meeting of the Upendra Yadav faction held on Monday evening made the decision to his effect.