Submit your Article

An armed man who held a bank hostage for more than six hours in Beirut because he could not withdraw savings has been hailed a hero by the public, BBC reported.

Banks in Lebanon have put tight rules on how much money people can access, amid a deep economic crisis.

The suspect entered the bank with a rifle, poured petrol and demanded his money for hospital bills, AFP reported.

His actions captured public support - with cheering crowds gathering outside and chanting: "You are a hero."

The stand-off eventually ended peacefully with no injuries, after negotiators struck an agreement allowing the suspect to receive $35,000 (£29,000) of his savings upfront, LBC TV channel reported.

Police escorted the hostages and suspect away from the Federal Bank branch near Hamra Street, in the west of the city. Officials have not yet said whether the man will face charges.

According to LBC, the suspect's family were in dire need of their savings, with some family members in hospital.

The suspect's brother told journalists: "My brother has $210,000 in the bank and wants to get just $5,500 to pay hospital bills."

And his wife and brother, who were outside the bank, said that "everybody should do the same" to get access to what is "rightfully theirs".

There has been widespread anger in Lebanon over the strict controls over people's bank accounts, which came into force in 2019. There are also restrictions on transfers of money abroad, according to BBC.

The country is in the midst of one of the world's most severe economic crises in modern times - and its impact is being felt even more as the cost of living spirals and there are shortages of wheat and medicines.

Outside the branch, protesters had chanted: "Down with the rule of the banks".

"Similar incidents keep happening," George al-Hajj, who heads Lebanon's bank employees' union, told AFP. In a separate incident in January, an angry customer took dozens of hostages at a bank in the Bekaa valley, demanding to be able to take his money out in US dollars.

"Depositors want their money, and unfortunately their anger explodes in the face of bank employees because they cannot reach the management," he added.

Lebanon's local currency has lost more than 90% of its value since the onset of the crisis - and the UN says four fifths of the population are living in poverty, BBC reported.

Nepal recorded 815 new Covid-19 cases and five deaths on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 411 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 465 returned positive. Likewise, 2,123 people underwent antigen tests, of which 350 tested positive.

As of today, there are 5, 869 active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 18. 96 points to close at 2,037.92 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4.  08 points to close at 391. 67 points.

A total of 6,298,638 units of the shares of 223 companies were traded for Rs 1. 76 billion.

Meanwhile, Himalayan Hydropower Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Unilever Nepal Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 23 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 91 trillion.

Indian companies are using Asian currencies more often to pay for Russian coal imports, according to customs documents and industry sources, avoiding the US dollar and cutting the risk of breaching Western sanctions against Moscow, Reuters reported.

Reuters previously reported on a large Indian coal deal involving the Chinese yuan, but the customs data underlines how non-dollar settlements are becoming commonplace.

India has aggressively stepped up purchases of Russian oil and coal since the war in Ukraine began, helping to cushion Moscow from the effects of sanctions and allowing New Delhi to secure raw material at discounts compared to supplies from other countries.

Russia became India’s third-largest coal supplier in July, with imports rising by over a fifth compared with June to a record 2.06 million tonnes. In June, Indian buyers paid for at least 742,000 tonnes using currencies other than the US dollar, according to a summary of deals compiled by a trade source based in India using customs documents and shared with Reuters, equal to 44% of the 1.7 million tonnes of Russian imports that month.

Indian steelmakers and cement manufacturers have bought Russian coal using the United Arab Emirates dirham, Hong Kong dollar, yuan and euro in recent weeks, according to the customs documents separately reviewed by Reuters.

The yuan accounted for 31% of the non-US dollar payments for Russian coal in June and the Hong Kong dollar for 28%. The euro made up under a quarter and the Emirati dirham around one-sixth, the data from the trade source showed.

India’s Ministry of Finance, which administers the customs board, did not respond to emails seeking comment confirming the documents. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry declined to comment.

The Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal, the umbrella organization of community forest users' groups, on Thursday staged a demonstration in Kathmandu demanding annulment of Forest Regulation 2079.

Saying that the Regulation was against the constitution, federalism, Forest Act 2076, community forest rights and women rights, the federation staged the demonstration at Maitighar in Kathmandu demanding annulment of the Forest Regulation 2079.

Federation Chairman Bharati Pathak said that they were compelled to stage the protest after the government brought the Regulation to put the community forest consumers, who contributed to the forest sector, in difficulty.

The federation has been staging demonstrations in district, province and central level to mount pressure on the government to scrap the Regulation.

People displaced after the Saptakoshi river coursed through settlements in Udayapur have started falling sick.

The people, who have been living in tents arranged by the government, have started suffering from viral fever.

Belka Municipal Hospital medical superintendent Dr Bishal Rai said that the people are believed to have been taken ill by drinking contaminated water and unhealthy food.

He said that the children and elderly people have been affected the most.

Dr Rai said that they have been providing treatment to the people by going to their tents.

Apart from that, over two dozen people visit the hospital on a daily basis.

“Most of the people are found falling sick by drinking contaminated water and unhealthy food,” Dr Rai said, adding, “They are suffering from high fever, diarrhea and vomiting.”

“People have fallen sick as the food products provided by the government to the flood displaced people are found to be of poor quality,” flood victim Manisha Majhi said.

Locals said that though the high-ranking officials have visited the area, no one has shown interest in resolving the problem.

So far, 1, 051 people of 109 families were displaced after the floods gushed into the human settlements, SP Gyanendra Prasad Phuyal said.

They have been kept in Koshi Janata Secondary School and in the building of the Red Cross in Bandanda among other places.

Municipal Chief Ashok Karki said that 2, 500 families were displaced after Koshi river entered the settlements.

Query

I am a 21-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder five years ago. I have been taking medicines since and though my condition has improved, I still have a problem with my abandonment issues, one of the BPD’s symptoms. I constantly feel like my loved ones are abandoning me, when that is patently untrue. Even if someone does not pick up my call, I start thinking that I am being ignored. This constant need for attention and validation is annoying. Despite being fully aware of this, I am still unable to shake it off. How do I convince myself? —R.M 

Answered by Tashi Gurung, Counseling Psychologist, Happy Minds

I appreciate the fact that you are aware about what is happening to you. Not all are able to identify, let alone accept, what is happening to them. Many are in denial. So you should give yourself some credit for being aware.

Now about you feeling abandoned, I suggest you validate your emotions. Most of the time we try to suppress our feelings and avoid addressing them. So when you feel this way next time, ask yourself this: Would you ignore someone who is feeling terrible and tell them their emotions aren’t valid? You wouldn’t. Rather, you would sit them down and have a deep conversation, show them kindness and compassion. It is necessary for you to treat yourself the same way. Be kind to yourself the way you would be to others. 

You have mentioned how even a small issue makes you feel anxious and abandoned. In this case, have a conversation with your loved one. Rather than being vague about it, be precise. Tell them what you want. For instance, I believe the reason you panic when someone does not pick up your call is because of the uncertainty involved. You are not certain about when you will get a call back, or why your call isn’t being answered. In such a case, you can explain to your loved ones about how you feel and maybe find a common ground that is comfortable to both of you. Perhaps you can ask them to leave a text message saying when they will be free, or when they can accept your call—something to give you a sense of certainty. 

Another thing, rather than blaming others for ignoring you, explain to them how their actions or lack thereof make you feel. It could be a way to start a meaningful conversation, rather than turning into an argument. 

If you find it difficult to employ these practices, you can seek professional help. Make an appointment with a counselor who can instruct you. There are also mindfulness exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy that could help you. 

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 96, 600 per tola today.

The yellow metal was traded at Rs 97, 000 per tola on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 96, 100 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,225 per tola today.