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Life insurance companies in the country generated business worth over Rs 126m over the first nine months of fiscal year 2024/25.

Third quarter data released by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows 14 life insurance companies operating in the country sold 13.54m policies over the nine-month period, earning a total premium of Rs 126.18bn. This marks a growth of 14.62 percent compared to Rs 110.08bn that these companies had earned in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

These life insurers issued 507,615 policies and collected a total premium of Rs 17.46bn in the ninth month of the fiscal year (mid-March to mid-April). Similarly, three micro life insurance companies sold 70,863 policies, generating Rs 131.08m in premiums during the same period. The micro insurers have collected Rs 555.69m in premium in the nine-month period.

All 14 companies recorded business growth during the review period, data shows. Nepal Life led the market in terms of total premium collected, while Citizen Life and Rastriya Beema Company posted the highest growth rates. By mid-April, Nepal Life collected a total premium of Rs 33.01bn, up 12.1 percent from Rs 29.45bn in the same period last year. National Life ranked second with premium earnings of Rs 15.64bn, a 21.26 percent increase from last fiscal year’s Rs 12.89bn. LIC Nepal came third with its total premium rising by 9.39 percent to Rs 14.03bn from Rs 12.83bn in the nine-month period of the previous fiscal year.

By mid-April, Himalayan Life earned Rs 12.59bn in premiums, marking a modest growth of 2.16 percent compared to the same period last year. In contrast, Rastriya Jeevan Beema recorded a significant surge in business, with premium collections rising by 49.25 percent to reach Rs 8.16bn. Suryajyoti Life Insurance posted strong results as well, earning Rs 7.65bn, a 17.34 percent increase year-on-year. Similarly, Asian Life Insurance saw its premium income rise by 11.66 percent to Rs 6.46bn. Citizen Life also posted notable growth, collecting Rs 5.08bn in premiums, a 19.84 percent growth from the previous year.

Meanwhile, Sanima Reliance Life Insurance earned Rs 4.84bn, reflecting a 13.32 percent growth, while MetLife Insurance collected Rs 4.44bn, 7.52 percent more compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. IME Life also saw its premium earnings rise by 14.64 percent to Rs 3.77bn, while Reliable Nepal Life Insurance posted a robust 23.75 percent growth to Rs 3.69bn.

Prabhu Mahalaxmi saw its premium collections rise by 19.96 percent to Rs 3.67bn, while Sun Nepal Life earned Rs 3.08bn, marking a 10.62 percent year-on-year growth.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 700 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 191, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 189, 900 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 965 per tola.

The US Supreme Court has temporarily permitted President Donald Trump to impose a ban on transgender people serving in the military while legal challenges proceed, BBC reported.

Trump signed executive orders urging the Pentagon to enforce the policy, claiming that transgender identification conflicts with military discipline and readiness. A lower court ruled against the action citing a lack of evidence, but the administration requested the court to defer to military judgment.

The court issued a stay in a 5–4 ruling, with three liberal judges dissenting. Following the decision, the Pentagon announced that it will begin discharging transgender service members, according to BBC.

Trump also issued a supplementary order stating that the federal government will only recognize gender as male or female, based on the sex assigned at birth.

At least 17 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed Tuesday when an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced families near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Xinhua.

Rescuers are still combing the rubble, with additional casualties expected. Hospital personnel have reported a critical surge of injured. 

As stated by the Israeli military, the strike targeted a Hamas command center based on "precise intelligence."

Since Israel started operations on March 18, nearly 2,500 Palestinians have been killed, raising the total number of deaths since October 2023 to more than 52,000, Xinhua reported.

Canadian PM Mark Carney met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss trade and tariffs. While both leaders described the meeting as constructive, they remained divided on key issues, Xinhua reported.

Carney dismissed Trump's frequent proposal that Canada could become the "51st state," calling the idea unhelpful. He stressed the need of respecting both nations' sovereignty and advocated for further negotiations.

Despite pleas for tariffs to be lifted, Trump confirmed that duties will remain, particularly on Canadian vehicles, steel, and aluminum. Carney stated that conversations would continue ahead of the G7 summit in Alberta, as stated by Xinhua.

The ongoing trade tensions have impacted Canadian exports, with bilateral trade declining in March, according to Statistics Canada. Carney’s visit marks his first international trip since assuming office last week following a federal election.

In a thrilling encounter Gujarat Titans beat the Mumbai Indians by three wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in the Indian Premier League 2025 on Tuesday. In a rain-interrupted game Titans chased 147/7 from 19 runs, winning on the DLS method of the final delivery, The Indian Express reported.

Earlier, Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and opted and bowl first. Will Jacks’ half-century helped Mumbai to get to 155/8 from 20 overs. Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers for the Titans with two wickets.

With the result Titans have won eight games from 11 and go to the top of the table with 16 points. Meanwhile Mumbai Indians are at fourth spot with 14 points from 12 games, according to The Indian Express.

Inter Milan has another Champions League final to look forward to. Once the players catch their breath, that is, Associated Press reported.

In the end it took extra time, two astonishing comebacks and 13 goals to separate Barcelona and Inter and see the Italian club — which was a mere seconds away from elimination — prevail 7-6 on aggregate after winning another rollercoaster encounter 4-3 on Tuesday.

Substitute Davide Frattesi was the extra-time star for Inter, firing home in the 99th minute to leave the Barcelona players slumped to the ground while his Nerazzurri teammates — including those on the bench — were racing to celebrate with him.

“I don’t know what happened tonight. I’m lucky I managed to finish the game, I screamed so much (in celebration) that I saw everything black,” Frattesi told Italian broadcaster Sky, according to Associted Press.

China announced new stimulus measures on Wednesday to support its economy ahead of high-stakes trade talks with the United States this weekend in Switzerland, Reuters reported.

The central bank will lower its benchmark seven-day reverse repo rate by 10 basis points to 1.40 percent on May 8 and drop the reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points on May 15, pumping 1trn yuan ($138bn) of liquidity.

The move comes as statistics showed China's factory activity dropped at the quickest rate in 16 months, raising concerns about tariffs, job losses, and deflation, according to Reuters.

Regulators also promised targeted assistance, such as increased stock market access for insurers, tariff relief, and new low-cost lending tools for technology, aged care, and small enterprises.