Key Events and Achievements in Nepal

COP-24 Conference 2018

• Date: December 2–14, 2018
• Location: Katowice, Poland
• Organized by: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Nepal’s Participation: President Bidya Devi Bhandari attended
• Participants: Approximately 200 countries
• Presided by: Michał Kurtyka
• Next Conference: Scheduled for 2019 in Chile
• Note: The conference focused on implementing the Paris Agreement, with the Katowice Rulebook being a key outcome.

67th Miss Universe 2018

• Winner: Catriona Gray (Philippines)
• 1st Runner-Up: Tamaryn Green (South Africa)
• Nepal’s Participant: Manita Devkota (reached Top 10)
• Total Participating Countries: 94
• Location: Bangkok, Thailand

68th Miss World 2018

• Winner: Vanessa Ponce de León (Mexico)
• 1st Runner-Up: Nicolene Limsnukan (Thailand)
• Nepal’s Participant: Shrinkhala Khatiwada (reached Top 12, won Multimedia Award and Beauty with a Purpose)
• Total Participating Countries: 118
• Location: Sanya, China

Former Prime Minister Dr. Tulsi Giri

• Date of Passing: December 18, 2018 (2075 Paush 3)
• Age: 93 years
• Notable Facts:
  • Served as Nepal’s Prime Minister three times
  • Youngest Prime Minister in Nepal’s history
  • Known as the “Dhokebaj Neta” (traitor leader) in Nepal’s political history

Nepal-Cambodia Air Agreement

• Date: November 29, 2018 (2075 Mangsir 13)
• Details: Cambodia became the 39th country to sign an air agreement with Nepal
• Previous Countries: 38th - New Zealand, 37th - Vietnam

NASA’s InSight Lander on Mars

• Launch Date: May 5, 2018
• Landing Date: November 26, 2018
• Landing Location: Elysium Planitia, Mars
• Distance Covered: Approximately 458 million km
• Objective: Study Mars’ seismic activity and uncover mysteries from billions of years ago

First Social Security Day in Nepal

• Date: November 27, 2018 (2075 Mangsir 11)
• Decision Date: November 19, 2018 (2075 Mangsir 3) by the Council of Ministers
• Slogan: “Join the Social Security Scheme, Secure a Safe Future”
• Occasion: Launch of the Contribution-Based Social Security Scheme

Jana Andolan Gold Medal 2075

• Recipients: Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya
• Previous Recipient (2074): Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
• Details: Awarded annually by the Ganesh Man and Jana Andolan Martyrs Foundation to individuals contributing significantly to Nepal’s democratic movement

World’s Longest Mega Bridge

• Inauguration: October 23, 2018
• Inaugurated by: Chinese President Xi JinPing
• Length: 55 km (34 miles)
• Connects: Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Macau
• Note: World’s longest sea-crossing bridge

9th Man Booker International Prize 2018

• Winner: Olga Tokarczuk (Poland)
• Work: Flights (translated to English by Jennifer Croft)
• Prize Amount: £50,000
• Awarded by: Man Group, UK
• Details: Recognizes the best translated works into English annually

Top Taxpayers in Nepal (2074/75 BS)

• Company: Surya Nepal
• Individual: Siddhartha Shamsher JBR
• Industry: Himal Power
• Agriculture: Pro Biotech Pvt. Ltd. (Nimbus)
• Cooperatives & Microfinance: Chhimek Microfinance Company
• Banking & Financial Institutions: Nabil Bank
• Insurance: Nepal Reinsurance Company
• Information Technology: F1 Soft
• Tourism: Taragaon Regency (Hyatt Hotel)
• Trade: Sipradi Trading
• Export: Dabur Nepal
• Turnover (NPR 400 million): Nepal Investment Pvt. Ltd.
• Turnover (NPR 400–800 million): Securities Board
• Health & Education: Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital
• Highest VAT Payer (up to 2073/74): Ghorahi Cement

Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2019

• Source: Travel Guide Book, USA
• Kathmandu’s Rank: 5th
• List:
  1. Copenhagen, Denmark
  2. Shenzhen, China
  3. Novi Sad, Serbia
  4. Miami, Florida, USA
  5. Kathmandu, Nepal
  6. Mexico City, Mexico
  7. Dakar, Senegal
  8. Seattle, Washington, USA
  9. Zadar, Croatia
  10. Meknes, Morocco

63rd Ballon d’Or Award 2018

• Date: December 4, 2018
• Men’s Winner: Luka Modrić (Croatia)
• Women’s Winner: Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
• Kopa Trophy Winner: Kylian Mbappé (France)
• Details: Award distribution began in 1956; Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won it 5 times each

Integrity Idol Nepal 2018

• Winner: Ram Bahadur Kuruwang Limbu
• Position: Chief District Officer, Bardiya
• Details: Awarded to competent, honest, and dutiful civil servants since 2014
• 2017 Winner: Shesh Narayan Poudel

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018

• Winner: Australia (by 8 wickets)
• Runner-Up: England
• Host: West Indies
• Participating Countries: 10
• Next Host: Australia (2020)

11th CNN Hero of the Year 2018

• Winner: Ricardo Pun-Chong (Peru)
• 2017 Winner: Amy Wright
• Details: Award began in 2007; prize amount $50,000; awarded by CNN, USA

National ID Card Distribution in Nepal

• First Recipient: Bhagwati Devi Bhandari, 101 years old, Falgun, Panchthar
• Date: November 19, 2018 (2075 Mangsir 3)
• Distribution Started in: Panchthar
• Printing Company: Safran Identity and Security Company, France

Support: Asian Development Bank (ADB)