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Michaels Grill might not be the most popular restaurant in town but it seems like everyone knows about it or has at least heard about it, especially after the recent lockdown. In its new location at mid-Baneshwor (opposite APEX college), Michaels Grill offers both indoor and outdoor seating in a lo-fi, homely ambience that makes its customers, mostly youngsters, feel at home.

As for the food, the restaurant stays true to its name and serves a delightful assortment of meaty grills and vegetarian choices too. MG mainly specializes in sekuwas (local-style barbecued meat) and the rest of the menu is like your regular multi-cuisine cuisine, at prices almost as affordable as Kathmandu’s street food. Dedicated parking for both two- and four-wheelers makes this a favorite joint of many.

Michael Grills
Mid-Baneswor

Chef’s special:
Sekuwa
Bhatti Spicy Wings
Michael Peri Peri Rolls

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm
Meal for two: Nrs 500-1,000
Cards: Accepted. 
Reservations: 9885191223

Team Europe (the EU, its institutions and all 27 Member States) is on track to exceed its initial goal of sharing 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with low and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. It now foresees sharing 200 million doses by the end of 2021.

Team Europe had initially announced plans to share at least 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with low and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. President Ursula von der  had announced that most of the vaccines would be contributed through COVAX.

“Team Europe takes its responsibility in helping the world fight the virus, everywhere. Vaccination is key – that's why it is essential to ensure access to Covid-19 vaccines to countries worldwide. We will be sharing more than 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with low and middle-income countries by the end of this year,” von der Leyen said. 

Former winners of the Miss Nepal pageant, in association with DM Foundation, a non-profit, are introducing a scholarship program under which students who have lost their parents or guardians to Covid-19 will get grants to continue their studies. Those who wish to apply for the scholarship can do so online (ims-np.com/fmnw-scholarship-form).

A promotional video for this initiative has also been made in collaboration with YouTuber Sisan Baniya, photojournalist Sulav Shrestha, and photo company Creative D Studio.

Former pageant winners Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Malina Joshi, Evana Manandhar, Nikita Chandak, Usha Khadgi, Sadichha Shrestha, Sugarika KC and Anuskha Shrestha are among those promoting the cause.

Canalys, the leading global market research firm, launched its Q2 global smartphone market report in which Xiaomi claimed the second spot with a 17 percent share and an 83 percent year-on-year growth, surpassing Apple.

According to the report, Xiaomi is now transforming its business model from a challenger to an incumbent, with initiatives such as channel partner consolidation and more careful management in the open market. Canalys commented that Xiaomi’s new goal is to displace Samsung to become the world’s largest vendor.

Xiaomi’s global expansion as well as transformation in new retail channels have been an important driving force in helping the company become the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. According to the latest global smartphone data Xiaomi is expanding fast in overseas markets, reaching over 300 percent year-on-year growth in Latin America, 150 percent in Africa and over 50 percent in Western Europe.

Colors of Shrawan: A shopkeeper works on a new pote, a necklace made from small beads sewn together on a thread, at the Pote Bazaar in Indrachowk, New Road, Kathmandu. The sales of pote and bangles increase many-fold in the Nepali month of Shrawan, as Hindu women all over the country adorn themselves in green and fast through the month | Pratik Rayamajhi 

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Renault Nepal announced the price of its all-new Kiger model and also started booking for the vehicle at its 15 outlets spread across the country. The starting price of Kiger is Rs 2.8 million

Renault Kiger will be offered in 1.0L version in both MT and AMT options. Customers can choose from four available trims–RXE, RXL, RXT & RXZ. Each version is built considering the customers’ requirements and needs in the segment and has been attractively priced across all trims, the company said in a statement.

On the accessories and personalization front, customers can choose from a smart range of specially curated accessory packs which take Kiger to the next level. There are five exclusive personalization packs: SUV, Attractive, Essential, Smart, Smart Plus, including tech accessories such as wireless charger and air purifier.

The outgoing Oli government has given yet another exemption to Smart Telecom, which owes the government over Rs 6 billion in taxes. Smart Telecom is yet to clear its frequency and license renewal fees. The last cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on July 12 gave Smart Telecom a six-month extension to clear its arrears.

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) had last year decided to cancel the license of Smart Telecom, which had failed to clear its dues even after repeated extensions of payment deadlines over the past four years. The Oli government had earlier given a deadline of February this year, which was then extended to July. Now, the deadline has been extended again to January 2022.

Smart Telecom had filed an application with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on June 26, demanding yet another extension. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on July 12 decided to extend the term by six months, also informing NTA about the decision on the same day.

The Cabinet decision also states that government’s prior approval will be mandatory for the sale of shares and assets of Smart Telecom.

According to the NTA payment plans, the company had to pay a frequency fee of Rs 598.86 million in the first installment, Rs 832.3 million in the second, Rs 774 million in the third, Rs 715.6 million in the fourth, and Rs 657.2 million in the fifth. Besides the set installments, Smart Telecom also has to pay another Rs 1.25 billion in license renewal fees.

Amita Suman, a Nepal-born British actress, recently gave a critically acclaimed performance in the hit Netflix series ‘Shadow and Bone’. Suman, born in Bedhihari, Parsa, had moved to England at the age of seven. Since graduating from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in 2018, she’s starred in popular shows such as ‘The Outpost’ and ‘Doctor Who’.

In ‘Shadow and Bone’—based on a bestselling trilogy with the same title set in a fictional universe called Grishaverse—Suman plays Inej Ghafa, a child acrobat kidnapped and sold into sex slavery but who works as a spy for a gang called The Dregs. She portrays one of the six main protagonists in the book.

The series has already been renewed for a second season and Suman is set to return. Fans of the character have praised Inej’s casting and the actress’s performance. Suman’s role in the show will grow more significant with each season as the story progresses. The 24-year-old actress has been using her Instagram page—with more than 434k followers—to raise global awareness about the effects of Covid-19 in Nepal.