Here is the edited version of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s interview with Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) about COVID-19, the government’s preparation to tackle this crisis and a host of other issues at his official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday.

While reports claim that individuals with the symptoms are not being entertained by private hospitals triggering a riskier and chaotic situation, the government's coordination is seen not very effective to handle the national crisis. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali spoke to Republica's Anjali Subedi on these issues. Excerpt:

Nepal and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Ever since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the two countries have enjoyed cordial relation based on goodwill, mutual cooperation, and friendship. A Foreign Secretary level bilateral consultation mechanism has been established to review the bilateral relations comprehensively and increase cooperation between the two countries in different fields.

Ashoke SJB Rana is the CEO of Himalayan Bank Ltd, with almost three decades of banking experience. Republica caught up with Rana to talk about advantages and disadvantages of cashless economy, among other issues. Excerpts:

A bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s (HFAC) Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, was in Nepal earlier this week. The four-member delegation that included Representative George Holding, Member of the House Ways & Means Committee; Staff Director at the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation Nikole Burroughs and Senior Professional Staff Member at HFAC Sajit Gandhi held meetings with government officials, civil society leaders, staff at the US Embassy, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation among others. On the sideline of their visit to Nepal, Nagarik Daily’s Guna Raj Luitel and Republica’s Kosh Raj Koirala talked to Ami Bera to learn more about US foreign policy on Nepal, latest controversies about the MCC and other issues pertaining to the Nepal-US relations. Excerpts:

Daraz Nepal is a company fully owned by Alibaba Group and runs e-commerce platform to provide wide-range of products under a single roof. After undergoing a massive app redesign in 2018, and further developments in 2019, Daraz said that it has witnessed huge growth. Daraz had a number of campaigns in 2019. In an interview with Republica, Jashisha Gupta, chief financial officer of Daraz Nepal, explains about e-commerce business in Nepal, Daraz's business model and legal provisions, among other issues.

MS Group has spread its wings since its inception as a trading house catering to commodity trading in the private sector. It has now ventured into manufacturing and the service sector. The group has been successful in operating an international hotel brand, Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott and plans to further expand in the country to serve a wide range of customers.

Nepal-UK relations go back to centuries and the UK remains Nepal’s one of the largest donors and development partners. At the same time, the British Gurkhas have often expressed grievances against the UK government over pension issue. Why does the issue remain unresolved? How will the UK support Nepal in its federalization process and Visit Nepal 2020? How is the UK watching Nepali politics, including the issue of transitional justice process? Nicola Pollitt, British Ambassador to Nepal, shared her perspectives with Republica’s Subhash Ghimire and Mahabir Paudyal on a range of issues.

Kosh Raj Koirala talked to Director for Asia and Oceania in the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Thierry Mathou, who was in Kathmandu last week to hold political consultations with Nepali leaders and sign the MoU.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri is returning home from Kathmandu next week, and he will be retiring from Indian Foreign Service as well.  Puri was largely seen as an important figure in helping improve Nepal-India ties.