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US President Donald Trump has held what he described as a "very good" hour-long phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, a day after speaking to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, BBC reported.

Zelensky said afterwards that he believed that "lasting peace can be achieved this year" under Trump's leadership.

Possible US ownership of Ukraine's nuclear power plants was also discussed, the White House said, although Zelensky later stated this was only about the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia facility.

The tone of the call seems to be in contrast to Zelensky's visit to the White House last month, in which the two leaders - along with US Vice-President JD Vance - were involved in a tense exchange.

Wednesday marked the first time the two men have spoken since the meeting in the Oval Office - although since then, their teams have met in Saudi Arabia and negotiated a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

While it is backed by Ukraine and the US, Putin rejected the proposal for a widespread pause in the conflict during his phone call with the US president on Tuesday.

During his conversation with Trump, Zelensky said he was open to a partial ceasefire involving a halt on strikes on energy infrastructure, rail and port facilities that could be established quickly - but the Ukrainian president warned his country would retaliate if Moscow violated the terms of the ceasefire.

"I understand that until we agree [with Russia], until there is a corresponding document on even a partial ceasefire, I think that everything will fly," he said, referring to drones and missiles.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the call was aimed at aligning Ukraine and Russia "in terms of their requests and needs", adding that ceasefire efforts were on track.

Later, in a more detailed statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had agreed to help Ukraine source additional air defence systems, particularly in Europe.

The two leaders "agreed to share information closely between their defence staffs as the battlefield situation evolved", he said, according to BBC.

Rubio's statement also said Trump and Zelensky had discussed "Ukraine's electrical supply and nuclear power plants" with Trump saying "the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise".

"American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure," Rubio's statement added.

Zelensky said the topic of power plants had been raised, but that they had only mentioned the Zaporizhzhia facility.

The developments will come as a relief for Zelensky, who described his conversation with Trump as "positive", "frank", and "very substantive", during an online briefing to journalists on Wednesday.

"We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year," he wrote on X.

During the video call with reporters, Zelensky said he believed Putin would not agree to a full ceasefire while Ukrainian troops remained in Russia's western Kursk region, after Kyiv launched a surprise attack on the region in August last year.

While both Zelensky and Putin have said they would agree to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, both have since accused each other of continued attacks.

Trump said Wednesday's call with Zelensky lasted about an hour.

"Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs," he wrote on Truth Social, BBC reported.

Technical teams from Ukraine and the US are expected to now meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

In the White House last month, Trump told Zelensky he was not thankful enough for US military and political support, and that he was "gambling with World War Three".

The US temporarily then suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but diplomats were able to improve relations and on 11 March the two sides agreed on a ceasefire.

During his call with Trump on Tuesday, Putin agreed to halt Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

But he said a full ceasefire would only work if Ukraine's supporters stopped giving military assistance - a condition Kyiv's European allies have previously rejected.

Hours later both Ukraine and Russia launched attacks, with Kyiv saying hospitals had been targeted.

Officials in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar said that a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a small fire at an oil depot, according to BBC.

Despite the strikes, Kyiv and Moscow carried out an exchange of prisoners on Wednesday. Each side released 175 POWs.

Zelensky described the swap as "one of the largest", adding that Russia included an extra 22 "severely wounded" soldiers.

As we observe International Day of Happiness on March 20, it is imperative to reflect on what truly brings us joy in modern life. Every year, the World Happiness Report (WHR) publishes data on the list of happiest countries, and Finland has consistently ranked the happiest country among 143 countries for the seventh year running. The latest report puts Nepal at the 93rd place. 

Khusbu Agrawal, psychologist at Happy Mind says, “Today, happiness is linked to material possessions, success, external validation, psychological well-being, relationships, and personal development where traditional methods emphasize the significance of leading a life that is in line with one’s values and contributing to something greater than oneself, which offers a sense of purpose that goes beyond transient joys.”

She explains, “The traditional concept of togetherness and the contemporary desire for social interaction are bridged when one participates in activities that promote connections with family and friends—such as sharing meals, playing games, or volunteering for community service—putting more emphasis on meaningful activities, connections, and experiences than on material belongings.”

According to Agrawal, fostering inner peace, developing a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, and spiritual practices like meditation and prayer can help an individual manage stress and anxiety.

Siddhi Laxmi Shrestha, a local from Bhaktapur, defines happiness as the well-being found in togetherness. “I am happy when my family is healthy and doing well,” she says. “There was a time when we used to find joy without money because we exchanged things with each other and had everything within our community. But now, people chase money, social media likes, and viral fame, which isn’t a good sign.” 

For Shrestha, true happiness lies in appreciating what we have rather than dwelling on what we lack. Happiness, she says, is something one should feel at all times by embracing and appreciating what they have at present.

Aditya Dangol, counseling psychologist and mental health advocate, agrees with Shrestha. She says, “Community spaces where bonds can be created that help rekindle emotional conversations and exchange the playful side of human beings can grow a sense of belongingness and ultimately, happiness.” 

Astik Poudel, a college student, finds happiness in helping those in need. He believes that life is a one-time opportunity, and true fulfillment comes from doing good deeds rather than chasing material possessions. “I am a very spiritual person and we have only one life where our soul resides, and we must make the most of it by doing meaningful things rather than being consumed by materialism,” he says.

Acknowledging the endless nature of human desires, Poudel emphasizes the importance of practicality and selflessness. “Materialistic life makes us crave for more, but true happiness comes when we focus on helping one another. That’s what brings real contentment within ourselves.” 

Bishan Magar, who works as an inDriver, believes that financial stability is the key to happiness. For him, a good bank balance brings security and the ability to fulfill personal and family needs. “There are different aspects of happiness, but I will be happy when I have money because everyone has desires they want to fulfill, and only money can make that possible,” he says.

Magar acknowledges that happiness is subjective, but he sees wealth as a crucial factor in achieving a comfortable and fulfilling life. “If you have enough money, you can take care of yourself and your household, which ultimately brings peace of mind,” he adds.

Despite the struggles of modern life, there are individuals/organizations dedicated to spreading happiness. Poudel, who works for Divine Youth Club in Radhe Radhe feels happy when he is helping people who are in need. He says, “I feel lucky working in such a place where we help people in need and in return, receive lots of blessings and I think that is the means of happiness for me personally.”

Jiban Mani Poudel, an anthropologist, says, “People find happiness in different ways depending on their environment, age, and time. For example, we live in the city surrounded by gadgets and machines, which make our lives easier and more fulfilling. However, when we bring our grandparents here, they don’t quite feel the same. They long to return to the village because they find true happiness there, not in the city.”

Poudel says unlike in rural places, city people live close to each other, yet they seem distant and unfamiliar. 

“Talking about today’s generation, every person seems to be occupied with their phones. They no longer feel the need to socialize in real life.”

Poudel emphasizes that people today own a lot of property and have the means to fulfil all their material desires, yet they are still not completely happy. 

“Happiness is defined differently by different people and professions. As an anthropologist, we may define happiness in terms of material and cultural well-being. Psychologists, on the other hand, might define it as a state of good mental health, while doctors may see it as physical well-being. Each perspective offers a unique understanding of what it means to be truly happy,” he adds. 

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Government of Nepal.

 In response to inquiries from ApEx, a State Department spokesperson stated, “While programs that do not align with American interests have been terminated, the United States remains committed to strengthening its partnership with the Government of Nepal.”

Building on 77 years of successful collaboration, the United States is dedicated to supporting Nepal’s sovereignty by bolstering democratic resilience and promoting economic opportunities, the spokesperson added. When asked about the list of canceled projects under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the spokesperson noted, “The US Government's review of all foreign assistance is ongoing.”

Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had terminated 83 percent of USAID-run programs globally, amounting to the cancellation of 5,200 projects. While reports suggest that dozens of USAID-funded projects in Nepal have also been affected, there has been no official confirmation. Officials indicate that not only are ongoing projects at risk, but several American institutions in Nepal are also on the verge of closure. Regarding specific projects, the spokesperson said, “We do not have additional information to share on specific program awards at this time.”

On March 18, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, met with Ricky Gill, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and National Security Council Senior Director for South and Central Asia, on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Gill assured Minister Deuba that the US would continue to support Nepal. “Gill and I also discussed Nepal-US ties, which are rooted in shared democratic and human rights values,” Rana said. “I am confident that our cooperation will continue to grow over the years.”

In a related development, a federal judge ruled that the dismantling of USAID likely violated the US Constitution. The court order requires the Trump Administration to restore email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those placed on administrative leave.

In his verdict, Judge Theodore Chung wrote, “The court finds that defendants’ actions to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including the apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID office, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.”

Madhes Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh has alleged a major conspiracy to facilitate cheating in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE). Speaking at a press conference, CM Singh stated that since the provincial government’s decisions were not implemented, they decided to withdraw from the examination process. 

Addressing the media at the Madhes Bhawan, Singh accused the bureaucracy of non-cooperation in controlling exam leaks before the exams even began. He also claimed that exam center heads and teachers were actively involved in helping students cheat. “We attempted to improve the situation, but the presence of federal government employees in the selection of exam center heads and the disregard of provincial directives by district examination committees is unfortunate and counterproductive,” he said.  

Singh further argued that the selection process of center heads, led by the District Administration Officer and the Chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, was unacceptable. He stated that the committees followed previous practices, appointing school principals as center heads, prompting the provincial government to exit the exam process.  

“We aimed to boost the morale of competent teachers and ensure fair opportunities while preventing external influence in the examination process,” Singh said. “However, the provincial government's decision was ignored under pressure from vested interests. We believe that center heads should be appointed through a lottery system." “

Education and Culture Minister Rani Sharma Tiwari, who was also present at the press conference, expressed dissatisfaction with the examination system, stating that the provincial government could not remain a silent witness to irregularities. “A meeting was called with all eight district exam coordination committees and district officials to implement the lottery-based selection of center heads, but they refused. Instead, they resorted to financial dealings in the appointment process. That is why we are opposing it,” she said.