Daily Current Affairs Notes for 21 March 2023

About National Youth Enclave

The National Youth Conclave 2023, set to take place in India, is geared towards uniting the nation's youth and government leaders. It is an upcoming event that has been planned under the auspices of India's G20 presidency, in collaboration with the Urban20 and Youth20 engagement groups. The conclave's main aim is to facilitate mutual learning and understanding between the youth and government leaders.

What is Urban20?

Launched during the One Planet Summit in Paris on December 12, 2017, the Urban-20 (U20) is an initiative in city diplomacy. It offers a platform for cities from G20 countries to engage in discussions on critical urban development issues, including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, and affordable housing, and propose solutions collectively. C40 Cities (C40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) convene the U20 under the leadership of a rotating Chair city based in the G20 host country. The City of Ahmedabad held the chair for the U20 2023 Cycle, and as such, it will showcase its distinctive urban development and climate change initiatives, as well as its rich cultural heritage, to the participants.

What is Youth20(Y20)?

The Y20 serves as the official youth engagement group for the G20, which is a forum that brings together the largest and most advanced economies in the world. The Y20 process seeks to unite young leaders from various parts of the globe to deliberate on global challenges and propose policy recommendations that G20 leaders can implement. These policy recommendations are compiled in a communiqué, which is publicly announced at the Y20 Summit and presented to world leaders as part of the official G20 summit. Recently, India hosted the Y20 summit for the first time, with a focus on bringing young leaders from across the world together to brainstorm ideas and create an agenda for action. During India's presidency, the Y20 activities will center on global youth leadership and partnership. As part of this initiative, Pre-Summits on the five Y20 themes are slated to occur over the next eight months, along with several discussions and seminars at different universities across the country, leading up to the final Youth-20 Summit.

10 happiest countries in the world for 2023

The 2023 edition of the World Happiness Report has been published. The World Happiness Index for 2023 reveals that Finland has retained its position as the world's happiest country for the sixth consecutive year. Here's a rundown of the top 10 happiest nations in the world for 2023.

10 happiest countries in the world for 2023: According to World Happiness Index

To determine where people experience happiness in the world, researchers evaluated six significant variables: social support, wealth, health, autonomy, generosity, and absence of corruption. Despite various converging crises, the study found that overall life satisfaction levels remain consistent with those before the pandemic.

Finland, which is well known for its beautiful landscapes and high standard of living, continues to hold the top spot because of its straightforward way of life, dedication to sustainability, close connection to nature, and enjoyment of seasonal and local foods. Israel and the Netherlands completed the top five, placing second and third, respectively, behind Denmark and Iceland.

India has been placed at 125th among 146 countries, which represents a nine-rank advancement from its 2022 ranking. Despite this, India's ranking is still lower than that of war-torn nations such as Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, India's neighboring countries, including Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, have a better ranking than India.

10 happiest countries in the world for 2023: Key Points

• The team behind the 2023 World Happiness Report has found that several everyday acts of kindness, such as helping a stranger, contributing to charitable causes, and volunteering, have all exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
• As per the co-author of the study, Lara Aknin, research has shown that happiness can be boosted by acts of kindness.
• The 2023 also examined the Ukrainian survey data that was readily available.
• “The tragic impact of the conflict is clear to all, and thus we also discover that well-being in Ukraine has taken a real knock,” says Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.
• Surprisingly, the Ukrainian economy suffered a comparatively smaller decline than it did in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.

List of 10 happiest countries in the world for 2023

Below is the List of 10 happiest countries in the world for 2023:

1. Finland

Finland is a Northern European country that shares borders with Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The country's capital, Helsinki, is situated on a peninsula surrounded by several nearby islands in the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is home to many attractions, including the 18th-century coastal castle Suomenlinna, the trendy Design District, and several museums. Finland's Arctic Lapland province is a vast wilderness area with national parks and ski resorts and is an excellent location to witness the Northern Lights.

2. Denmark

Denmark is a Nordic country consisting of the Jutland Peninsula and numerous islands, connected to neighboring Sweden by the Öresund bridge. The country's capital, Copenhagen, boasts royal palaces, the colorful Nyhavn harbor, the famous Tivoli amusement park, and the iconic "Little Mermaid" statue. Odense, the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen, features a historic center with charming cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses.

3. Iceland

Iceland, a Nordic island country, is known for its breathtaking landscapes featuring volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. The country's vast glaciers are protected by national parks such as Vatnajökull and Snaefellsjökull. Most of the population resides in the capital city of Reykjavik, which is powered by geothermal energy and is home to the National and Saga museums showcasing Iceland's Viking history.

4. Israel

Israel, a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea, is considered the biblical Holy Land by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jerusalem is home to the holiest sites. The Temple Mount complex, located in the Old City, houses the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock monument, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Tel Aviv, the financial hub of Israel, is known for its beaches and Bauhaus architecture.

5. Netherlands

The Netherlands is a low-lying country in northwestern Europe, known for its canals, tulip fields, windmills, and bike paths. The capital city, Amsterdam, is home to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House, where the Jewish diarist hid during World War II. The city’s canal-side houses and a collection of artwork from the 17th-century “Golden Age” by artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer are still preserved.

6. Sweden

Sweden, a Scandinavian nation, is characterized by tens of thousands of inland lakes, glaciated mountains, and coastal islands. Its major cities include Stockholm, the capital and largest city in the east, and coastal cities like Gothenburg and Malmö. Stockholm is composed of 14 islands and features more than 50 bridges, along with the medieval old town, Gamla Stan, royal residences, and museums such as Skansen, an open-air museum.

7. Norway

Norway, a Scandinavian country, boasts mountains, glaciers, and extensive coastline fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city with parks and museums. The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo displays preserved Viking ships. Bergen, known for its colorful wooden buildings, is the starting point for cruises to the stunning Sognefjord. Hiking, skiing, and fishing, especially in the Olympic ski resort in Lillehammer, are popular activities in Norway.

8. Switzerland

Switzerland, a landlocked country in Central Europe, is known for its rolling hills, numerous lakes, picturesque towns, and towering Alps. Its cities are dotted with medieval neighborhoods, such as the Zytglogge clock tower in Bern, the capital, and the iconic wooden Chapel Bridge in Lucerne. The country is famous for its hiking trails and ski resorts. The banking and finance sectors are key industries, while Swiss-made products like watches and chocolates are globally recognized.

9. Luxembourg

Luxembourg, a small European country, shares borders with Belgium, France, and Germany. The country is predominantly rural, featuring the rocky gorges of the Mullerthal region in the east, the Moselle river valley in the southeast, and vast Ardennes forests and nature reserves in the north. Luxembourg City, the country's capital, is home to a remarkable medieval old town that is perched on steep cliffs and fortified.

10. New Zealand

New Zealand is a Pacific island nation consisting of two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island, as well as around 700 smaller islands. With a total area of 268,021 square kilometres, it is the sixth-largest island nation in the world.

The Record of Bopanna & Ebden

Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, aged 43, and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have made history by becoming the oldest pair to win an ATP Masters 1000 title. They triumphed over the top-seeded duo of Wesley Koolhof and Neil Skupski in the men's doubles final at the 2023 Indian Wells Masters tournament held in California. Although Bopanna and Ebden won the first set 6-3, they lost the second set 2-6. However, they persevered and secured the match by winning the decisive tie-breaker 10-8.

About Bopanna career win

Bopanna has earned a total of 24 ATP titles, out of which five are ATP Masters 1000. He has also become the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title, surpassing Canadian Daniel Nestor's record, who won the 2015 Cincinnati Masters at the age of 42. Earlier this year, Bopanna and Ebden won the Qatar Open, and this is their second title together in 2023.

Bopanna and Ebden, who were unseeded, won their quarter-final and semi-final matches in straight sets at the Indian Wells Masters tournament. In the quarter-final, they defeated the Canadian pair of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, while in the semi-final, they beat the defending champions John Isner and Jack Sock of the USA. They received a walkover in the round of 16 and won their opening match in three sets against Rafael Matos of Brazil and David Vega Hernandez of Spain.

Bopanna, a former world No. 3 in men's doubles, was ranked 15th in the ATP doubles rankings prior to the tournament. However, following their victory in the Indian Wells Masters, he has advanced to 11th place in the live doubles tennis rankings.