Glaciers and ice sheets throughout the world are retreating due to rising emissions and an increase in debris, researchers have found. They say the Himalayan glaciers have receded by about 13 percent in the last four decades. The alarming glacier problem is just one example raised at the Himalayan Consensus Summit held from March 23 to 24 in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, where more than 70 participants exchanged views on sustainable development in South Asia. Himalaya before receding of the glaciers. /Web Photo Himalaya after the receding of the glaciers. /Web Photo Activists from international organizations, regional think tanks and the business sector agreed that what happens in the Himalayas will affect both the region and the world. And it's not only water resources as food production and energy may also be affected. Therefore, adaptations and solutions are needed to preserve the natural resources and heritage for the sustainable development of South Asia. Kathmandu Durban Square. /CGTN photo Changes are taking place in Nepal. Community-based adaptations have been scaled up through the integrated management of the agricultural, water, forestry and biodiversity sectors. And in the process of reconstruction after the 2015 earthquake, energy-saving and heritage-preserving ideas were incorporated into the rebuilding of places such as the iconic Durban Square. Kathmandu Durban Square reconstruction. /CGTN photo At Kathmandu's famous Patan Square area, people now are building their houses in the manner of hundreds of years ago. Sujeev Shakya, secretary general of the Himalayan Consensus Institute believes that when people begin to benefit from conservation efforts they would be able to begin to recycle water and trash, and in that sense, conservation and preservation can still have good economic outcomes. Participants at the summit said that if people have in mind the larger good of mankind, there will be individual and common solutions to combine development and environmental protection in the Himalayan region. custom watch braceletcheap silicone wristbands free shippingnike silicone wristbandsdesign your own silicone wristbandscustom logo wristbands
[Photo/VCG] Mainland courts are pledging to improve cross-Straits judicial exchanges, ensure equal protection for Taiwan litigants and offer them better legal services in hearings of Taiwan-related cases. The Supreme People's Court issued a 36-point guideline on Tuesday in which it highlighted the significance of guaranteeing Taiwan litigants' rights, and ordered all mainland courts to help solve their legal difficulties across the board, from case filing to hearing and final verdict delivery. It was the first time for the top court to issue such a comprehensive guideline to safeguard rights of Taiwan residents and its first rule for deepening cross-Straits development by regulating legal services. We hope the document will not only help courts on the mainland effectively process the increasing number of cases involving Taiwan individuals or enterprises but also prompt economic and cultural exchanges, said Jiang Qibo, director of the top court's research office. The guideline was created following a keynote speech by President Xi Jinping at a gathering in January to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, he said. In the guideline, mainland courts were told to strengthen property protections of Taiwan people and enterprises to ensure a favorable environment when they create a startup or make an investment in the mainland. Zhou Jiahai, deputy director of the research office, said that when a litigant from Taiwan is found to be at fault, We should be prudent and minimize the negative effects on their businesses when considering sealing up or freezing their property or barring them from leaving the mainland. When a Taiwan litigant is detained or monitored on the mainland, courts are required to inform family members within 24 hours, the guideline said. Jiang, the director, said, Specifying legal measures to regulate the handling of Taiwan-related cases is necessary because such disputes have been rising in mainland courts in the past decade. Figures released by the top court on Tuesday showed that more than 5,000 cases were filed annually on average in mainland courts involving litigants from Taiwan from 2008 to 2018, with the peak reaching 7,000 in 2012. To more efficiently resolve the disputes, the guideline ordered mainland courts, especially those handling a large number of such cases in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, to set up a special website, hotline or social media account and establish a judge liaison office to provide high-quality legal services to Taiwan litigants. We welcome Taiwan residents from all walks of life, including legal professionals, to visit mainland courts and exchange judicial opinions, Zhou said. Also, a communication platform or internship opportunities will be offered to Taiwan youth who study on the mainland. The top court added it would go to grassroots courts on the mainland to check on enforcement of the guideline and ensure Taiwan litigants know about it.
