Le lac du Bourget parmi les “réserves de biosphère” de l’Unesco
Le lac du Bourget, dans les Alpes françaises, a été désigné samedi “réserve de biosphère” par l’Unesco, parmi plus de 750 sites dans le monde conciliant protection de la nature et présence humaine durable.L’Unesco désigne chaque année de nouvelles réserves, 26 cette fois-ci, qui servent de modèles de développement conjugué avec la protection des écosystèmes.Concernant le lac du Bourget, en Savoie, la délimitation retenue “préserve le cœur écologique du lac, soutient le tourisme à faible impact et l’agriculture traditionnelle, et met en avant le tourisme culturel, les énergies renouvelables et l’éducation environnementale, ce qui en fait un modèle alpin où biodiversité, patrimoine et communauté prospèrent ensemble”, a expliqué l’organisation onusienne.Elle a salué la coexistence de 180.000 habitants et de “plus de 6.100 espèces animales et végétales répertoriées”.”Cette reconnaissance internationale est le fruit d’un engagement partagé, pour préserver notre environnement et préparer l’avenir”, s’est félicité dans un communiqué le maire d’Aix-les-Bains et président de la communauté d’agglomération Grand Lac, Renaud Beretti.Un autre site français a été retenu, les “marais et marées entre la Loire et la Vilaine”, soit 2.000 km² le long de la côte atlantique entre les estuaires de ces deux fleuves. Il compte “250.000 habitants, comprend des ports de pêche, des villages salins et des hameaux agricoles”.Parmi les autres nouvelles réserves, l’Unesco a désigné un pays entier, Sao Tomé-et-Principe, avec son archipel dans l’Atlantique équatorial, mais aussi divers sites naturels en Chine, en Jordanie, en Islande ou à Madagascar, entre autres.Un congrès de l’Unesco sur ces réserves, créées en 1971, s’est tenu entre lundi et vendredi à Hangzhou, dans l’est de la Chine, comme tous les dix ans. Un plan d’action adopté par les États membres a mis “l’accent sur la justice intra et intergénérationnelle, et la solidarité sociale et écologique” qu’offrent les réserves.
Most markets track Wall St gains after US inflation data
Most markets rose Monday and gold hit a record high following US inflation figures that met expectations and soothed concerns about Donald Trump’s latest tariff salvo.However, investors were keeping a wary eye on Washington, where lawmakers have failed to reach a funding compromise to keep the government running, which observers say could affect the release of key data.All three main indexes in New York ended in the green Friday, snapping three straight losses following news that the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation rose in line with expectations, giving the bank room to cut interest rates again.While the 2.7 percent reading on the August personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index was up from 2.6 percent in July and well above the Fed’s two percent target, policymakers are focusing on supporting the labour market after a string of weak jobs readings.Their cut earlier this month — the first since December — came as a closely watched guide indicated two more were in the pipeline before January.The news helped investors look past the US president’s announcement last week of 100 percent tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture.Attention now turns to the key non-farm payrolls (NFP) report due Friday.However, there are concerns that could be postponed by a possible government shutdown this week as US politicians struggle to reach a funding deal, with some analysts suggesting the labour department could be hit.With a deadline for a deal coming on Tuesday, congressional leaders on both sides are due to meet President Trump to try to resolve the issue, which could see some key services closed down.Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, said on ABC News that he was “hopeful” that a deal could be struck before the Tuesday cutoff.His colleague Chuck Schumer, the Democrats’ Senate leader, echoed that guarded optimism and said any potential breakthroughs would depend on Trump’s Republicans.Trump has struck a defiant tone in pushing for his own agenda and last week cancelled a meeting to discuss the stalemate with senior opposition leaders, which will instead take place Monday.”If we hear early this week that the NFP report will be delayed (potentially until the govt re-opens), traders may recalibrate their approach to risk and increase their sensitivity to” other jobs figures, said Pepperstone’s Chris Weston.And economists at Bank of America warned that the longer the row went on the more painful it would be for the world’s top economy.”The economic effects of a shutdown are typically modest and short-lived. Though the drag grows with the length of the shutdown, and potential federal layoffs could have more lasting effects,” they wrote.Still, investors in most markets were in a positive mood, building on Wall Street’s gains.Hong Kong led the gainers thanks to a surge in Chinese tech giants including Alibaba, while Seoul rose more than one percent. Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, Wellington and Jakarta also advanced.London, Paris and Frankfurt rallied in the morning.Tokyo slipped, though the finance arm of Sony soared more than 30 percent on its debut after being spun off by the tech titan to focus on its entertainment and image sensor business.Sony Financial Group rocketed to as much as 210 yen in the morning, from the 150 yen reference point set last week. It later pared the gains to end at 173.80 yen.Manila also dropped.Gold spiked to a fresh peak just short of $3,820 an ounce on concerns about the possible shutdown and on expectations for more rate cuts, which make the precious metal more attractive as an investment.Oil prices sank on speculation OPEC+ will increase output, fanning concerns of a glut. The drop followed last week’s rally on the back of mounting tensions between NATO countries and Russia, increasing the possibility of fresh sanctions on Moscow. – Key figures at around 0810 GMT -Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 45,043.75 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.9 percent at 26,622.88 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.9 percent at 3,862.53 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 9,342.46 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1724 from $1.1701 on FridayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3444 from $1.3405Dollar/yen: DOWN at 148.61 yen from 149.51 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 87.21 pence from 87.30 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.2 percent at $64.94 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $69.40 per barrelNew York – Dow: UP 0.7 percent at 46,247.29 (close)
India, Pakistan trade barbs after Asia Cup trophy debacle
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said India had “disrespected cricket” while Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav complained his side were denied the trophy after winning a fraught Asia Cup overshadowed by ill feeling on both sides.The two teams did not shake hands for the third Asia Cup match running as India won a thrilling final by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday.Suryakumar’s men then refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan interior minister.The Indian players instead celebrated retaining their regional crown by mimicking holding a trophy.Suryakumar told reporters: “I think this is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket that the champion team is denied the trophy. “We took the call on the ground about not taking the trophy.”The Twenty20 tournament in the UAE was the first time the Asian cricket giants had met since a deadly military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.Tensions had been running high after the two previous matches in the competition saw political posturing and a series of flashpoints between the two teams.”If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in my dressing room — all the 14 players and support staff. They are the real trophies for me,” said Suryakumar.”It appeared on the big screen that India is Asia Cup 2025 champion. It was a great journey and moment for us as a team.” The presentation ceremony was delayed for an hour before announcer Simon Doull said: “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.” Pakistan’s Agha said India’s actions during the tournament had been “bad for cricket”.”I think what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha told reporters. “If they think they disrespected us by not shaking hands, then I say they disrespected cricket.”What they did today, a good team doesn’t do that. Good teams do what we have done. We waited for our medals and took them.”It’s been seen for the first time. I do not know where it will stop. What has happened in this tournament is bad for cricket.”In Sunday’s final, India’s third win over Pakistan in as many matches, India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah bowled Haris Rauf for six and celebrated the dismissal with a crashing-plane gesture.Rauf had made a similar motion in the previous meeting between the two teams, appearing to mock India’s military action.Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan previously mimicked a gun celebration after hitting a half-century.- Tensions spill into cricket -India and Pakistan only meet in cricket on neutral territory in international tournaments because of long-simmering tensions between the arch-rivals.Both countries claimed victory in the four-day conflict in May that killed more than 70 people in missile, drone and military fire on each side.India tagged its military action against Pakistan “Operation Sindoor”, the Hindi word for vermilion, which married Hindu women wear on their foreheads.The name was seen as a symbol of Delhi’s determination to avenge those widowed in the April 22 attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which sparked the hostilities.”#OperationSindoor on the games field,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X after Sunday’s win. “Outcome is the same — India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”Naqvi was quick to respond, saying: “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands.”burs-pst/dh