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Bioeconomy and Small Businesses Take Center Stage at COP30

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Belem ( Imran Y. CHOUDHRY):- United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 continue in Belem, Brazil to talks and dialogues for plains to strict roles and regulations.

Outside of the venue lots of different events host by different organisation and companies. One of the Bioeconomy and Small Businesses Take Center Stage at COP30 Organized by Sebrae in Pará, the En-Zone will be the international showcase of entrepreneurship and sustainability in the Amazon during the Conference.

Visitors and residents of Belém have the opportunity to see firsthand the entrepreneurship that makes a diference in the lives of Amazonians and respects the forest. During the 30th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change of the UN (COP 30), Sebrae in Pará is promoting the
Entrepreneurship Zone (En-Zone), which will be open to the public from November 10th to 21st, in the parking lot of the
Belém Porto Futuro I Urban Park, with free admission.

More than an exhibition space, the En-Zone is a hub of connections that highlights the leading role of small Amazonian businesses and
reinforces Sebrae’s role as an articulator of the new green economy. In an area of almost 17,000 square meters, it houses a store with products
from 250 businesses from all Brazilian biomes, the BioMarket store, Casa Pará, training opportunities, immersive spaces to promote national
tourism, a food court with restaurants, and a stage for musical programming.
With the theme “Living Amazon – The Future Revolves Here,” En-Zone ofers a sensory journey featuring works by Amazonian artists, miriti installations, sculptures, and interactive panels. The artistic curation highlights the muralist Sebá Tapajós, internationally recognized for portraying the forest in vibrant colors. At night, the scenic lighting creates an immersive and Instagrammable atmosphere, enhancing the Amazonian aesthetic and inviting public interaction.

“The Amazon Rainforest is at the centre of global debates about the future of the planet. Therefore, nothing is more fitting than showcasing a vibrant Amazon that preserves traditions, harbors immeasurable natural wealth, and generates income for those who live in and from it. That’s why Sebrae is leading a movement to position small businesses at the heart of sustainable development,” says Rubens Magno, Superintendent
Director of Sebrae in Pará.

En-Zone is an initiative of Sebrae/PA, with Claro Empresas as a connectivity partner, sponsorship from Hydro and Sicredi, and institutional support from the Municipality of Belém, the Government of Pará, and the Federal Government.

To see the complete En-Zone programme and register to visit the space, visitors should download the En-Zone SuperApp, available for Android and Apple. The Digital Agency, ofering Sebrae services to entrepreneurs, will also be integrated into the app.

Brazil BioMarket, the name of Sebrae’s collaborative store, is a living showcase of sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship during COP30.
Between November 10th and 21st, attendees of the global climate conference will have the opportunity to meet approximately 250 small businesses that connect with new ways of thinking about development without compromising care for nature and people.
The selected small businesses represent all six Brazilian biomes, in the segments of food and beverages, fashion and accessories, crafts and decoration, beauty and cosmetics. In addition to exhibiting and selling Brazilian products, the store aims to strengthen the regional economy,
generating employment, income, and visibility for entrepreneurs.

The initiative also involves the participation of the Association of Socio-bioeconomic Businesses of the Amazon (ASSOBIO), contracted to operate the store, and Vimer Retail Experience, which developed the brand and the concept of experiential retail that the space will provide. The idea is that the entrepreneurs’ stories will be “told” through the display of the products that the store will ofer. In addition to the physical space, some entrepreneurs will have their products available in an exclusive online store within the Mercado Livre platform, with free access. This initiative ofers entrepreneurs another alternative for digital presence, complementing the physical store experience with a broader catalog more
accessible to consumers throughout Brazil.
The Loja Brasil BioMarket also has a unit in the Green Zone.

The host state of COP30 is highlighted at Casa Pará, one of the most emblematic spaces in the En-Zone. With 500 m², the space aims to promote a cultural and sensory immersion in the Amazon, as well as reflections on relevant themes, focusing on sustainable design, hospitality,
and the circular economy, through a rich program of exhibitions by artists from Pará, performances, discussion panels, and daily debates.
Among the cultural attractions are a special exhibition featuring popular manifestations such as the “big-headed” figures, pierrots, and masks by
Mestre Vital, as well as the Miriti Pavilion, conceived by Guá Arquitetura and Atelier Miriti Sustentabilidade, which presents miriti as an Amazonian social technology, and works by Éder Oliveira, Erica Saraiva, Roberta Carvalho, Marinaldo Santos, and Walda Marques.
This will be the first time that Casa Pará opens its doors in its own territory. The space was born during the Tiradentes Creative Week in October of this year.

The program also includes regenerative tourism experiences, which are based on the premise of transforming an environment for the better, with workshops on bioeconomy, reforestation, and experiences in riverside communities, in addition to the promotion of sustainable Brazilian tourist destinations, such as the Combu Route, a reference in community-based tourism and local production.
Other immersive tourism experiences can be enjoyed at the Visit Brasil Center, a partnership between Sebrae/PA and Embratur. The center will be an interactive space focused on promoting sustainable tourism and authentic experiences in the country, through the use of technologies
such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality, allowing for the exploration of Brazilian ecosystems in 3D. In the “Feel Brasil” area, visitors ill have the opportunity to discover more than 100 sustainable experiences created by small entrepreneurs.Gastronomy on the rise
Pará’s cuisine is one of the most original and celebrated in the world. As expected, this striking feature of the local culture will receive due prominence at the Gastronomic Festival, which will bring together renowned Amazonian chefs in creations that combine tradition and innovation.
In the Em-Zone food court, the richness of Pará’s and the Amazon region’s gastronomy is highlighted. The menu was designed to ofer a diverse and inclusive experience, bringing together typical dishes, regional, oriental, natural and Amazonian cuisine, as well as pasta and
healthy options.

In addition to sampling Amazonian delicacies, visitors can discover bioproducts from Brazilian biomes produced by national entrepreneurs,
which will be on display at the Brasil Biomarket store, as well as bioproducts from the Sustenta e Inova Program, an international cooperation initiative coordinated by Sebrae/PA and financed by the European Union. Cultural Programme
At En-Zone, fun and sustainability always go hand in hand. One of the attractions will be the Amazon Wheel, a 90-meter Ferris wheel powered by solar energy and with 18 gondolas, one of which is accessible to people with disabilities. The venue will ofer exclusive experiences, such ashappy hour at sunset, regional cuisine, an ice cream parlor, a cofee shop, and a sustainable souvenir shop.

Visitors to En-Zone can enjoy free musical performances by Amazonian artists that reflect and echo the musical identity of the Northern region.
Brega, techno brega, calypso, carimbó, and lambada are among the styles selected by the Sebrae curation team, with programming on a stage
set up at Em-Zone.

The Brazilian Army, through the Northern Military Command, will also be present with an exhibition highlighting the role of the Armed Forces in the Amazon, combining sustainability, technology, and innovation. The space will showcase projects, equipment, and educational work from theBelém Military College, as well as exhibiting equipment that assists its military corps in the preservation and scientific development of the
region, such as the SABER M60 radar and the RBS 70 missile launcher.

Journalists and digital influencers from Brazil and around the world will be able to count on the Media Hub, an exclusive and fully equipped structure, designed especially for them to produce and distribute, in real time, content on strategic topics such as sustainable entrepreneurship, bioeconomy, and the Amazonian business environment.
The “Sebrae Communication House” during COP30, as the media hub is being called, will operate from November 10th to 21st, at the Belém Porto Futuro I Urban Park. Access for communicators will be free and will be done directly through the oficial En-Zone app.

En-Zone has a Digital Agency integrated into the En-Zone COP30 app, ofering exclusive content for entrepreneurs. This feature, called “Conecta Negócios” (Connect Businesses), will only be accessible to users with a National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ).

To make the En-Zone space functional, measures were adopted for carbon neutrality, management of waste generated during COP, and the promotion of accessibility to the site. This demonstrates Sebrae/PA’s commitment to adopting ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices, consolidating the event as an example of sustainability and inclusion.

At En-Zone, there will be a welcome team on standby to handle various situations that may arise throughout the 12 days of the event. The space has been structured with a focus on humanized service, prioritizing the well-being and safety of all participants.
Among the services ofered are first aid for cases of allergies, pain or discomfort, as well as providing insect repellent, sunscreen, and even emergency sewing services for damaged clothing or accessories, ensuring that the experience of visitors and guests is not compromised.
Accessibility and Inclusion The space will also pay special attention to accessibility, with the presence of a sign language interpreter and audio description, ensuring that people with disabilities have the same opportunities for participation and interaction at the event. The aim is to make the Welcome Area a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for everyone.

During En-Zone, visitor flow will be organized through the En-Zone COP30 Super App, an application that functions as a digital profile, facilitating access to areas of interest and optimizing the consumption experience within the space. Available free of charge for Android and iOS systems, the application will accompany the public, speakers, and entrepreneurs throughout the event, simplifying entry and exit control, and
digitizing functions such as tickets via QR Code.Areas of Operation En-Zone is one of Sebrae’s areas of operation at COP30. The entity also has activities in the Green Zone, Vila Domos, and Casa Brasil, in addition to being one of the executors of the City in Motion Circuit and presenting Global Citizen in Belterra. It was also one of the supporters of the Global Citizen Amazon Festival, which took place last Saturday, at Mangueirão, in Belém, organizing the food service entrepreneurs of the event.

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Turkey host the COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia

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Belem (Imran Y. CHOUDHRY):- Australia will not hold next year’s UN climate summit, Australia will allow Türkiye to host COP31 next year but Australia will lead negotiations there.

Climate Minister Chris Bowen revealing Australia was willing to cede hosting rights to Türkiye in exchange for it handing him the reins of the negotiations and cementing a major role for the Pacific at the summit.

There had been a growing expectation that Australia would drop its bid to host COP31 in Adelaide as it struggled to convince Türkiye to pull out of the contest.

Under UN rules, if the two countries were unable to strike a deal, then the meeting location would automatically revert to Germany, which hosts the United Nations body responsible for the Paris Agreement.

This unusual arrangement has taken observers by surprise. It is normal for a COP president to be from the host country and how this new partnership will work in practice remains to be seen.

Despite this, there will be relief among countries currently meeting at COP30 in the Brazilian city of Belém that a compromise has been reached as the lack of agreement on the venue was becoming an embarrassment for the UN.
Australia has pushed hard to have the climate summit in the city of Adelaide, arguing that they would co-host the meeting with Pacific island states who are seen as among the most vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.
Turkey, which has proposed hosting COP31 in the city of Antalya, felt that they had a good claim to be the host country as they had stood aside in 2021 and allowed the UK to hold the meeting in Glasgow.
If neither country was willing to compromise then the meeting would have been held in the German city of Bonn, the headquarters of the UN’s climate body.
As a result of discussions at COP30, a compromise appears to have been reached.

This includes pre-COP meeting will be held on a Pacific island, while the main event is held in Turkey. 

Australian Minister believes having a COP president not from the host country will work and that he will have the considerable authority reserved for the president of these gatherings. As COP president of negotiations, I would have all the powers of the COP presidency to manage, to handle the negotiations, to appoint co-facilitators, to prepare draft text, to issue the cover decision,” he said.
He also confirmed to Turkey will also appoint a president who will run the venue, organise the meetings and schedules.

Australia’s climbdown will be embarrassing for the government of Mr Albanese, after lobbying long and hard to win support among the other nations in the Western Europe group.
The compromise will have to be ratified by more than 190 countries gathered here for COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

Photos @ Imran Y. CHOUDHRY

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Brigitte Macron’s life ‘deteriorated’ after alleged cyber-bullying, daughter says

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Brigitte Macron’s daughter has told a court in Paris that sexist cyber-bullying negatively affected her mother’s health and living conditions.

Tiphaine Auzière, 41, is the step-daughter of French President Emmanuel Macron.

She took the stand on the second and final day of the trial of 10 people accused of spreading unsubstantiated claims over Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality.

Mrs Macron, 72, has long been the target of conspiracy theories which allege she is a transgender woman.

“It is important to be here today to express the harm my mother has faced. I wanted to give an account of what her life has been like since the moment she started being targeted by these attacks,” Ms Auzière said.

She added she had noticed a change and a “deterioration” in her mother’s health since claims around her gender and sexuality began swirling.

Mrs Macron “has had to be careful about her choices of outfits, of posture… She knows perfectly well that her image will be used to back these theories,” Ms Auzière said.

She said that not a day went by that the claims were not somehow reported to her mother – “even by someone who means well and feels for her”.

While her mother had “learned to live with it”, Ms Auzière said, she suffered from the repercussions on her grandchildren who were taunted at school.

“She hasn’t been elected, she hasn’t asked anything of anyone, and she comes under attack.”

Prosecutors are seeking suspended prison terms of three months to 12 months for the accused, and fines of up to €8,000 ($9,300).

Among the defendants – all aged 41 to 65 – are an elected official, a gallery owner and a teacher.

One – a man named Aurélien Poirson-Atlan – is accused of telling his 200,000 online followers that Mrs Macron is a transgender woman and that the 24-year age gap between her and Emmanuel Macron amounts to “state-sanctioned paedophilia”.

Mr Poirson-Atlan told the court on Tuesday that he was a “satirist” who had just wished to put forward “a point of view different to that of the mainstream media”.

Two other defendants – self-styled independent journalist Natacha Rey and internet fortune-teller Amandine Roy – were already found guilty of slander last year for claiming that France’s first lady had never existed, and that her brother had changed gender and started using her name. They were later acquitted by a court of appeals.

Other defendants also said they had employed their “freedom of expression”. One requested the Macrons publish photos of Brigitte Macron pregnant to prove she is a biological woman.

The Macrons have already said they will present such evidence in court proceedings against US right-wing influencer Candace Owens.

Owens has repeatedly promoted her view that Brigitte Macron is a man and in March 2024, she claimed she would stake her “entire professional reputation” on the allegation.

Earlier this year the Macrons’ lawyer in the case, Tom Clare, told the BBC the couple would present photographic and scientific evidence to a US court to prove Mrs Macron is a woman.

“It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself, to put this type of proof forward,” he said.

Mrs Macron first met her now-husband when she was a teacher at his secondary school.

The couple ended up marrying in 2007, when Mr Macron was 29 and Mrs Macron was 54.

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Political Shock in France: Prime Minister Lecornu Resigns After Just 27 Days in Office

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Breaking News: Political Turmoil in France

Paris (Imran Y. CHOUDHRY) — France faces yet another political upheaval as Prime Minister Lecornu has tendered his resignation after serving only 27 days.
Several political parties have demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly, while the far-left party has gone a step further, calling for President Emmanuel Macron to step down.
France’s political landscape has been unstable in recent years — this marks the fifth resignation of a prime minister within just two years, increasing pressure on President Macron to resign amid growing unrest.

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