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Amorim enjoyed the perfect start when Marcus Rashford poked the visitors ahead after 81 seconds at Portman Road following excellent play by makeshift right wing-back Amad Diallo. The 39-year-old would have expected United to kick on, but the opposite occurred as Ipswich roared back and claimed a deserved leveller via Omari Hutchinson’s deflected 43rd-minute strike. In the end the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Andre Onana, who produced two outstanding saves either side of half-time to deny Liam Delap from close-range and ensure they did not taste defeat on Amorim’s big day. While the former Sporting Lisbon boss was happy with the effort of his players, especially in his favoured 3-4-3 system for the first time, he provided a damning assessment of their immediate prospects. “It is hard to expect anything now. It is like not a surprise but you have to see it in the game. That is why I was a little bit anxious, because you cannot understand what will happen in the game. I felt that,” Amorim reflected. “What I understood today is that they are trying, they are really trying. They stay in the positions, they receive information and they try to use it in the game. That is very important. “Even in the difficult moments, I felt they were doing the things we said for them to do. “I know it is frustrating for the fans, but we are changing so much in this moment with a lot of games. We are going to suffer for a long period and we will try to win games. This will take time, but I know we have to win games. “We could lose if it was not (for) Onana. We have to understand that and think and be pragmatic that these guys had two days training to change so much.” The early big calls by Amorim paid off as Diallo, in an unorthodox wing-back role, burst forward past Jens Cajuste’s lunging tackle and set up Rashford, who had been preferred down the middle over Rasmus Hojlund. Something to build on for Ruben's Reds 🧱 #MUFC || #IPSMUN pic.twitter.com/GuzuP6KrHW — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 24, 2024 Christian Eriksen fizzed an effort wide soon after but Ipswich enjoyed the better of the first half and after Onana produced a miraculous save to deny Delap – following a Leif Davis pass – Town got their reward when Hutchinson turned Casemiro and his left-footed strike deflected in off Noussair Mazraoui. A frantic start to the second period, where Onana denied Delap again after he produced a back flick to Wes Burns’ cross, was followed by a lull before late chances for both teams were squandered as it finished all square in Suffolk. Amorim added: “We started very well but then we should have more possession with the ball. “When we make a new structure and you are so clear on that, they need time to have some fluidity in the game. I felt that but it is two trainings (sessions after the international break) and they did OK.” What also left an impression on Amorim was a buoyant Portman Road. “The atmosphere, you are lucky guys,” he said with a smile. “You have the best, by far, the best league in the world and you see this every weekend, but to tell you the truth, when the game started, it is the same thing since the (Portuguese) third division, I am so focused on the game and I am playing with my players inside the pitch.” Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who used to manage United’s Under-18s side, felt his newly-promoted team could have beat his old club and paid tribute to Onana’s sensational two saves to deny Delap. “I thought it was his head to be honest, but if he’s saved that from that range, it’s an incredible save,” McKenna admitted. 🗣️ "Lots of good things and another point." Kieran McKenna's full interview following #IPSMUN is now available on TownTV. ⤵️ — IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) November 24, 2024 “The save in the second half was probably a big one. I’ve not seen it back but that was maybe the clearest chance in the second half, so that’s a really good save. “We probably had the better chances, but it was an even game. “We certainly felt we could have won it but there is big positives in how we played.”Caprock Group LLC Has $369,000 Stock Position in MasTec, Inc. (NYSE:MTZ)

Royals and Diplomacy: King Charles and Qatar's Emir Forge Stronger Ties

Some Black Friday deals are still available, and the deals on different smart devices are some of the best we've ever seen as Cyber Monday approaches. Robot vacuums are just one category, with major pricing discounts during the year's biggest shopping event. ZDNET is gathering the best and most legitimate deals available right now, so you won't have to worry about wading through the madness of deal hunting. Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates As a robot vacuum reviewer and dog owner, I'm always looking for great deals on how to keep my home clean with as little effort as possible. I test different types of robot vacuums daily and have grown exceedingly familiar with each brand's strengths and weaknesses and their price fluctuations. As a result, I've realized that this is the best time to buy that robot vacuum you've had your eye on all year or as a holiday gift for that family member who's always wanted one. Read on to find the best deals on robot vacuums and cordless vacuums that are still available after Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Our favorite robot vacuum deals for Black Friday 2024 iRobot Roomba s9+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle : $420 (save $1,029 at Best Buy): This is, by far, the best deal you can get on a robot vacuum and mop bundle, as it went on clearance just in time for Black Friday. Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop : $800 (save $300 at Best Buy): The highly rated Narwal Freo X Ultra is a top-performing robot vacuum and mop with 8,200Pa of suction power. Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop : $420 (save $400 at Amazon): In addition to a Q8 robot vacuum and mop, the Max model includes a self-emptying dock that you don't have to worry about for up to seven weeks. Dreame X40 Ultra robot vacuum and mop : $1,000 (save $900 at Amazon): This is my favorite robot vacuum and mop combination that I've tested, with excellent obstacle avoidance and strong suction. Dreame X30 Ultra robot vacuum and mop : $800 (save $600 at Amazon): This is the lowest price on the Dreame X30 Ultra, which was ZDNET's top pick for the best 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop , dethroned only by its successor, the X40 Ultra . Yeedi M12 Pro+ robot vacuum and mop : $550 (save $449 at Amazon): Have you ever heard the phrase "high-end features for a mid-range price?" This hands-free robot vacuum and mop does all the work for you, with flagship features like an extending mop pad to reach corners and under cabinets and 11,000Pa of suction. Airrobo T20+ robot vacuum and mop : $280 (save $220 at Amazon): This is one of the lowest prices we've ever seen on this Airrobo self-emptying robot vacuum and mop. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo complete robot vacuum and mop : $1,414 (save $286 at Amazon): I rely on the Deebot X2 Combo Complete robot vacuum and mop , especially because of its side-mounted cordless vacuum that empties automatically. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop : $900 (save $700 at Amazon): The all-in-one S8 Pro Ultra features 6,000Pa of suction power, a self-emptying dustbin, and self-washing mop pads. Eufy X8 Pro Current price: $350 Original price: $650 The Eufy X8 Pro twin-turbine robot vacuum is perfect for pet owners. With 4,000Pa of suction power, this robot vacuum includes a self-empty station and smooth navigation to leave beautiful carpet lines behind. Review: Eufy X8 Pro: A must-have for homes with a lot of carpet iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ Current price: $975 Original price: $1,399 The flagship Roomba j9+ features powerful suction and a self-emptying dustbin, perfect for pet owners. This combo option also has a retractable mop pad that stores itself on top of the robot when not in use, ensuring your carpets stay dry and your hard floors stay mopped. Also: How Roomba's $1,000 robot vacuum handled my house of children and pets Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo Current price: $800 Original price: $1,200 The Deebot T30S combo is fairly new but lives up to the hype that only a three-in-one robot vacuum could garner. This has become my go-to upstairs robot vacuum and mop because it functions as a cleaning hub, made complete by the self-emptying cordless vacuum that charges right on the robot's charging station. Review: I tested a robot vacuum with a handheld vacuum that empties itself Roborock Q8 Max+ Current price: $420 Original price: $820 For a limited time, you can snag the Roborock Q8 Max+ for $420. As a vacuum mop combo, this machine features 4,200Pa suction power and 300g mopping pressures, promising a smooth and efficient clean. With its self-empty dock, you can have hands-free vacuuming for up to seven weeks. Thanks to Roborock's PreciSense LiDAR Navigation, you can rest assured that this robot vacuum will clean where it's supposed to and when it's supposed to. Also: The best robot vacuum mops you can buy iRobot Roomba Combo j5 Current price: $285 Original price: $530 If you're like me and love the idea of your floors being cleaned by someone or something else, you can't go wrong with this deal. The Roomba j5 is a robot vacuum that intelligently maps and navigates your home, avoiding obstacles like cords and pet waste. Also: Roomba Combo J7+ review: A 2-in-1 robot vacuum done (almost) right Best Black Friday iRobot robot vacuum deals iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum : $359 (save $441 at Amazon): This discount on a self-emptying Roomba powered by RobotOS is a deal you can't miss. iRobot Roomba s9+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle : $420 (save $1,029 at Best Buy): This is, by far, the best deal you can get on a robot vacuum and mop bundle, as it went on clearance just in time for Black Friday. iRobot Roomba® Vac 2 Essential robot vacuum : $250 (save $150 at Amazon): This is an introductory offer on iRobot's brand new entry-level robot vacuum, featuring the AutoEmpty dock, for self-emptying. iRobot Roomba Combo j5 robot vacuum and mop : $285 (save $245 at Amazon): The Roomba Combo j5 is built for everyday vacuuming with occasional mopping. iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum & Mop : $300 (save $250 at Target): Whether your mess is wet or dry, the Roomba ComboTM i5+ robot vacuum and mop can handle it. iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop : $975 (save $424): The flagship Roomba j9+ features powerful suction and a self-emptying dustbin, perfect for pet owners . iRobot Roomba Essential Combo robot vacuum and mop : $226 (save $47 at Amazon): This essential robot vacuum is an entry-level Roomba that combines powerful suction with mopping action. iRobot Roomba Combo Essential Robot : $160 (save $115 at Target): If you're looking for a basic combination robot vacuum and mop, this Roomba Combo deal is hard to beat. Best Black Friday Roborock robot vacuum deals Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop : $900 (save $700 at Amazon): The all-in-one S8 Pro Ultra features 6,000Pa of suction power, a self-emptying dustbin, and self-washing mop pads. Roborock Q7 Max robot vacuum and mop : $200 (save $100): At 33% off, this Roborock discount won't last long. Roborock S8+ robot vacuum and mop : $550 (save $450 at Amazon): The Roborock S8+ features 6,000Pa of suction power, a self-emptying dustbin, and the company's Sonic Mop system. Roborock Flexi Lite wet/dry vacuum and mop : $180 (save $220 at Amazon): This outstanding wet/dry vacuum and mop lets you tackle wet and dry messes in one fell swoop. Best Black Friday Shark robot vacuum deals Shark AV2501S AI Ultra robot vacuum : $329 (save $221 at Amazon): This bagless, self-emptying vacuum cleaner can hold up to 30 days' worth of debris and pet hair. Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro robot vacuum and mop : $700 (save $500 at Amazon): This is Shark's flagship robot vacuum and mop, with a water tank that lasts up to 30 days without refilling and up to 60 days self-emptying bagless capacity. Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch robot vacuum and mop : $550 (save $350 at Amazon): This robot vacuum's bagless design ensures you don't have to buy new dustbags to replace and can dump the contents in the trash. Shark AV2610WA robot vacuum and mop : $484 (save $216 at Amazon): You can forget about handling dust yourself, as this Shark can hold up to two months' worth of debris. Best Black Friday Eufy robot vacuum deals Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum : $130 (save $120 at Amazon): This is my pick for the best budget-friendly robot vacuum for pet hair right now. It has strong suction and carpet boost technology. Eufy X8 Pro robot vacuum : $350 (save $300 at Amazon): The Eufy X8 Pro twin-turbine robot vacuum is perfect for pet owners , especially those with mostly carpets. Eufy G30 robot vacuum : $140 (save $179 at Amazon): For $140, you can buy a robot vacuum with reliable navigation, checking one more task off your cleaning to-do list for its lowest price ever. Eufy L60 robot vacuum : $280 (save $120 at Amazon): This highly rated Eufy robot vacuum has a self-emptying station that holds up to 60 days' worth of dust and debris. Eufy RoboVac 15C MAX robot vacuum : $120 (save $160 at Amazon): This entry-level robot vacuum is great for hard floors, apartments, and small areas, and it's currently 57% off. Best Black Friday cordless vacuum deals Tineco Pure One Station cordless vacuum : $339 (save $120 at Amazon): This is the most powerful stick vacuum I've ever tested; the self-emptying dock takes it to the next level, so it quickly became my go-to. Narwal S20+ vacuum/mop : $400 (save $100 at Best Buy): This wet/dry vacuum and mop uses advanced AI-powered sensors to detect dirt and boost performance. Eureka RapidClean Pro stick vacuum : $105 (save $45 at Amazon): This cordless vacuum comes with two attachments to clean everything from floors to upholstery and narrow crevices. Levoit LVAC-200 stick vacuum : $150 (save $50 at Amazon): Get a lightweight cordless vacuum for only $150 through Black Friday. Bissell CleanView XR 200W stick vacuum : $114 (save $85 at Amazon): This is a huge discount on a stick vacuum with a removable battery and XL dustbin. Shark Pet stick vacuum : $150 (save $110 at Amazon): The unbeatable 43% discount on a Shark cordless vacuum gets you powerful suction and up to 40 minutes of runtime. Eureka Stylus Elite stick vacuum : $193 (save $96 at Amazon): In addition to an $86 discount, you can take an extra $20 off to get a powerful cordless vacuum and self-emptying station. Dyson V8 Plus stick vacuum : $420 (save $50 at Amazon): You can't go wrong with a Dyson cordless vacuum, especially at 36% off. Roborock Flexi Lite wet/dry vacuum and mop : $180 (save $220 at Amazon): This outstanding wet/dry vacuum and mop lets you tackle wet and dry messes in one fell swoop. FAQs Black Friday is a big shopping event that occurs each year on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, it happened on Nov. 29. Since Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, many people are off through the weekend, so retailers have capitalized on this day, the last national holiday before Christmas. This makes Black Friday a great chance to finish checking off your holiday shopping list. Cyber Monday happens on the Monday following the Thanksgiving holiday. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2. Robot vacuums are cheaper during big shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. The fact that Black Friday is one of the last major shopping events of the year results in some retailers giving big discounts on the current product stock in preparation for new devices launching in the new year. Though there are many online deals, Black Friday has been historically a mostly in-person shopping event where people visit a brick-and-mortar store. With most big box stores featuring an online store, Black Friday online shopping has become as common as Amazon Prime Day shopping. Cyber Monday began and remains an online shopping event for online stores to capitalize on customers who may have missed a Black Friday deal and can shop from home or work on Monday. As a robot vacuum tester at ZDNET, I've become familiar with these devices' unique features and tested different models in every price range. This experience has made me realize that the robot vacuum market is saturated with competition. It also helps me discern which robot vacuums are worth their retail price and when a discount is a good deal. I check robot vacuum deals often, always choosing the ones that deliver the most features for the least money. Using our expertise and different tools to track deals, we can determine when a deal is worth it and ensure we only cover those. This list of deals will be updated as new deals appear and others sell out. While retailers hold store-specific shopping events throughout the year, like Amazon with Prime Day, you can expect Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to appear everywhere. This includes your local businesses and big box stores. Black Friday is a huge shopping event, both in-person and online, with stores like Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, Target, Costco, and more offering eye-popping discounts on different products. ZDNET's experts have searched through Black Friday sales live for the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far by category: Black Friday TV deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday laptop deals Black Friday gaming PC deals Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker deals Black Friday Amazon deals Black Friday Best Buy deals Black Friday Walmart deals Black Friday Sam's Club deals Black Friday Apple deals Black Friday iPad deals Black Friday AirPods deals Black Friday Apple Watch deals Black Friday Kindle deals Black Friday streaming deals Black Friday soundbar and speaker deals Black Friday robot vacuum deals Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals Black Friday PlayStation deals And more Black Friday deals: Black Friday deals under $25 Black Friday deals under $100 Black Friday Samsung deals Black Friday Verizon deals Black Friday headphone deals Black Friday tablet deals Black Friday monitor deals Black Friday gaming deals Black Friday security camera deals Black Friday storage and SSD deals Black Friday portable power station deals Black Friday VPN deals Black Friday Chromebook deals Black Friday HP deals Black Friday Dell deals Black Friday Roku deals Black Friday Roborock deals Best Black Friday deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday TV deals Black Friday laptop dealsDejan Kulusevski explains form and remarkable Man City record: ‘I have something no other player has’

By Nicholas Tan Many are hoping that the looming TikTok ban could be stopped by Donald Trump or Joe Biden. On Friday, December 6, a U.S. federal appeals court upheld the TikTok ban law introduced by The Department of Justice and signed by Biden in April. This means that ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the popular social media app, will need to divest its stake in the platform by the deadline of January 19, 2025 or be banned. Here’s whether Trump or Biden can do anything about the TikTok ban before (or after) that happens. While it will be tough for Donald Trump to overturn the TikTok ban through legal action, he could affect how the law is enforced. Biden can also extend the deadline by up to 90 days, though this doesn’t seem likely given that he is responsible for the legislation in the first place. As pointed out by Reuters , ByteDance would have a “heavy burden” to show the Biden administration that it had made “significant progress toward a divestiture needed to trigger the extension.” Barring that, it would fall upon Trump to reverse the decision in some way. One of the main difficulties of Trump halting the ban comes from the January 19 deadline coming a day before his official inauguration, as noted by Al Jazeera . While Trump attempted to ban the platform outright by executive order in 2020, it faced numerous legal challenges and by the time it reached the Biden administration it was transformed into the law in question. Since then, though, Trump stated during his 2024 presidential campaign that he has vowed to save it and even joined the platform , where he has over 14 million followers and more than 100 million likes. In addition, his nominees of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence are both on TikTok and don’t agree with the ban. If Trump wants to follow through with his promise, he has several options in preventing TikTok from being banned outright over time. Anupam Chander, an expert on global tech regulations at Georgetown Law, says that in the long term the president-elect could help ByteDance change its policies on TikTok to consider security concerns. Trump could also assist in having the company find a US buyer to comply with the law. Another expert, staff attorney George Wang at Columbia University, similarly told Vox that the language in the ban law is broad enough that it grants “the president some leeway to decline to enforce the ban if TikTok or ByteDance comes to some sufficient solution.” Chinese officials would be more open to a sale if Trump lowers his threat to impose additional tariffs on China , according to James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studios via NPR . Trump could also greatly influence how the TikTok ban law is enforced, effectively neutering its effect. Civil liberties director David Greene from the Electronic Frontier Foundation says the incoming president could “instruct the US Justice Department to drop or modify its defense in the lawsuit with ByteDance or instruct the US Department of Commerce not to enforce the law.” TikTok is expected to appeal this decision by the federal appeals court to the Supreme Court. Free speech organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union says that the ruling “blatantly violates the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans.” It’s unclear, however, whether the Supreme Court would be able to hear the appeal and decide on the case before the January 19 deadline comes to pass. Still, if the appeal is granted, Trump could influence and modify how the DOJ argues its case before the Supreme Court in its defense. Nick Tan is a SEO Lead Writer for GameRevolution. Once upon a time, his parents took away his Super Nintendo as a punishment. He has sworn revenge ever since. Share article

Customs dissolves Joint Border Patrol TeamAs most countries in South-east Asia are still developing and have relatively weak economic foundations, climate finance is necessary for the region to take climate action. SINGAPORE – To the rest of the world, Pari Island may be just another of the thousands of islands that make up the vast Indonesian archipelago, some so tiny they do not have names. But non-profit Friends of the Earth Indonesia is fighting for more visibility for the plight of its 1,500 inhabitants, who are facing the loss of their homes and fishery livelihoods as sea levels rise. The island was partially inundated an unprecedented 10 times in 2023 by exceptionally high tides. Island communities in South-east Asia, like those on Pari, have long grappled with worsening climate impacts, but often find it difficult to access the funds they need to become resilient against floods and typhoons. Countries in the region also need assistance to phase out coal. The Indonesian island of Pari lies just above sea level, making it highly prone to flooding from high tides. PHOTO: ZVG But the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference COP29 could offer some hope, with developed countries agreeing to channel US$300 billion (S$402 billion) a year to developing countries by 2035. The ultimate aim is to raise US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for countries in need, through various forms of finance. But the US$300 billion core amount was criticised as woefully insufficient by climate-vulnerable countries and civil society, who expected richer countries – who were historical emitters – to commit more. It is also uncertain how the amount will be raised. While developed countries will take the lead, the COP29 decision stated that the amount will come from “a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources”. Mr Gao Xi, a research associate at the NUS Energy Studies Institute (ESI), said: “Most South-east Asian countries are coastal, making them particularly vulnerable to threats such as typhoons, floods and droughts caused by climate change. Frequent extreme weather events often result in significant financial losses and social disruptions.” In 2024 alone, the Philippines was struck by six typhoons within a span of 30 days – between October and November – killing more than 170 people, displacing more than 214,000 people and causing damage worth about 470 million pesos (S$10.8 million). While the archipelago is prone to tropical storms, such back-to-back typhoons within a month is unusual. An aerial view shows submerged homes at a village in Ilagan, Isabela province in the Philippines on Nov 18 due to continuous heavy rains from Super Typhoon Man-yi. PHOTO: AFP As most countries in South-east Asia are still developing and have relatively weak economic foundations, climate finance is necessary for the region to take climate action, added Mr Gao, with money particularly needed for clean energy generation, low-carbon transport and coastal defence. According to the International Energy Agency, Asean will need US$21 billion in investments annually from 2026 to 2030 just to upgrade its energy infrastructure. And to build resilience against climate impacts, the region needs US$422 billion until 2030. The finance outcomes from the UN conference in Azerbaijan could also benefit other developments in South-east Asia, such as the future regional power grid and carbon trading, which can also benefit Singapore. Funding the Asean power grid The funds pledged at COP29 could provide crucial support for accelerating the development of the Asean power grid. One of the region’s decades-long ambitions, the complex power interconnection will enable electricity trade across borders – for both energy security and access to greener energy. The regional ambition made progress with the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore electricity import pilot in 2022, which transmitted 100MW of hydropower from Laos to Singapore, via Malaysia and Thailand. This was later extended to include another 100MW from Malaysia’s electricity grid in October 2024, but this includes a mix of energy sources, including coal and natural gas. Singapore is also laying the groundwork for the regional grid by committing to import 5.6GW of clean electricity from Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Asean envisions a power grid by 2045, and climate finance has the potential to address the unique challenges of financing such a large-scale, multi-country initiative, said Mr Beni Suryadi, acting executive director at the Asean Centre for Energy based in Indonesia. Several key challenges make traditional financing for the Asean power grid difficult. One is cross-border investment risks, since the giant grid will involve multiple countries with different regulatory frameworks and tariffs. Another is the high upfront capital required, especially for building the grid and transmission infrastructure. The resulting long payback periods can put off traditional investors, who seek quicker returns, noted Mr Beni. Climate finance can loosen these gridlocks. These funds often come in the form of concessional loans with low interest rates, grants, or guarantees which lower the financial risks for private investors. When forms of finance like green bonds, blended finance and funding from the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank are injected into a mega-project first, the risks are lowered for private investors to participate. Blended finance refers to bringing together monies from the public sector, the multilateral development banks, philanthropies and the private sector. “This is where climate finance can step in – by bridging these gaps, mitigating risks, and enabling investments that otherwise might not materialise,” he added. As a wealthier developing country, Singapore would not be a recipient of the US$1.3 trillion, and instead would contribute voluntarily to climate finance. But the island-state would be a beneficiary, nonetheless, of the Asean power grid, which would enable it to import low-carbon and renewable electricity to reduce its carbon emissions. Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) said the Asean power grid would maximise the region’s diverse renewable energy potential by matching renewable resource-rich areas with those that need to buy clean energy. “By doing so, it can reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels, increase resilience against fluctuations in global energy markets and make progress towards our decarbonisation targets,” the NCCS spokesperson added. But while the Asean power grid is undoubtedly a worthy project, directing climate finance to it would not be straightforward, as it would be considered an electricity transmission project, said Mr Beni. Whether transmission projects are considered to be green and contribute to reducing carbon emissions is still a question to be settled. “At the moment, climate finance for transmission infrastructure projects is still nascent, while the needs are huge,” he added. The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. Singapore is laying the groundwork for the regional grid by committing to import 5.6 gigawatts of clean electricity from Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. PHOTO: REUTERS South-east Asia: Between the devil and the deep blue sea South-east Asia is in a tricky position when it comes to receiving climate finance as stipulated by COP29. On the one hand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia were, until 2019, among the 20 countries most exposed to climate risks, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, which is published by non-profit organisation Germanwatch. But South-east Asia is expected to continue its fast economic growth, accompanied by more greenhouse gas emissions, noted Dr Kim Jeong Won, a senior research fellow at ESI. This growth has reclassified many Asean nations as middle-income countries, reducing their eligibility for development financing, she added. Among the developing nations, the least developed countries and small island developing states are recognised as having the greatest need for support. Given the competition for funding, a significant gap already exists between the required investments and actual finance that the countries have received. For example, only 9.7 per cent of investments from the UN’s Green Climate Fund – the world’s largest fund of its kind – has been channelled to South-east Asia. Similarly, only 6.3 per cent of investments from the UN’s Adaptation Fund has been allocated to Asean countries, said Dr Kim. She added: “South-east Asian countries are expected to compete for limited bilateral and multilateral public funding with other low-income developing countries.” If they want to attract a greater share of private funding, it is vital that countries develop more innovative finance models and attractive climate-related projects, she noted. Ms Lau Xin Yi, sustainable finance lead for South-east Asia at the Carbon Trust consultancy, is looking at a newer type of finance tool called climate transition bonds. The proceeds from these bonds can be used for a wider range of decarbonisation projects, including those in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement and petrochemicals. Despite guidelines to prevent greenwashing, Ms Lau noted that about 90 per cent of the transition bonds issued globally has been dominated by Japan’s issuances. “Climate transition bonds can help South-east Asia unlock more capital needed for its low-carbon transition. More capital will be channelled towards clean technologies, but how transition is achieved will vary across sectors and regions,” said Ms Lau. More incentives to protect Asean forests A bright spot at COP29 was an agreement on carbon trading , achieved after nearly 10 years of negotiations. Carbon trading is governed under a segment of the Paris Agreement known as Article 6, which was finalised at COP29. This means countries can trade carbon credits in two ways – either under a UN-managed carbon programme or through bilateral agreements. Singapore is currently collaborating with more than 20 countries in carbon markets, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. With Article 6 in place, NCCS said countries that do not have their own national registry to transfer credits can also now use an international registry or receive support from the UN to create their own system. “This reduces the barriers to entry, encouraging more countries to start engaging in carbon markets cooperation, including with Singapore.” Mr Anshari Rahman, director of policy and analytics at Temasek-backed investment platform GenZero, said that carbon markets can unlock financing for deserving and untapped technology, and nature-based solutions in the region. South-east Asia, which is home to the world’s third-largest tropical forest basin after the Amazon and the Congo, would have more incentives to protect it, if it were to receive carbon credits arising from nature-based projects. South-east Asia is home to the world’s third-largest tropical forest basin after the Amazon and the Congo. PHOTO: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Mr Olivier Levallois, founder of Hamerkop Climate Impacts, said some examples are a peat swamp conservation project in Indonesia’s Tanjung Puting National Park, and a carbon forestry programme in Timor-Leste that also benefits small-scale farmers. Singapore has also mandated that carbon project developers must contribute 5 per cent of their share of proceeds from carbon credits towards the host country’s adaptation efforts. This is another way of raising climate finance. “Considering Singapore’s position as a regional carbon trading hub, it should benefit from this early-stage excitement, with more project developers getting involved and capital flowing into carbon projects,” added Mr Levallois, who is also senior director at Chooose, a Norwegian company that helps airlines with their sustainable aviation fuel and carbon programmes. Mr Anshari noted that progress on Article 6 at COP29 helped to shore up market confidence for carbon markets, which have been under scrutiny for years. Mr Levallois said the next steps are to work towards carbon projects, set up regulatory frameworks and develop carbon monitoring methods. A crucial aspect of this process is to increase demand for credits. “The market needs to have stronger demand signal, and it is unclear yet whether companies will suddenly trust these (Article 6) mechanisms and make funding available to address their climate impacts,” he added. Mr Anshari said: “We are closely tracking the development of the infrastructure and tracking systems required to operationalise Article 6 decisions, and we expect to see meaningful progress in 2025 with the first few (carbon) projects to be registered under the (UN) by COP30 in Brazil.” Paying up for climate PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ADOBE STOCK, LIM YONG At COP29, nations set an ambitious goal to channel US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to developing countries to help them reduce carbon emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change. The Straits Times breaks down the layers of finance needed to achieve this target based on insights from independent experts, who suggest raising US$1 trillion annually by 2030 as the first step. 1. Developed nations (US$80 billion to US$100 billion) 2. Multilateral development banks (US$240 billion to US$300 billion) 3. Voluntary contributors (US$30 billion to US$50 billion) 4. Innovative sources (US$140 billion to US$160 billion) 5. Private sector (US$450 billion to US$550 billion) SOURCES: INDEPENDENT HIGH-LEVEL EXPERT GROUP ON CLIMATE FINANCE, UN CLIMATE SUMMIT NEWS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now