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Category: Living

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Living news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Vietnam’s 100 best places to work in 2024

    Vietnam’s 100 best places to work in 2024

    The Vietnam 100 Best Places to Work list for 2024 features familiar names such as Unilever and Vingroup, while Danish toy maker Lego and property developer Capitaland make their debuts.

    Unilever Vietnam maintained its top position in the large business section in the 11th annual list released by recruitment consultancy Anphabe and market researcher Intage.

    The British company’s open workplace environment and emphasis on lifelong learning programs align with its sustainable development goals, Anphabe said.

    Others in the top 10 include Vingroup, U.S. healthcare solutions provider Abbott, Japanese food manufacturer Acecook Vietnam, U.S. beverage maker Coca-cola, and tech giant FPT.

    In the medium-sized business section, U.S. beverage maker PepsiCo Food Vietnam ranked first for a second straight year.

    The company is hailed as having a dynamic and innovative work environment, with robust training programs and attractive benefit policies.

    Lego, pharmaceutical firm Imexpharm and Singapore’s Capitaland Development Vietnam are some new names in the list.

    The list is based on evaluations of 700 businesses in 18 sectors by polling 65,000 employees.

    The researchers also conducted in-depth interviews with 253 company CEOs and human resource directors to evaluate their talent recruitment and retention strategies.

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  • Can TikTok survive under Trump?

    Can TikTok survive under Trump?

    Whatever happens in the end – I mean, if TikTok gets banned in the US or not – many people will be disappointed. If TikTok gets banned in the Land of the free and the home of the brave, some will be concerned about the freedom of speech issue (and rightly so); but many will just mourn the loss of the 5-second funny cat videos.

    If TikTok does not get banned, many people will also be annoyed; they consider TikTok to be a soul-sucking Dementor’s Kiss, a kryptonite for the mind (I can relate to a certain degree).

    So, which one will it be? For the moment, it appears that TikTok is about to survive under Trump in the US. Well, well, well.

    TikTok’s outlook in the US has significantly brightened following Donald Trump’s re-election, according to industry experts and insiders, The South China Morning Post reports.

    Cameron Johnson, a senior partner at consultancy TidalWave Solutions, noted that the situation for TikTok now appears much more favorable.

    He believes that while the new Trump administration might still push for concessions like localizing data storage and management, an outright ban on the platform seems unlikely. Johnson suggested that TikTok’s role in shaping public sentiment may have played a part in Trump’s election success, which could discourage any drastic regulatory moves against the app.

    Johnson also pointed out that the decision to preserve TikTok could serve as a strategic asset for Trump in future negotiations with the Chinese government, potentially giving the US a stronger bargaining position.

    The valuation of ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, has surged as a result.

    ByteDance recently valued itself at around $300 billion, marking one of its highest valuations despite the possibility of the looming US ban. The valuation was revealed in a new share buyback offer, suggesting that ByteDance expects continued growth even amid regulatory threats.

    The company’s valuation has been increasing over the past year. In October 2023, ByteDance valued itself at nearly $225 billion.

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  • Just before eagerly awaited Tyson-Paul fight, Netflix goes down

    Just before eagerly awaited Tyson-Paul fight, Netflix goes down

    You were looking forward to binging one of the best rom-coms of the year tonight on Netflix, “Nobody Wants This,” starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell. After all, everyone at work has been talking about the film and you were the only one in your clique who hadn’t viewed any of it. So after surviving a tough day at the office you head home, get comfortable, turn on Netflix, and…nothing happens because the streamer is down.

    According to DownDetector, the number of complaints it received about Netflix soared from 406 at 7:27 pm ET to a whopping 99,876 by 9:42 pm ET. That’s a huge increase and is certainly indicative of an issue at Netflix. 88% of the complaints were related to video streaming while 11% of the submissions were related to problems with the server connection. The remaining 1% had to do with logging into the service.

    The issue could be related to the heavy traffic expected to watch the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight which is being streamed tonight on the platform. Most of the written complaints from Netflix users were related to the fight which was free for paid Netflix subscribers. Many said that their connection was constantly getting buffered. Other complained that the video feed was hard to look at while others said that they had no audio. The streaming issues started during the co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano who were battling it out for the women’s Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship.

    These complaints keep coming into Downdetector with comments suggesting that Netflix stick to movies instead of live events. Others said that Netflix obviously can’t handle internet traffic of this magnitude.

    Despite the large number of Netflix subscribers complaining about the service being down, the streamer’s own status page says that Netflix is up and is not experiencing any interruption to its streaming. Back to Downdetector, the outage map shows that Netflix is having problems in major cities like New York, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

    Whether you wanted to watch “Nobody Want This” or the Tyson-Paul fight, Netflix has let down a large number of subscribers tonight.

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  • Signal launches shearable Call Links for easy group call setup

    Signal launches shearable Call Links for easy group call setup

    Signal now allows users to create shareable links for group calls without the need to create a group chat. The new update also introduces an option to raise your hand and react with emojis during group calls, making video conversations more interactive.

    The secure chat app Signal rose in popularity a few years ago. Although now most major messaging apps offer encrypted and secure messages, Signal is still considered to most secure of them all. Signal has quite a lot of cool features like self-destructing messages, message editing, chat backups, group chats, username identification instead of phone numbers, and more.

    The app is also open source. Its latest update focuses on bringing more functionality to its group call features. Now, the platform is introducing shareable meeting links, called Call Links. It works similarly to the solutions offered by WhatsApp and FaceTime.

    Basically, you are able to create a meeting link that can be shared on Signal with whomever you want. They can then join your call by clicking on the link.

    Before the update, if you wanted to have a group call on Signal, you needed to create a new group, add the participants to it, and then start the call. Now, Call Links make it easier to have a group call. The links can be shared outside of Signal as well; however, to join a call you would need an active Signal account.

    Call Links can be created from the Calls section in the bottom panel, where the new option “Create a Call Link” is situated. You can then give the call a title and toggle admin approval on or off. The feature is now available for iOS, Android, and desktop.

    On top of that, Call Links are reusable, which is awesome news if you would have a weekly check-in call. Call hosts can remove participants from a meeting, as well as block users to prevent them from joining again.

    Signal’s maximum capacity for group calls is currently at 50 people. Call Links was previously available in beta last month, and now it’s made it to a public release.

    Additionally, you can now use a raise hand button similar to Google Meet, which will help you attract the attention of the speaker. Emoji reactions are also coming to Signal calls, which add a touch of fun or interactivity without you having to type or speak during the call.

    I really like these updates to the Signal app. Ever since it rose to popularity for its secure messaging, I’ve been a fan of the app. Now, it’s beco

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  • YouTube testing a TikTok-like swipe-up gesture to get to the next video

    YouTube testing a TikTok-like swipe-up gesture to get to the next video

    Recently YouTube redesigned its playback speed controls and added a couple of nice features to its app. It’s been testing different things in recent months, and some tests sound pretty exciting while others have people raising their eyebrows. In YouTube’s latest test, we have a new gesture being tested for longer videos.

    TikTok’s “Swipe up” gesture moves you to a new video. Since the gesture got popularized by TikTok, it was copied into YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, among other short-video sharing solutions. Now, YouTube is testing the gesture for regular-length videos, not Shorts.

    The swipe-up gesture is a quick and easy way to move through a series of short vertical videos, but it’s generally primarily suitable for vertical videos. However, YouTube seems to think the gesture may be useful for horizontal videos as well, and this change is quite a dramatic one.

    Right now, when you’re enjoying a video on YouTube on full screen (landscape orientation), the swipe-up gesture is used to exit full screen, rather conveniently. Digital Trends contributor Tushar Mehta spotted the test. The tested fullscreen video player swipe-up gesture leads to a new video being played.

    The change has been spotted only on Android phones at the moment. You can also swipe from either side on Android phones to leave fullscreen mode, and you can also do that from the arrow button in the top left corner.

    At the moment, it’s not clear when this change will roll out globally. Given the fact this is still in its testing phase, user feedback may play a role in whether or not this update gets released at all. Some people have mixed feelings about it, which I agree with simply because when you are already used to what a gesture does in an app, changing that would be rather annoying.

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  • Vietnam extends trial program for local casino players

    Vietnam extends trial program for local casino players

    A trial program which allows Vietnamese to play at a casino on the southern island of Phu Quoc has been extended until the end of the year, according to a recent government decree.

    Corona Casino began operation in 2019 in a trial program that allows locals to gamble. The trial ended in 2022 but was extended to the beginning of this year and has now been extended one more time.

    Of the country’s nine casinos, Corona remains the only one where Vietnamese can play if they meet income requirements. Other casinos only serve foreigners.

    The government has also approved for Van Don Casino, which has been earmarked in the China-bordering province of Quang Ninh, to begin the same trial program for three years after it receives operation permit.

    Casino development in Vietnam is considered a special business which requires a location approval from the Vietnam Communist Party’s Politburo and a policy approval from the Prime Minister.

    A developer needs to disburse at least 50% of projected capital on a casino project before commercial operation can begin.

    A Vietnamese player needs to be 21 years of age or older with a minimum income of VND10 million (US$395) a month.

    Corona Casino posted VND6.4 trillion in revenue between 2019 and 2023, with a third of it recorded in 2023 alone, according to the Ministry of Finance.

    It posted an accumulated loss of VND3.7 trillion by the end of last year.

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  • Thailand eyes sending more workers to Singapore

    Thailand eyes sending more workers to Singapore

    Thailand’s Ministry of Labor is planning to export more workers, particularly those in the shipyard sector, to Singapore.

    Singapore is looking for welders in the shipbuilding sector, skilled workers in electronic parts, and experienced construction workers, and the huge demand for these jobs presents a good opportunity for Thailand to send more workers there, quoted Thai Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn as saying on Sunday.

    The minister said he and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, met with officials from from the Labor Office in Singapore, Singaporean businesspeople, and Ureerat Chareontoh, the Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, over the weekend at the Thai embassy in Singapore.

    The discussion is expected to make way for broader employment opportunities and facilitate the labor market in Singapore, he noted.

    “Thais can come to work in Singapore as the jobs will help develop their skills, and make money to support their families.”

    Thai workers can secure roles as general laborers, welders, painters, and ship platers, and start working without having to pass tests, he added.

    Boosting labor exports aligns with the ministry’s key strategy of promoting Thai workers’ skills through international exposure and generating income for their families back home.

    Some 4,000 Thai workers are currently employed in Singapore, holding various roles in construction, manufacturing, welding, flight attendant, electronic parts production, pipe assembly, and other general labor positions, as reported by Thai news website Thaiger.

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  • First Lotteria store in Singapore to launch next year

    First Lotteria store in Singapore to launch next year

    The first store of South Korea’s famous fast food chain Lotteria in Singapore is set to be opened in the second quarter next year.

    Food and beverage company Katrina Group has inked a non-binding term sheet with a restaurant business of Lotte Group to bring the chain to the city-state, it said in a news release Wednesday.

    Established in 1979, Lotteria specializes in hamburgers, fried chicken, and fries, and currently operates 1,600 outlets across seven countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

    “Given the brand’s massive popularity in South Korea and its emphasis on quality, innovation and customer satisfaction, we are confident that Lotteria will resonate with Singaporeans and further enhance our F&B portfolio,” said Alan Goh, CEO and founder of Katrina Group.

    Katrina Group operates seven food and beverage brands in Singapore, including Bali Thai, Daily Chicken, and Vietnamese-style noodles chain So Pho.

    Earlier this month U.S. chicken sandwich chain Chick-fil-A announced plans to launch its first Singapore restaurant late next year as part of its US$75 million investment to enter Asia.

  • South Korean doctors eye move to Vietnam

    South Korean doctors eye move to Vietnam

    Many South Korean doctors in various specializations, unhappy with working conditions back home, have been applying for jobs in Vietnam this year.

    More than 30 of them took a health test late last month and are now preparing for an English exam to be held at the HCMC University of Medicine & Pharmacy within two months. Foreign doctors from nations with advanced healthcare systems are not required to pass local qualification exams to work in Vietnam, but need to furnish the professional licenses issued in their home countries and undergo a health check and an English test.

    A representative of a company that helps translate and notarize documents for foreign doctors said many South Korean cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, dentists, and emergency medicine specialists are interested in working in Vietnam.

    Many are looking for career opportunities in Vietnam this year, unhappy with the working conditions at private clinics in their country and enticed by those available in the latter nation.

    A private medical facility in Hanoi offers a 44-hour work week, a monthly salary of 30 million won (US$22,000) and $800 in housing assistance to South Korean doctors.

    In South Korea, doctors have been at odds with the government over a plan to boost medical school admissions by 2,000 per year.

    Some 12,000 trainee doctors walked out in February to protest the change, resulting in widespread cancellations of surgeries and other essential treatments.

    The government has since made several attempts to alleviate the pressures on the country’s medical system. The strike is ongoing.

    The number of emergency room doctors has declined by 42% at hospitals across the nation, with seven of them contemplating partial closure of emergency rooms, Yonhap News Agency reported last month, citing a medical professors association.

  • Spotify rolls out custom playlist cover art feature

    Spotify rolls out custom playlist cover art feature

    Spotify has launched a new beta feature that allows users to personalize their playlists with custom cover art. Available on both iOS and Android devices, the feature gives users the ability to design unique covers using their own images, colors, text effects, and graphic elements. This new addition aims to provide users with more creative control over their playlists, making them visually distinctive.

    To access this feature, users need to have the latest version of the Spotify mobile app. Once updated, they can select an existing playlist or create a new one. By tapping the three-dot menu on the playlist page and selecting “Create cover art,” users can then upload an image and customize it with various elements. These include text styles and effects from Spotify’s custom typeface, Spotify Mix, as well as background colors, gradients, image masking, visual effects, and exclusive stickers from artists like Jun Ioneda, Sam Lyon, James Marshall, and Shivani Parasnis. After creating their cover art, users can share it with friends or on social media platforms.

    It’s worth noting that each playlist can only have one custom cover art saved at a time. Any new cover created for a playlist will replace the previous one. For users who want to design multiple covers for the same playlist, creating a copy of the playlist is recommended. This can be done by opening the playlist, tapping the three-dot menu, selecting “Add to other playlist,” and then tapping “New playlist.”

    Currently, this feature is available in beta to English-speaking users in 65 markets. Spotify has collaborated with various music artists, visual creators, and album art designers for the launch. Among them are creators that have collaborated on famous works by Bad Bunny, The Notorious B.I.G., Beastie Boys, and JAY-Z, among others. These artists have used the new feature to create unique cover art for their own personal Spotify playlists.
    I find that this feature offers a fun and creative way to personalize playlists and express users’ musical taste. I appreciate the flexibility it provides in terms of design elements and the ability to use one’s own images. Furthermore, I believe this feature will enhance the overall user experience on Spotify, making it more engaging and visually appealing. Let’s see how Spotify further develops and expands this tool in the future.
  • Government seeks monopoly over nuclear power

    Government seeks monopoly over nuclear power

    The government wants to retain its monopoly over nuclear power, proposed amendments to the Electricity Law show.

    The government wants to exclusively build nuclear power plants as these are considered critical to national security, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said as he presented the amendments to the National Assembly Monday.

    The construction, operation and decommissioning of the plants and ensuring their safety must comply with the Atomic Energy Law and other relevant regulations.

    The plans for nuclear power generation must be integrated into the national power development plan to ensure energy security.

    Nuclear plants are required to use proven technologies.

    The government will create mechanisms for the investment, construction and operation of the nuclear plants.

    PM Pham Minh Chinh recently instructed government agencies to study the development of nuclear power and make amendments to the National Power Development Plan to include it.

    In 2009 the government had announced plans to build two nuclear power plants in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan at a cost of several billion dollars, but the National Assembly shot down the proposal in 2016 saying they were unaffordable.

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  • Apple Music will let you relive a concert you have been to

    Apple Music will let you relive a concert you have been to

    I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about attending live music performances is the element of surprise. Besides the music itself, there’s an art to how artists choose the order of their songs. Now, Apple Music is recognizing that.

    A new feature allows artists to create playlists featuring the songs they performed at their recent shows. This should make it a breeze for you to relive the concert you just attended and jog your memory with some good (fingers crossed) vibes. Plus, you can check out all the tracks an artist plans to perform before catching them on tour.

    Now, while this feature is aimed at artists, I think it also brings some perks for us regular users. For example, when artists put together a setlist and share it on social media to announce their upcoming tours or concerts, it makes staying in the loop a whole lot easier. Plus, it’s a great way to reconnect with someone you experienced the live show with.
    If you’re an artist eager to try out this new feature on Apple Music and create a Set List on your artist page, head over to Artist Content and scroll down to Artist Playlists. Here’s how to kick things off:

    1. Click the (+) button next to Artist Playlists or the Create a Set List button if you haven’t made one yet.
    2. Choose the type of show (concert, tour, or residency) and enter an event name.
    3. Add an event: If you’ve linked your Bandsintown account with Shazam, you can select from upcoming events. If not, connect your Apple Music artist page to Bandsintown or manually enter your event details, including location and date.
    4. Set a publish date for the playlist, ensuring it’s at least one day in the future. The playlist will be published based on your local time. Click Continue when ready.
    5. Use the search function to add tracks to your Set List, either by song name or by pasting an Apple Music link. Include the songs performed during the show, and adjust the order as needed. Click Publish when done.

    You can create multiple Set Lists for different shows, which will display by popularity on your Apple Music artist page and Shazam pages. However, keep in mind that any playlists managed by Apple are not editable.

    In other Apple Music news, Apple recently gave Apple Music Classical a classic twist by introducing new album booklets. Before that, with the rollout of iOS 18, Apple Music launched a personalized New tab to help with music discovery.

  • Google Flights introduces a new “Cheapest” tab for budget-conscious travelers

    Google Flights has launched a new “Cheapest” tab to help travelers find the most affordable flights, even if it means sacrificing some convenience. The new feature comes as October is considered the ideal time to book holiday flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Google Flights already offers various ways to save on travel, but this new feature aims to make finding the lowest prices even easier. The “Cheapest” tab will display options with the lowest fares, which may include longer layovers, self-transfers, or booking different legs of the trip through multiple airlines or booking sites.

    The new “Cheapest” tab complements the existing “Best” tab, which prioritizes a balance of price and convenience. While the “Best” tab shows the most convenient flights based on factors like travel time and number of stops, the “Cheapest” tab focuses solely on finding the absolute lowest fares, regardless of the potential inconveniences.

    This new feature is beneficial for travelers who are flexible with their travel plans and prioritize cost savings over convenience. By using the “Cheapest” tab, travelers can explore a wider range of options and potentially find significant discounts on their airfare.

    Google’s latest insights indicate that the cheapest fares for U.S. domestic trips around Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually available in October, which makes this the perfect time to roll out this tool. The new addition will effectively enable travelers to easily compare prices and find the best deals for their holiday travel plans. Rollout should begin globally over the next two weeks, wherever Google Flights is available —  this means both on mobile and the web.
    This update will provide travelers with an additional tool to make informed decisions and find the most affordable flights for their next trip, and it could be a game-changer for budget-conscious travelers like myself. The ability to prioritize price over convenience opens up a whole new world of possibilities for finding affordable flights. I’m eager to try out the “Cheapest” tab and see how much I can save on my future travels.
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  • Changi Airport Group opens refurbished air logistics facility Changi Nexus One in Changi Airfreight Centre

    Changi Airport Group opens refurbished air logistics facility Changi Nexus One in Changi Airfreight Centre

    Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced the opening of Changi Nexus One, a refurbished air logistics facility within Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC) spanning close to 8,000 sqm of warehousing space. Strategically located with direct apron connectivity, Changi Nexus One is designed as a facility for two tenants, capable of expeditious cargo handling and will serve the special needs of air logistics players looking to expand their global airfreight operations through Singapore.

    This new facility will increase Changi Airport’s logistics warehouse capacity, ensuring that Singapore’s Changi air cargo hub can meet the growing demand for air cargo services, prior to the completion of the Changi East Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in the mid-2030s. CAG’s investment in Changi Nexus One demonstrates its commitment to providing world-class facilities for air logistics players, augmenting Changi’s role as a leading regional air cargo transshipment hub. The new tenants at Changi Nexus One are expected to bring new air logistics handling capabilities, as well as adopt automation and smart technology in their operations, further enhancing Changi Airport’s air cargo management capabilities.

    A key partner taking up space in this facility is Expeditors, the world’s seventh largest air freight forwarding company, which is looking to expand its air logistics activities in Singapore.

    Mr Barthul Hoefnagels, Regional Vice President – Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia said, “The new facility in Changi Airfreight Centre will enhance our end-to-end efficiency and reliability through fewer touch points, allowing Expeditors to further enhance our specialised cargo handling capabilities for pharmaceutical, aviation, semiconductor and other industries, and better serve the in-transit needs of our global customers. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Changi Airport Group to drive further value to our customers.”

    New benchmark for green building practices

    In line with Changi Airport’s commitment to sustainability, Changi Nexus One is a pioneer in several areas. It is the first building within CAC, and the first-of-its-kind in Changi, to achieve both Green Mark Platinum and the Green Mark Platinum Positive Energy Building (PEB) certifications by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

    The Green Mark Platinum PEB certification is issued to buildings with the highest environmental performance. To achieve this, Changi Nexus One has demonstrated that it is a BCA super-low energy building that achieves more than 60% energy savings and generates more renewable energy than it consumes. Besides the ongoing installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) system airport wide including at the Cargo Agent Buildings, solar PV panels will also be installed at Changi Nexus One by the first quarter of 2025 to provide on-site renewable energy. By 2028, Changi Nexus One will generate enough on-site solar power to offset the total building energy consumption by over 140%. This surplus of renewable energy will be channelled to other airport facilities to sustain Changi Airport’s other operations.

    Additionally, this project is the first in Singapore’s private sector to adopt the collaborative contracting method. This new contracting method recommended by BCA is an innovative approach which fosters greater collaboration between project stakeholders, leading to improved efficiency. It focuses on risk management, which involves all parties assessing and evaluating potential project threats in advance, resulting in completion of works ahead of schedule, risk sharing and cost savings.

    Mr. Lim Ching Kiat, CAG’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development said, “The opening of Changi Nexus One marks a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen Changi Airport’s position as a global air cargo hub. Through enhancing our cargo handling capacity and capabilities, we aim to stay at the forefront of the air cargo industry, putting Changi in a good position to capture growth from key cargo players, as well as growth in the region. Working closely with our tenants, we aim to bring in new cargo opportunities and expand into new markets.

    “As we strive to maintain Changi’s continued success as a thriving air cargo hub, we also constantly challenge ourselves to carry out our development works and operations according to our sustainability goals.”

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  • Gasoline prices surge

    Gasoline prices surge

    Gasoline prices increased sharply Thursday afternoon after inching down last week.

    The popular fuel RON95 rose 6.36% to VND21,060 (US$0.85) per liter.

    Biofuel E5 RON92 increased by 5.25% to VND19,840.

    Regulators said that prices in the last seven days rose as a hurricane made landfall in the U.S., resulting in a spike in demand in that country, and concerns over the military conflict in the Middle East.

    In the last seven days, fuel prices have increased by 7-7.9% and oils have gained 5.2-7.4%. RON95 is now at $88.2 per barrel and diesel at $90.

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