00:00Following confusion over possible talks between the US and Iran,
00:04oil prices have rebounded to around US$100 a barrel after a brief drop earlier on Monday.
00:10Countries across Asia are still stepping up measures to cushion the impact of soaring energy costs
00:16as the conflict nears its one-month mark.
00:20In China, authorities have delayed plans to hike fuel prices
00:24after petrol costs jumped around 20% since the start of the conflict on February 28.
00:30While gasoline and diesel prices were initially set to rise further,
00:35the government made adjustments in a bid to ease the burden on drivers.
00:39Meanwhile, governments in Asia are rolling out strict energy-saving policies.
00:44In the Philippines, government employees have been ordered to work a four-day week,
00:48while Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a holiday for public institutions.
00:53Over in Thailand, authorities are encouraging work-from-home arrangements,
00:57and civil servants have been told to suspend overseas travel,
01:01reduce energy use in offices,
01:03and adopt simple measures like using stairs instead of lifts.
01:08For South Korea, President Lee Jae-myung called for a nationwide energy-saving campaign
01:13with public institutions ordered to cut back on vehicle use.
01:17The government is also urging people to conserve energy at home,
01:20including taking shorter showers, charging devices during the day,
01:25and using washing machines and vacuums over the weekend.
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