VIENNA: International oil prices fell Wednesday after a key ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies was pushed back from Sunday to November 30. The Vienna-based organization announced the postponement of the OPEC+ alliance gathering in a brief statement, without providing any explanation. With oil prices plummeting below $80 per barrel since peaking in September, analysts expect further production cuts by the alliance. End of Saudi cutsRussian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday sounded a different note, saying that "current oil prices objectively reflect the current situation." Oil prices are far from the levels near $140 a barrel reached after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Suzuki Grand Auto Festival, scheduled from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26, 2023, holds great anticipation. Join the Suzuki Grand Autofestival to explore the latest models, participate in engaging activities, and take advantage of discounts and affordable car plans. More than showcasing Suzuki's offerings, the Suzuki Grand Auto Festival serves as an ideal platform for first-time buyers and car enthusiasts seeking to upgrade their current vehicles to Suzuki's latest models. Additionally, attendees can express their thoughts for Suzuki Philippines on the Suzuki Sign Up Wall. For more information, check out any authorized Suzuki Auto dealerships nationwide or visit http://suzuki.com.ph/auto/.

Cash utilization stuck at 94%MANILA, Philippines — The government slightly increased its releases of cash allocations, but spending usage of state agencies did not budge as of end-October, according to the Department of Budget and Management. DBM data showed that notices of cash allocation (NCAs) rose by just a percentage to P3.6 trillion as of end-October from P3.56 trillion a year ago. Despite the increase, government agencies recorded the same utilization rate as last year at 94 percent. Line departments, on the other hand, registered the same 10-month utilization rate at 92 percent or P2.46 trillion for the NCAs they received as of end-October. Among the agencies, only the Commission on Audit recorded a 100 percent utilization rate.

EU Council backs Philippines' GSP+ extension, says DTI chiefA crane stacks shipping containers of Philippine products for export at the international container port in Manila on Sept. 11, 2012. MANILA, Philippines — The European Union and the European Council is supportive of a four-year extension on the eligibility of the Philippines in the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (EU GSP+) trade mechanism, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Wednesday. This was also confirmed by EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron in an ambush interview with reporters. However, the EU has been met with criticisms by human rights groups like the Human Rights Watch, saying that the council has tolerated the human rights abuses under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. In February 2022, the EU Parliament considered removing some trade privileges of the Philippines if the alleged human rights abuses under Duterte were not addressed at that time.

THE digital revolution has ushered in a wave of innovations that are reshaping the financial sector globally. From blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) to advanced analytics and cloud computing, technologies are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also providing new avenues for strategic decision-making. Finance leaders must embrace this digital imperative, recognizing it as an opportunity to drive sustainable growth, improve risk management and enhance customer experiences. This is where finance leaders, may it be a chief financial officer or a finance manager, take on an active role in ensuring sustainability in digital transformation efforts in organizations.

These two modals convey the idea of ability, possibility, permission, or potential to perform an action or do a task—"can" is the present-tense form, and "could" the past-tense form. Use "can" to convey possibility: "The team can win if its members are more disciplined." To convey habitual or customary action: "After breaking up with her fiancé, Joanna would get angry over trivial things." More commonly, the modal "shall" is used in formal written directives and records of corporate proceedings, as in "All workers shall be responsible for the upkeep of their respective work areas." * * *Read this essay and listen to its voice recording in The Manila Times: "Still baffled when to use 'can' or 'could' and 'will' or 'would'?

75On Nov. 25, 2023, I turn 75. I am a product of public elementary and high schools when state education was the best in Asia. While many publications closed shop and lost their moorings, BizNewsAsia instead grew in strength, thanks to my business friends. For this reason, I thank my business friends who have been with me, no matter the state of the economic and political weather. His PLDT-Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is No.

SM Supermalls successfully steered back to business growth this year after emerging stronger in an industry heavily impacted by the pandemic. Healthy Pilipinas Awards for PartnersSM Cares and SM Supermalls were honored by the DOH at the concluded Healthy Pilipinas Awards for Partners. Celebrating success in promoting a healthier Philippines, SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, earns Gold recognitions from the DOH for its impactful initiatives. At SM Supermalls, we dedicate these awards to our hardworking teams and the communities we serve, as we continue to strive for a healthier, more vibrant and sustainable future,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan. To know more about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.

The price guide includes 240 shelf keeping units (SKUs)—which manufacturers use to identify and track their inventory—such as ham, fruit cocktail, pasta, spaghetti sauce and queso de bola. A 430-gram of Dole fruit cocktail went up from P63 to P63.83, while a 3-kilo Del Monte Fiesta brand in extra light syrup increased from P279.95 to P298. Market forcesNograles said prices of cheese products increased by as much as P49, the highest among the listed items. The DTI does not regulate or approve prices of noche buena products, unlike essential food items and necessities as mandated by the Price Act. As market forces dictate their pricing, the surge in demand during the Christmas holidays tends to push prices higher.

Up to 7 percent growth possible next year“The outlook for higher growth in 2024 at six to seven percent is also hinged on the expected monetary policy easing by the BSP and other major central banks,” Metrobank Research said. Metrobank Research’s growth outlook, however, is still below the gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.5 to eight percent set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for next year. Metrobank Research said the strong economic growth in the third quarter suggests that overall economic activity has remained resilient despite a high-interest rate environment. It said the strong growth gives the BSP more room for a rate hike should inflation expectations become problematic this year. The risk-adjusted inflation is equivalent to baseline inflation forecasts plus the probability weighted impact of the different upside and downside risks to inflation outlook.

Self-rated poverty, hunger down in Q3Residents of Barangay San Nicolas in Binondo, Manila go about their daily routine on September 20, 2023. Self-rated poverty was at 43 percent in March 2023 and 41 percent in October 2022. According to OCTA, the decrease in self-rated poverty was due to a significant drop among respondents in Balance Luzon. It was down five points from the 15 percent or an estimated 3.9 million families that experienced hunger in the second quarter of the year. Seventy-four percent of those who experienced involuntary hunger in the third quarter said they experienced it only once, while 17 percent said it happened a few times.

The man was later arrested by police for possessing the handcuffs, which officers said were restricted items. The incident occurred at around 2 am after the man had put on the handcuffs gifted by a friend of his, which he thought were toys. The couple then visited the fire station and firefighters helped free the man from the handcuffs, also informing the police of the incident. Police officers arrived on the scene finding the handcuffs to be restricted items, and arrested the man for possession of offensive weapon. Officers were now investigating the source of the handcuffs.

NEW YORK CITY: Workers from Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis ratified new contracts with hefty wage hikes, their union announced on Monday, closing the books on an historic auto workers strike at the three Detroit giants. VICTORY UAW (United Auto Workers) local 862 members strike outside of Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 12, 2023. Workers from Detroit’s ‘Big Three’ ratified new labor contracts that promise hefty wage hikes, the United Auto Workers announced on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. AP PHOTO VICTORY UAW (United Auto Workers) local 862 members strike outside of Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 12, 2023. Workers from Detroit's 'Big Three' ratified new labor contracts that promise hefty wage hikes, the United Auto Workers announced on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.

"We want to partner with OpenAI and we want to partner with Sam so irrespective of where Sam is he's working with Microsoft," chief executive Satya Nadella said in a streamed Bloomberg interview. "Microsoft has assured us that there are positions for all OpenAI employees at this new subsidiary should we choose to join." A key AI executive at Microsoft confirmed that they all were welcome from OpenAI if the board that removed Altman didn't resign. Nadella wrote on X that Altman will lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, joined by OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman. Global tech titan Microsoft has invested more than $10 billion in OpenAI and has rolled out the artificial intelligence pioneer's tech in its own products.

Philippines-US air, maritime patrols in West Philippine Sea launched — MarcosMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States started the joint maritime and aerial patrols in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday. "This significant initiative is a testament to our commitment to bolster the interoperability of our military forces in conducting maritime and air patrols. "These joint patrols are part of a series of events agreed upon by the Mutual Defense Board - Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) of both nations. Today marks the beginning of joint maritime and air patrols— a collaborative effort between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Indo-Pacific Command in the West Philippine Sea. This significant initiative is a testament to our commitment to bolster the… — Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 21, 2023He also said that the joint patrols are scheduled to continue until November 23.