Business

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Retail inflation rose to 6.01 per cent in January on an annual basis and breached the RBI's upper tolerance level, mainly due to higher prices of certain food items, as per government data released on Monday.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation was 5.66 per cent in December 2021 and 4.06 per cent in January 2021.

Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) The rupee declined 20 paise to 75.56 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday, amid geopolitical tensions pushing investors to the safe-haven appeal of the greenback.

Forex traders said muted domestic equities and elevated crude oil prices weighed on the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75.53 against the US dollar, then slipped further to 75.56, registering a decline of 20 paise from the last close.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a ban on 54 Chinese mobile applications that pose a threat to the country's security, officials sources said on Monday.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will formally issue a notification banning the operations of these apps in India.

Tehran (ISNA) – Iranian negotiating delegation headed by Ali Bagheri and Russian negotiating delegation headed by Mikhail Ulyanov held a bilateral meeting in Vienna on Saturday.

The meeting was held in continuation of eighth round of talks on removal of the sanctions.  

These days, the representatives of Iran, EU and 4+1 countries are busy with completing the draft of the agreement and making decisions about certain important disputed issues.

Dubai, Feb 13 (AP) Saudi Arabia said Sunday it will transfer 4% of its stock in the state-run oil giant Aramco to its state investment fund, a nearly 80 billion infusion of cash as it tries to overhaul its energy-dependent economy.

The announcement on state media comes as the oil firm is valued just under 2 trillion.

The kingdom remains the largest shareholder in the firm with 94% of the company. It offered shares of the oil firm on Riyadh's Tadawul stock market in 2019.

Tehran (ISNA) - Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani stressed that maintaining and strengthening Iran's peaceful nuclear capacities and defense capabilities are the options that will never be removed from the negotiating table.

Shamkhani posted a tweet after the February 11 ceremony held across Iran to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. 

“Options that are never removed from the table:

Glorious presence of Iranians in ceremonies in support of the Islamic establishment,

Tehran (ISNA) - Iran and Oman signed MoU during 19th meeting of Joint Economic Committee in order to promote economic ties and maritime trade through Chabahar Port.

The MoU was reached in Muscat between Seyed Reza Fatemi Amin, Iran Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Oman Minister of Commerce and Industry.

For implementation of bilateral MoU, an economic delegation from Oman will visit the infrastructures, equipment, and capabilities of Chabahar Port before long, Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef mentioned.

11 Feb 2022; MEMO: Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, indicated, on Thursday, difficulties in agreeing to a financial recovery plan critical to steering Lebanon out of its devastating economic collapse, calling it a "Kamikaze operation", Reuters reports.

A plan for addressing a $70 billion hole in the financial system is seen as the starting point for talks with the International Monetary Fund, and vital to reviving the paralysed banking system.

11 Feb 2022; MEMO: Prince William, second in line to the British throne, on Thursday, visited the United Arab Emirates at a time when the former British protectorate has faced an unprecedented, though mostly foiled, string of missile and drone attacks, Reuters reports.

Kensington Palace said it is the Duke of Cambridge's first official visit to the UAE. Six of its emirates ceased being British protectorates 50 years ago and formed a federation. The seventh joined in 1972.

Washington, Feb 11 (AP) The Biden administration on Thursday approved a nearly USD14 billion arms sale to Indonesia, as the U.S. presses ahead with steps it believes will help counter China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

The State Department announced the USD13.9 billion sale of advanced fighter jets while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Australia on a visit also intended to underscore the U.S. determination not to allow China free rein in the Pacific, even as developments between Russia and Ukraine demand attention.