US dollar firms as inflation data backs Fed hike; yen plunges

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. dollar rose on Friday after data showed inflation grew in March, though at a slower pace, keeping the Federal Reserve still firmly on track to raise interest rates at next week’s monetary policy meeting. The yen, meanwhile, fell across the board, after the Bank of Japan…

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Louisiana’s carbon well permitting application heads to Federal Register

By Liz Hampton (Reuters) – Louisiana’s application to obtain enforcement authority over carbon capture wells has gone to the Federal Register for public comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Friday, a key step in receiving “so-called” primacy and speeding up the permitting process. The EPA currently manages permitting for most Class VI wells…

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Colombia’s central bank raises benchmark rate to 13.25% in split vote

By Nelson Bocanegra BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombia’s central bank board raised the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 13.25% on Friday, continuing a long tightening cycle amid persistent inflation and significant stability risks to the global financial system, it said. Four policymakers voted for the 25 basis point increase, while two wanted to keep…

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SEC looks down on UpToken, imposes crypto fines

By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has fined Seattle-based Coinme and related defendants nearly $4 million for conducting an unregistered and misleading offering of a crypto asset called UpToken. Friday’s settlement resolves claims that Coinme’s Up Global unit and Neil Bergquist, who led both entities, misled investors in a late…

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Montana transgender legislator silenced after ‘blood on your hands’ comment

By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – Montana statehouse Republicans on Wednesday silenced Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr from floor debates for breaking decorum after she said lawmakers who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have “blood on your hands.” Under the motion that passed with a vote of 68-32, Zephyr will be allowed…

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Brazil’s Lula recognizes Indigenous territories halted by Bolsonaro

By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva legally recognized six Indigenous territories on Friday, fulfilling a campaign promise to reverse the policy of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro said Brazil’s original people had too much land. The recognition is crucial to protect Indigenous lands from increasing encroachment by farming and…

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