QUICK HITS

1 School cancels speech over support of Palestinians:

The University of Southern California has canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian, a Muslim student who has expressed support for Palestinians, citing “substantial”security risks for the event that draws 65,000 people to campus. Valedictorian Asna Tabassum said she was blindsided by the decision, in a statement from the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. She said university officials Monday told her the school had the resources to take appropriate safety measures but were concerned about their image.

2 Supreme Court extends educational benefits to veterans:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with a decorated veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in a protracted fight with the government over 12 months of GI Bill educational benefits. The court ruled 7-2 the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly calculated the educational benefits for James Rudisill, a retired Army captain who lives in northern Virginia. Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, is in a category of veterans who earned credit under two versions of the GI Bill. One version applied to people who served before the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. Congress passed new legislation after Sept. 11.

Yellen warns of global economic 3 issues due to Middle East tensions:

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning of potential global“economic spillovers”from rising tensions in the Middle East. She’s also pledging that the U.S. and its allies won’t hesitate to use their sanctions powers to address Iran’s “malign and destabilizing activity”in the region. Yellen made her remarks Tuesday as global finance ministers and central bankers gather for meetings in Washington this week.

4 Coal miners are getting new protections from silica dust:

Coal miners will be better protected from poisonous silica dust that has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of mine workers from a respiratory ailment commonly known as black lung disease, the Labor Department said Tuesday. The final rule, announced by Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, cuts by half the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica for an eight-hour shift.

5 China’s economic growth beats expectations:

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter of the year with help from policies and stronger demand, though signs of weakness persisted. The world’s second-largest economy expanded at a 5.3% annual pace in January-March, surpassing analysts’ forecasts. Compared to the previous quarter, the economy expanded 1.6%.