Apple has hit that milestone again – market cap of $3 trillion. Indeed, an unbelievable value creation there: Apple’s market value passed the $3 trillion mark again on Friday — a milestone no other company has ever reached.”

The tech giant previously grazed the milestone during intraday trading in January 2022 but closed shy of the mark. Apple shares have risen roughly 47% so far this year — adding about $940 billion in value. The tech sector has seen a flurry of renewed optimism around the potential of artificial intelligence, with the Nasdaq up about 30% and on track for its best first half of a year since the 1980s. Apple has also benefited from a rebound in its iPhone business.

Apple is viewed by investors as a relatively safe stock in a time of global economic uncertainty, boosting its share price.

As we discuss that, Google plans freeze news in Canada over regulations. It joins Meta on this news exit in Canada.

Google says news links will stop appearing on its search engine in Canada by the end of the year, when Bill C-18 takes effect. Also known as the Online News Act, the bill forces the likes of Google and Meta to pay news outlets for their content. News links will also be removed from Google News and Google Discover. The federal government says the bill is aimed at helping level the playing field between local news publications and foreign tech giants, but Google calls it “unworkable.” Google is also pulling the plug on Google News Showcase, which licenses news from local publishers. The move follows a similar step away from news by Meta last week.

I am very unhappy the US Supreme Court has struck down Biden’s plan for federal student loan forgiveness. With this ruling, millions of students will not see their debts decreased or erased. As an immigrant who came with a student visa and who received the generosity and kindness of Americans that close to $400,000 of my education tuition/fees were paid for, under fellowships and scholarships, this ruling is painful.

It is painful because a student with loans has limited options. In other words, if you have a student loan, upon graduation, paying that loan becomes what drives your career. Yes, that startup opportunity is muted because the first loan payment is due in 6 months and the startup cannot support the payment.

This loan forgiveness in the generous America would have liberated many young people to DREAM, untethered by the burdens of loans. Sure, I understand the argument that if you keep forgiving loans, schools will keep racking up fees and tuition knowing that governments will take the tab. (Of course, most states are not open to allowing those loans to go since the tax on the interest payments generate massive revenue to them. In other words, the student loans are sources of revenue for most states.)

But that misses the point: potential beneficiaries of these loans are largely poor and lower middle class families. Most of their schools do not charge much, even as their schools do not give them the ladder to earn really much as the top 20 ranked universities in the United States. Those schools, if you graduate from them, just the name alone will get you a nice job, and with that job, you can pay off student loans. Have you seen an unemployed Harvard graduate? Johns Hopkins? IMT? They’re not smarter but their schools give them opportunities. 

Without Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon in my resume, many opportunities I have today will not be possible. At least you have a chance before they know how competent you are!

The University of California, one of the country’s largest university systems, comprising nine different campuses, just issued a statement calling today’s ruling a “disappointment.”

“This historic relief program would have made a significant impact on the lives of college graduates, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds who are more likely to take on debt to complete their education,” the statement reads. “It also harms society as a whole: Those with student loans are less likely to earn advanced degrees, purchase a home, start their own business or make other investments that benefit their communities.”

It is an irony: it is safer to borrow $400k to attend Harvard than $40k to one yoyo school. While the Harvard guy can easily pay back that $400k, the guy from that low quality school will struggle for decades to pay the $40k. The $40k guy is among those Biden was trying to help. This ruling, unfortunately, will severely impact Blacks and Latinos more, and the Supreme Court missed an opportunity to reset futures for many young people.

Of course, law is not about morality, and the Court may not care.

Bro U are a guest in somebody's country.

His people objected to d loans being scrapped.

You can't access monies 2 pay 4 school and then skip out of paying back the monies. That's just D fact.

If he wants 2 forgive debts he can as well forgive D debts of all Americans.

Logic!

— The real Mccoy (@samchiz) June 30, 2023

My Response: “Bro U are a guest in somebody’s country.” – I am not a guest. I pay taxes in America and unlike possibly Nigeria , the system is designed for everyone to have a voice. Elon Musk is not a guest. So, leave that line of thinking and focus on ideas. This is about debate.