💰 $1.3 Billion to Dodge a Ban

💰 A $1.3 Billion Gamble to Defend User Data in Europe

TikTok Is Spending $1.3 Billion to Dodge Bans in Europe.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is based in Beijing and folks in Europe and the US are worried about their data doing a quickstep over to the Chinese government.

To calm these fears, TikTok has launched Project Clover, a $1.3 billion initiative to build data centers in Ireland and Denmark by 2024.

The goal? To make sure EU user data stays within its jurisdiction.

But will this be enough to convince the skeptics? Some countries are still suspicious of Chinese technology and think that TikTok might be spying on them.

TikTok’s situation mirrors that of Huawei, which faced global bans over the same concerns.

🎨 Why Canadians are Turning to Their Paintings

Here’s a fun fact: Your dusty old paintings could be your ticket to beating inflation!

Art and collectibles are becoming hot commodities in investor portfolios, especially among millennials. As the cost of living rises, Canadians are turning to these alternative assets to shield their portfolios from inflation.

Why art?

Well, the value of art tends to rise with inflation, making it a handy hedge for investors. But traditionally, this was a playground for the ultra-rich due to high costs and exclusive auctions.

With online auctions, NFTs, and platforms like Masterworks, art investing is now just a click away.

While art prices can fall, contemporary art has outperformed the S&P 500 since 1995, even during periods of high inflation.

🏗️ SpaceX Must Fix 63 Issues Before Its Starship Can Fly Again

SpaceX’s Starship program recently had a bit of a hiccup.

Picture this: a colossal rocket, designed for missions to Mars and the Moon, goes up in smoke just four minutes into its test flight.

The explosion near SpaceX’s Texas launch site was so massive it rained down concrete and rebar debris.

This led to a joint “mishap investigation” by SpaceX and the FAA, uncovering 63 issues that need fixing before Starship can take to the skies again.

Among the problems were structural failures of the launch pad, delays in safety systems, and the need for hardware redesigns.

But it’s not just about technical glitches. Local and environmental groups are worried about the impact on wildlife and the local community. They’re calling for a comprehensive review of the program.

With these setbacks, NASA is considering other options, like awarding moon lander contracts to SpaceX's rival, Blue Origin.

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