United News of Bangladesh

Tecno, known for delivering feature-packed smartphones at budget-friendly prices, continues to push boundaries with its camera-focused Camon series. The Tecno CAMON 40 Pro, expected to be released in Q2, 2025, brings major upgrades in photography, performance, and display. In this review, we will explore its strengths and weaknesses in design, display, camera, battery life, gaming performance, and more.  Key Features of Tecno CAMON 40 Pro . Design and Build Quality The Tecno Camon 40 Pro features a sleek design with dimensions of 164.3 x 74.6 x 7.3 mm and a weight of 179g. Its slim profile is complemented by an IP68/IP69 rating, ensuring dust tightness and water resistance up to 2 meters for 30 minutes. The device is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, offering durability against scratches and minor impacts.  In comparison, the Tecno Camon 30 Pro measures slightly thicker at 7.7 mm and weighs 188.6g, while the Infinix Note 50 4G is heavier at 199g but features an aerospace-grade aluminium frame with an RGB notification light on the back panel. In contrast, the Oppo K13 5G is the heaviest of the group, weighing 208g with an 8.5 mm thickness, and it also features IP65-rated dust and water resistance.  Read more: Infinix Note 50 Pro Plus Review: Is it a value-for-money midrange smartphone? Display Quality Like the Camon 30 Pro, the Camon 40 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2436 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 393 ppi. The screen supports a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR image support, providing smooth visuals and vibrant colours, which was also offered by the ancestor Camon 30 Pro. Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protects the display and features an always-on display function.  The Infinix Note 50 4G matches the Camon 40 Pro’s 144Hz refresh rate but goes a step further with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, making it easier to see in bright light. Meanwhile, the Oppo K13 offers a slightly smaller 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate but a lower peak brightness of 1200 nits. This gives the Infinix Note 50 4G a clear edge in display visibility.  Camera Performance The Camon 40 Pro is equipped with a dual rear camera setup, comprising a 50 MP primary sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, 1/1.56" sensor size, 1.0µm pixel size, PDAF, and OIS, along with an 8 MP ultrawide lens. This configuration supports 4K video recording at 30/60 fps and 1080p at 30 fps. The front camera features a 50 MP sensor with an f/2.5 aperture, 24mm focal length, 1/2.8" sensor size, 0.64µm pixel size, and PDAF.  Read more: vivo iQoo Neo 10R Review: What’s new? On the other hand, the Camon 30 Pro offers a triple rear camera setup with two 50 MP sensors (wide and ultrawide) and a 2 MP depth sensor, along with a 50 MP front camera. The downgrade of the ultrawide camera from 50MP to 8 MP in the Camon 40 Pro is disheartening. The Oppo K13 is equipped with a 50 MP primary camera featuring an f/1.9 aperture, accompanied by a 2 MP depth sensor. On the front, it features a 16 MP selfie camera with an f/2.5 aperture.​ It can capture 4K video at maximum. The Infinix Note 50 4G features a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture and a 2 MP macro lens, while the front camera is 13 MP with an f/2.2 aperture. Capturing 1440p at highest capacity, it falls behind the race. Read more: Best 10 Smartphones Releasing in April 2025 In this comparison, the Tecno Camon 30 Pro clearly emerges as the top choice among the four devices. Processor Performance  The Camon 40 Pro is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset, built on a 4nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and a Mali-G615 MC2 GPU. This setup provides smooth performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. However, the Camon 30 Pro comes with a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, built on a 4nm process. It features an octa-core CPU (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, delivering significantly better performance.  Read more: itel Power 70 Review: Another budget-friendly gem The Infinix Note 50 4G shares the Helio G100 Ultimate (6 nm) chipset, while the Oppo K13 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, built on a 4nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU and Adreno 810 GPU.​  The Camon 30 Pro has the best processor among these four. Gaming Performance  Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 4nm chipset and Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, the Camon 40 Pro offers smooth performance for casual gaming and handles moderate multitasking efficiently. However, users may notice occasional frame drops during more demanding games or intensive usage. With its Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset and Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, the Camon 30 Pro delivers a stronger gaming experience, smoothly handling high-end games without lag. The Infinix Note 50 4G provides similar gaming capabilities as the Camon 40 Pro, while the Oppo K13, with its Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset and Adreno 810 GPU, offers competitive gaming performance in its segment.​ Read more: Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: A Mid-range marvel with standard features Battery Life  The Camon 40 Pro is equipped with a 5200 mAh battery, supporting 45W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in 23 minutes and 100% in 43 minutes. The Camon 30 Pro features a slightly smaller 5000 mAh battery but s upports faster 70W wired charging, achieving a full charge in 47 minutes.  The Infinix Note 50 4G also houses a 5200 mAh battery, offering 45W wired charging (100% in 60 minutes), 30W wireless MagCharge, 10W reverse wired, reverse wireless charging, and bypass charging capabilities. The Oppo K13 stands out with a massive 7000 mAh battery, supporting 80W wired charging, reaching 62% in 30 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes.​  In this section, Oppo K13 offers the highest longevity. Read more: ZTE Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro Golden Saga Special Edition Review Software and User Interface  Powered by Android 15 (with support for up to 3 major Android upgrades) and HIOS 15, the Camon 40 Pro provides a modern, user-friendly interface along with the latest features and regular security updates. In comparison, the Camon 30 Pro runs on Android 14 with HIOS 14 and offers up to two major Android upgrades.  The Infinix Note 50 4G also operates on Android 15, with a promise of up to 2 major Android upgrades. It uses the XOS 15 interface, offering a comparable user experience with modern features and customisation options. The Oppo K13 comes with ColorOS 15 based on Android 15 (up to 2 major Android upgrades), which offers a polished and fluid UI with enhanced customisation, multitasking features, and better resource management.  Among all, ColorOS is generally considered more refined and smoother, while HIOS and XOS provide a feature-rich experience with some additional tools and customisation options targeted toward budget-conscious users. Tecno’s HIOS 15, however, shows notable improvement over previous versions in terms of bloatware reduction and UI consistency. Read more: realme P3 5G Review: Is it a value-for-money smartphone Storage Options The Tecno Camon 40 Pro offers 256GB UFS 2.x storage with 8GB or 12GB RAM but lacks a microSD card slot. The Camon 30 Pro provides 256GB or 512GB of internal storage with 12GB of RAM, also without microSD support.  The Oppo K13 comes with 256GB UFS 3.1 storage and 8GB RAM, offering the fastest read/write speeds among the group but no expandability. The Infinix Note 50 4G features 256GB UFS 2.2 storage and 8GB RAM, with microSD support unconfirmed but likely. The Camon 30 Pro stands out with up to 512GB storage and 12GB RAM, making it the best option for users who prioritise higher capacity and multitasking. If speed is your focus, the Oppo K13 is a solid alternative with faster UFS 3.1 storage. Pros and Cons of Tecno CAMON 40 Pro . Pros  - Sleek and lightweight design (179g, 7.3 mm thickness)- IP68/IP69 rated for water and dust resistance- 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate- Protected by Gorilla Glass 7i- 50MP rear and 50MP front cameras with 4K video- Android 15 with HIOS 15 (3 major updates promised)- 5200mAh battery with 45W fast charging- Dual stereo speakers for better sound- Infrared port and NFC support. Read more: Home Safety Digital Lockers and Vaults: Popular Models with Price Ranges in Bangladesh Cons  - Dimensity 7300 is not the most powerful chipset in its class- No 5G support- No microSD card slot for extra storage- Slower storage (UFS 2.x compared to UFS 3.1 in some rivals)- Lacks wireless charging- Lacks reverse charging option- Lacks 512 and 1TB memory options- Front camera video capacity is not specified Price of Tecno CAMON 40 Pro in Bangladesh The approximate price of the Tecno Camon 40 Pro in Bangladesh varies based on the storage and RAM configuration, where 8GB RAM + 256GB storage is around BDT 28,000. Verdict The Tecno Camon 40 Pro offers a vibrant AMOLED display, a standard camera setup, Android 15, and decent battery life. However, it lacks 5G and uses a mid-tier processor. Ideal for users who want great visuals and photography on a budget. Not recommended for heavy gamers or those needing future-proof 5G connectivity.  Read more: Samsung Galaxy F15 5G Review: Decent budget-friendly smartphone with large battery

Amazon’s first batch of internet satellites rocketed into orbit Monday, the latest entry in the mega constellation market currently dominated by SpaceX's thousands of Starlinks. The United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket carried up 27 of Amazon's Project Kuiper satellites, named after the frigid fringes of our solar system beyond Neptune. Once released in orbit, the satellites will eventually reach an altitude of nearly 400 miles (630 kilometers). Two test satellites were launched in 2023, also by an Atlas V. Project officials said major upgrades were made to the newest version. The latest satellites also are coated with a mirror film designed to scatter reflected sunlight in an attempt to accommodate astronomers. Stargazers oppose the fast-growing constellations of low-orbiting satellites, arguing they spoil observations. Others fear more satellite collisions. Founded by Jeff Bezos, who now runs his own rocket company, Blue Origin, Amazon aims to put more than 3,200 of these satellites into orbit to provide fast, affordable broadband service around the globe. Spaceship carrying 3 Chinese astronauts docks with Tiangong space station in latest crew rotation Elon Musk's SpaceX already has launched more than 8,000 Starlinks since 2019. The company marked its 250th Starlink launch Sunday night. More than 7,000 Starlinks are still in orbit some 300-plus miles (550 kilometers) above Earth. The European-based OneWeb satellite constellation numbers in the hundreds in an even higher orbit. Amazon already has purchased dozens of rocket launches from United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for Project Kuiper, as well as others. “There are some things you can only learn in flight" despite extensive testing on the ground, said Rajeev Badyal, the project's vice president. “No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey," he said in a statement ahead of the evening liftoff. ‘Flying taxis’ poised to revolutionise urban commuting The first liftoff attempt earlier this month was nixed by bad weather. It took until now to secure another spot in the launch lineup at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has given initial approval to Starlink to provide satellite internet services in Bangladesh. It sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division last week seeking final endorsement, according to a ministry source. Under the telecommunications law, BTRC is required to obtain prior approval from the ministry before making major decisions, including the issuance of licences. Bangladeshi firms join hands with US telecom giant Starlink On April 7, Starlink applied to the BTRC for a licence to operate in the country under the regulatory framework titled "Guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh. On March 25, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus directed the relevant authorities to ensure the commercial launch of Starlink’s satellite broadband internet service in Bangladesh within 90 days. During trial broadcasts in the country, Starlink operated using its foreign satellite broadband gateway, according to officials. However, for commercial operations, the company must comply with the Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) policy. This policy requires the use of a local broadband gateway or International Internet Gateway (IIG). Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been in negotiations with Bangladesh’s regulatory authorities over the licensing process. The initiative aims to address the recurring internet shutdowns that have disrupted freelance and business activities. Starlink's entry ensures uninterrupted internet in Bangladesh: CA’s Press Secretary Starlink’s entry into the market is seen as a major breakthrough for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, particularly benefiting remote communities and local entrepreneurs. Bangladeshi companies are already collaborating with Starlink to establish ground stations, facilitating the integration of satellite connectivity.  

Rule changes announced by the Trump administration this week could allow automakers to report fewer crashes involving self-driving cars, with Tesla potentially emerging as the main beneficiary. The Transportation Department announced Thursday that it will no longer require automakers to report certain kinds of non-fatal crashes — but the exception will apply only to partial self-driving vehicles using so-called Level 2 systems, the kind Tesla deploys. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had complained the old reporting rules cast his company in a bad light. If Tesla and other automakers are required to report fewer crashes into a national database, that could make it more difficult for regulators to catch equipment defects and for the public to access information about a company's overall safety, auto industry analysts say. It will also allow Tesla to trumpet a cleaner record to sell more cars. “This will significantly reduce the number of crashes reported by Tesla,” said auto analyst Sam Abuelsamid at Telemetry Insight. Added Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, noting that Tesla rival Waymo won’t get an exception, “This is a win for Tesla, a loss for Waymo.” Tesla stock soared nearly 10% Friday on the rule changes. Wall Street analysts, and Musk critics, have said that Musk’s role as an adviser to President Donald Trump could put Tesla in position to benefit from any changes to regulations involving self-driving cars. Other car makers such as Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and BMW make vehicles with Level 2 systems that help keep cars in lanes, change speed or brake automatically, but Tesla accounts for the vast majority on the road. Vehicles used by Waymo and others with systems that completely take over for the driver, called Automated Driving Systems, will not benefit from the change. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which enforces vehicle safety standards, said the new rules don’t favor one type of self-driving system over another, and that raft of changes it announced will help all self-driving automakers. Musk damaged Tesla’s brand in just a few months. Fixing it will likely take longer “No ADS company is hurt by these changes,” the agency said in statement to The Associated Press, using the acronym for Automatic Driving System. It added that the changes also make sense because “with ADS, no driver is present meaning stronger safety protocols are needed.” Waymo declined to comment for this story. The AP reached out to Tesla but did not receive a reply. Under the change, any Level 2 crash that is so bad it needs a tow truck to come will no longer be required to be reported if it doesn’t result in death or injury or air-bag deployment. But if a tow truck is called for crashes of vehicles using ADS, it has to be reported. The vast majority of partial self-driving vehicle crashes reported under the old NHTSA rules involved Teslas — more than 800 of a total 1,040 crashes in the past 12 months, according to an AP review of the data. It’s unclear how many of those Tesla crashes required the vehicles to be towed, because a column requesting that information in the database is mostly blank. The NHTSA said after the story was published that only 8% of total reported crashes under the old criteria were cases in which partial self-driving vehicles had to be towed away and there was no other qualifying crash-reporting factor involved. It is not clear about cases where tow-away information wasn’t provided. The relaxed crash rule was part of several changes described by the Transportation Department as a way to “streamline” paperwork and allow U.S. companies to better compete with the China in the race to make self-driving vehicles. The department said it would also move toward national self-driving regulations to replace a confusing patchwork of state rules. “We’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday. “Our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard.” Traffic safety watchdogs had feared that the Trump administration would eliminate the NHTSA reporting requirement completely. The package of changes came days after Musk confirmed on a conference call with Tesla investors that the electric vehicle maker will begin a rollout of self-driving Tesla taxis in Austin, Texas, in June. Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet, already has cybercabs available in that city and several others. Tesla sales fall by 49% in Europe even as the EV market grows Musk has argued that the previous reporting requirements were unfair since Tesla vehicles all use its partial self-driving systems and therefore log more miles than any other automaker with such technology. He says that his cars are far safer than most and save lives. Tesla sales have plunged in recent month amid a backlash against Musk’s backing of far-right politicians in Europe and his work in the U.S. as head of Trump’s government cost-cutting group. The company has pinned its future on complete automation of its cars, but it is facing stiff competition now from rivals, especially China automaker BYD.

A newly discovered carnivorous caterpillar on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has earned the nickname “bone collector” for its eerie habit of wearing the remains of its prey. This unique insect prowls along spiderwebs, feeding on insects caught in the web and using their body parts—like ant heads and fly wings—to decorate its silk case. While Hawaii is home to several caterpillars that build protective cases from natural materials like lichen and sand, this is the first known to use the body parts of other insects. “Carnivorous caterpillars already do some wild things, but this one really stands out,” said Dan Rubinoff, a researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Google's parent begins year with robust growth despite legal, competitive and economic threats Scientists believe the bizarre decoration may serve as camouflage, helping the caterpillar avoid detection by the spiders whose webs it raids. The research, published Thursday in Science, reveals that these caterpillars are extremely rare—only 62 have been spotted in over two decades of fieldwork. Not only do these caterpillars feed on other insects, but they are also cannibalistic, sometimes turning on each other. Their lineage dates back over 6 million years, predating the Hawaiian islands themselves. Today, they cling to survival in a remote mountain forest, threatened by invasive species and habitat loss. “This discovery highlights the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts,” Rubinoff emphasized.    

Google's profits soared 50% in this year's opening quarter, overcoming the competitive and legal threats that its internet empire is facing amid an economy roiled by a global trade war. The numbers released Thursday by Google parent Alphabet Inc. indicated the company is rising to the challenge so far, but investors are likely to remain concerned about the turbulent times ahead. The Mountain View, California, company earned $34.5 billion, or $2.81 per share, during the January-March period, up from $23.7 billion, or $1.89 per share, at the same time last year. Revenue rose 12% from last year to $90.2 billion. The results easily exceeded analysts’ projections, according to FactSet Research. “We continued to see healthy growth and momentum across the business,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai told analysts Thursday during a conference call. Alphabet's stock gained more than 4% in extended trading after the numbers came out. The shares had fallen by 16% since the end of last year. Google’s first-quarter performance illustrated the continuing power of its long-dominant search engine in a sea of uncertainty. While grappling with competitive threats emerging as artificial intelligence reshapes technology, Google is also battling court decisions condemning its search engine and digital ad network as illegal monopolies. The AI-driven upheaval has opened new opportunities for people to find helpful advice, insights and information through more conversational search options from the likes of OpenAI and Perplexity. Google's long-dominant search engine is countering the new competition with a feature called AI Overviews that appear above web links in its results. It is also testing a conversational tool called AI Mode that would usher in an even more radical change to its business model. EU fines Apple 500 million euros, Meta 200 million in digital cases “The company delivered a sound response to those questioning the solidity of the search business amid ever-increasing AI demand,” Investing.com analyst Thomas Monteiro said. But Google is trying to keep its business intact as by the U.S. Justice Department attempts to break up the company and impose other restraints after a federal judge last year branded its search engine an illegal monopoly. To make matters worse, its digital ad network also was found to be illegally abusing its power earlier this month in another case brought by the Justice Department. President Donald Trump’s trade war has injected more uncertainty into the mix by rattling the financial markets amid fears the tariffs will reignite inflation while dragging the economy into a recession. Although Google’s digital services aren’t directly impacted by the tariffs, a recession would likely curtail the spending on ads that generate most of Alphabet’s revenue. But there were few signs of a slowdown in the past quarter. Google's ad revenue during the period totaled $66.9 billion, an 8% increase from the same time a year ago. Although Google's executives are mostly upbeat during Thursday's call, they also acknowledged conditions should the trade war trigger a recession. “We are obviously not immune to the macro environment,” said Philipp Schindler, Alphabet's chief business officer. Google faces off with US government in attempt to break up company in search monopoly case The past quarter's steady growth emboldened Alphabet to stand firm on plans to invest $75 billion on AI and other technologies this year while also pursuing approval of a $32 billion deal to buy cybersecurity firm Wiz.

China’s first high-level automated driving demonstration zone, established in 2020, aims to advance the development of autonomous driving technology and intelligent connected vehicles, following China’s 'vehicle-road coordination' approach to automated driving. The project is being developed in phases, with each stage building on the success of the last. The demonstration zone’s development is structured into four distinct phases. Phase one focused on setting up the experimental environment, while phase two marked a small-scale deployment. In phase three, large-scale deployment began and phase four focuses on expansion and scenario refinement. After four years of development, the zone has now entered phase three, enabling autonomous shuttle driving services in key scenarios such as airports and museums. One of the most significant milestones of this project is the establishment of a city-level engineering test platform that integrates five critical systems: vehicles, roads, cloud computing, networks, and mapping. This platform provides world-class infrastructure for automated driving companies, accelerating innovation within China's automotive industry. To further promote innovation, the demonstration zone has implemented a range of policies designed to create a "friendly" environment for automated driving. These include peak-hour testing, cross-regional test recognition, and approval for unmanned delivery vehicles on public roads, among others. The zone has now demonstrated eight application scenarios: robot shuttles, unmanned delivery, unmanned retail, autonomous buses, unmanned sweepers, unmanned patrol vehicles, and automated freight trucks. Currently, residents in the area can use mobile apps to book autonomous shuttle services, including transfers at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Unmanned sweepers have begun operating on city roads, and automated patrol vehicles assist public security in routine patrols. Meanwhile, automated freight trucks are being tested on highways in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. While these automated driving vehicles are still in the testing phase and have not yet been officially put into operation, the demonstration zone’s innovations are a significant step forward in the development of China’s autonomous vehicle industry.

A spaceship carrying three astronauts docked Thursday with China’s space station in the latest crew rotation, marking a further step in the country’s ambitions for a crewed mission to the moon and explore Mars. The Shenzhou 20 spaceship took off as planned atop China’s workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT). It reached the Tiangong space station about 6.5 hours later, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The rocket lifted off from the launch center in Jiuquan, on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. The spaceship will remain in space before returning with the current three-person crew. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” space station has made China a major contender in space, especially since it was entirely Chinese-built after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns. China's space program is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. The addition of mechanical arms to the three-module station has also raised concerns from some that China could use them to disable satellites or other space vehicles during a crisis. Musk says he'll spend less time in Washington and more time running Tesla after its profit plunges Since first launching a man into space in 2003 — becoming only the third country to do so — China's space program has advanced at a steady pace. The space agency has also landed an explorer on Mars and a rover on the less-explored far side of the moon, and aims to put a person on the moon before 2030. The Shenzhou, or “Celestial Vessel,” 20 mission will be commanded by Chen Dong, who is making his third flight. He will be accompanied by fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie, both making their maiden voyages, according to the Manned Space Agency. Unlike previous crews, Shenzhou 20 is entirely male. They will replace three astronauts currently on the Chinese space station. Like those before them, they will stay on board for roughly six months. The space ship is due to be launched into space atop China's workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT) and reach the Tiangong about 6.5 hours later. The three-person crew was sent in October last year and they have been in space for 175 days. They are due to return on April 29 after a brief overlap with their replacements. The Tiangong, fully assembled in October 2022, can accommodate up to six people at a time. Google faces off with US government in attempt to break up company in search monopoly case While in space, the astronauts will conduct experiments in medical science and new technologies and perform space walks to carry out maintenance and install new equipment, the Manned Space Agency said.

China was making final preparations for the launch on Thursday of a three-person replacement crew for its orbiting space station that will mark a further step toward a possible crewed mission to the Moon and exploration of Mars. The Shenzhou 20 mission is scheduled to blast off Thursday evening from a launch center in Jiuquan, on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China, reports AP. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” space station has made China a major contender in space, especially since it was entirely Chinese-built after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over US national security concerns. China's space program is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. The addition of mechanical arms to the three-module station has also raised concerns from some that China could use them to disable satellites or other space vehicles during a crisis. How to catch the shooting stars of spring’s first meteor shower, the Lyrids Since first launching a man into space in 2003 — becoming only the third country to do so — China's space program has advanced at a steady pace. The space agency has also landed an explorer on Mars and a rover on the less-explored far side of the Moon, and aims to put a person on the Moon before 2030. The Shenzhou, or “Celestial Vessel,” 20 mission will be commanded by Chen Dong, who is making his third flight. He will be accompanied by fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie, both making their maiden voyages, according to the China Manned Space Agency. They will replace three astronauts currently on the Chinese space station. Like those before them, they will stay on board for roughly six months. The space ship is due to be launched into space atop China's workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 pm local time (0917 GMT) and reach the Tiangong about 6.5 hours later. The three-person crew was sent in October last year and they have been in space for 175 days. They are due to return on April 29 after a brief overlap with their replacements. The Tiangong, fully assembled in October 2022, can accommodate up to six people at a time. While in space, the astronauts will conduct experiments in medical science and new technologies and perform space walks to carry out maintenance and install new equipment, the Manned Space Agency said.

Brand-new smartphones are expensive, and with global trade tensions—partly due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats—prices could climb even higher, especially for Asian-made electronics. To cut costs, many are turning to secondhand phones. The market for pre-owned smartphones is booming. In fact, it’s expanding faster than the new phone market, says U.K.-based tech research company CCS Insight. As people upgrade to the latest models, they often sell or trade in their old devices, which are still in good shape and have plenty of life left. If you're watching your wallet, a refurbished phone can be up to 50% cheaper than a brand-new one. These days, they often come with warranties, payment plans, and customer support, according to CCS Insight. Meanwhile, the price of a top-tier iPhone Pro Max could jump nearly 30%, rising from $1,200 to $1,550, according to UBS. But buying used isn't always simple. Here's a quick guide: What are the most in-demand models?Apple dominates the used phone market, making up 60% of it. Samsung comes next with 17%, and the rest is made up of lesser-known Chinese brands like Xiaomi. Where should you shop?There are plenty of online sources for secondhand phones—but also many scams. Stick to trusted sellers, read reviews, and avoid suspiciously cheap deals. Some good platforms to try include Gazelle, Backmarket, and major retailers like BestBuy or Amazon. Phone carriers often sell certified refurbished models as well. Even Apple and Samsung offer their own secondhand phones, refurbished by their teams. While these options are more reliable, the savings might not be as big, and the model selection can be limited—Apple, for example, currently only offers refurbished iPhone 13 and 14 models. Refurbished typically means the phone has been reset, tested, and repaired as needed. But a used phone could be anything from a barely-used gem to a beat-up device sold “as is” on Facebook Marketplace. These are cheaper, but riskier. “You’ll get the best deal if you’re comfortable with more risk,” says Simon Bryant, VP of research at CCS Insight. Safer peer-to-peer platforms like eBay or Swappa offer buyer protections, including refunds if the phone isn’t as advertised. What about battery health?Just because a phone is refurbished doesn't mean the battery has been replaced—it depends on the seller. Apple and Samsung say their refurbished phones come with new batteries and sometimes even new shells, plus a charger, a one-year warranty, and original packaging. Other sellers might only ensure the battery retains at least 80% of its original capacity. How do I assess condition?Most platforms have their own grading systems, like “Excellent,” “Very Good,” or “Like New.” But there's no industry standard, so ratings vary widely between sellers and can make comparison tricky. “It’s inconsistent,” Bryant explains. “One site’s 'Grade A' might be another’s 'Like New'—which complicates shopping.” How old is too old?Stick to phones that are no more than three generations old. Devices older than five or six generations may no longer receive software updates, which impacts performance and security. “Three generations back is the sweet spot,” Bryant says. “You get modern features, less wear, and solid support.” Could it be stolen?Reputable platforms have checks in place, but always verify the device's IMEI (serial number), which can be accessed by dialing *#06# on most phones. Swappa requires sellers to run an IMEI check before listing a phone. BackMarket works with certified sellers to avoid blacklisted devices but will assist if a stolen one slips through. Can I check for water damage?Newer phones resist water but aren’t waterproof. If buying in person, check for liquid damage. Apple and Samsung both offer guides on how to locate water exposure indicators on their devices. Do accessories come with it?Not always. Chargers, cables, or headphones may be missing, so factor those costs into your budget.