United News of Bangladesh

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 14 at their September event. The new phone features emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology. The company released four versions (iPhone 14, 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max) of the new handset at their headquarters in Cupertino. All these variations come with different storage capabilities and features. Hence, the price is also different. The base price of the iPhone 14 is $799 in the USA, while the maximum price will be around $1,600 for the 14 Pro Max. If you want to buy from other countries, you will need to spend a bit more depending on the tax and conversion rate. Let’s look at which countries' iPhone 14 models are the cheapest. Read Apple's iPhone 14 Review: A revamped iPhone 13? 9 Countries to Buy Cheapest iPhone 14 from The iPhone is a dream phone for many, especially for those who live outside the USA. People often buy iPhones from a country where they can get it at a cheaper price. If you’re excited about the latest iPhone 14, you can try buying it from the following countries. USA In the United States, iPhones are usually cheaper than other countries. There are a number of reasons for this, but the two most important are no import duties, and it is a US-based company. Economies of scale also play a role in making the iPhone cheaper in the US. Apple is able to produce more iPhones in the US than it can in other countries due to the greater demand and availability of manufacturing resources. As a result, Apple is able to spread the cost of production over a larger number of units, resulting in lower prices for consumers. Read iPhone 14 Series Launch: What are the new features? For all these reasons, you can get the cheapest iPhone 14 in the USA for $799. So, if you can buy it from the USA, the price will be BDT 83,458 ($1= BDT 104.45). The iPhone 14 Pro Max will cost $999, which is BDT 1,04,349.55 ($1= BDT 104.45). Canada Canada is another cheapest country to get an iPhone 14. You can get it for CAD 1099. So, if you can bring it from Canada to Bangladesh, you can get it for BDT 87,047 (CAD 1= BDT 79.20). The iPhone 14 Pro is priced at CAD 1,399 in Canada, which will cost you BDT 1,10,812.87 (CAD 1= BDT 79.20). Hong Kong The iPhone 14’s price in Hong Kong is comparatively less in Hong Kong than in Bangladesh. You can buy an iPhone 14 for HK$6,899 which will be BDT 91,816.10 (HK$1 = BDT 13.31). For the 14 Max you will need to spend HK$ 8,599 which is equivalent to BDT 1,14,440.73 (HK$1 = BDT 13.31). Read iPhone 14 launch: Game-changing emergency services via satellite Singapore Since Singapore is a technology-oriented country, you can expect an iPhone 14 at a lower price there. The buying price will be S$1,299 for 14, which is BDT 96,384.37 (S$1 = BDT 74.24). On the other hand, the 14 Pro will be S$1649 or BDT 1,22,353.98 (S$1 = BDT 74.24). Australia The iPhone 14 will cost A$1,399 which is equivalent to BDT 98,547.19 (A$1 = BDT 70.44). But, if you want to buy 14 Pro from Australia, it will cost you A$ 1,749 or BDT 1,23,201.60 (A$1 = BDT 70.44). With these With this price, you may also get AppleCare+, which provides extended warranty coverage and 24/7 technical support. When you factor in all of these features and benefits, the price of the iPhone 14 Pro starts to look a lot more reasonable. Read Oppo A57 Review: Key specs, pros and cons UAE The United Arab Emirates is another cheap option for buying an iPhone. The iPhone 14 is priced at AED 3,399 in UAE. That being said, you can buy it for BDT 96,659.27 (AED 1= BDT 28.44) in Emirates. For the iPhone 14 Pro the price is AED 4,299 or BDT 1,22,253.07 (AED 1= BDT 28.44). Malaysia Apart from the official Apple store, you can also buy iPhones from other local retail stores too. In general, Malaysian retailers offer a significant discount on new phones, making it possible to find a device for hundreds of dollars less than the retail price in other countries. However, for the newly launched iPhones, you will not get any benefits from local retailers. iPhone 14 will cost RM 4,199 or BDT 96,714.98 (RM 1 = BDT 23.13) in Malaysia. 14 Pro is priced at RM 5,299, which will be 1,22,051.12 in Bangladeshi Taka. Read Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review: Multitasking King for Utilitarian Users Japan Japan is also a cheap option to buy an iPhone, which you may not think of. The iPhone 14 will cost 1,19,800 Japanese Yen which is BDT 87,204.07 (1 Japanese Yen = BDT 0.73). On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro will cost 149,800 Japanese Yen or BDT 109041.49 (1 Japanese Yen = BDT 0.73). India Since India is a neighboring country, we tend to buy gadgets from India. However, buying an iPhone from India will not be a good idea compared to the countries we have mentioned above. Indian should be your last option. Although India is an Asian country and income is less than first world countries, the iPhone is not cheaper here. iPhone 14 will cost ₹79,900.00  which is BDT 1,04,670.45 (₹1 = BDT 1.31). For the 14 Pro, you will need to pay ₹129900.00 or BDT 1,70,171.36. (₹1 = BDT 1.31). Read Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review: Is this flip phone worth buying? Final Words If you are looking to buy an iPhone 14 in Bangladesh, you may need to pay 1 Lac Taka or more than that. That’s why buying from other countries will be cheaper. Just ordering and paying online will not get you the iPhone 14 at a cheap cost from other countries as you need to pay shipping costs and taxes. So, in that case, you are paying a high cost. That’s why it will be best if you can bring through any friend or relative who is coming to Bangladesh. They can carry at least one iPhone without paying tax in Bangladesh. Thus, you can just pay them according to the exchange rate. This process will save you a lot of money. So far, we have mentioned 9 countries where you can buy iPhone 14 at the lowest price ranges. Please note that all the prices we have mentioned here are for the 128GB versions. For 256GB or more, you need to visit the respective Apple website to know the actual price. Read Top 10 mobile phones coming to Bangladesh in September 2022

Bangladesh's Walton has expanded its business in the eastern European country Georgia by exporting smart TVs. The company hopes that the export will pave the way for expanding its TV business in other eastern European countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan. Also read: Walton TV gets good response in Romania Samin Yasar, the market in-charge of Walton Global Business Division in Georgia, said: "This year, a famous Georgian electronics marketing company has partnered with us to distribute Walton TVs to its market. In June this year, the Georgian company received the first shipment of Walton TVs. The second shipment of Walton TVs will be sent to Georgia very soon." "Also, Walton TVs are now available on Georgia's e-commerce platforms." Read Walton TV gets good response in Romania Syed Al Imran, vice-president of Walton Global Business Division for Europe, said: "Walton started exporting TVs to the European market in 2019. Since then, it has successfully expanded its TV export to around 16 countries in western and central Europe, including Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Romania."

Bangladesh and Japan can develop “ICT bridges” as the latter faces shortage of young ICT engineers, says a Japanese expert. “The two countries can support each other. I hope young Bangladeshis go to Japan and have some experience… It is not a one-way support,” Dr Kano Tsuyoshi, co-founder and CEO of ICT for Development (NPO), Japan, told UNB today. Responding to a question, Dr Kano, also an associate professor at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Japan said he is eager to support young Bangladeshi ICT engineers. Read Present world is not of competition but collaboration: Palak While talking to this correspondent at Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the Japanese expert said digital human resources are one of the important factors for the ICT sector’s development in Bangladesh. “Digital human resources in Bangladesh can be ICT bridges between the country and Japan,” said the Japanese expert. He said if young Bangladeshi professionals go to Japan and come back to Bangladesh after 10 to 20 years, both countries will be benefitted.   Dr Kano said Japan has a big challenge — shortage of ICT engineers — because it is becoming an “aging society” and the number of young people is inadequate. Read: Bangladesh gets drug, precursor test kits from Japan through UNODC “Young ICT engineers are not many in Japan,” he said, adding that in Bangladesh, many young people do not get jobs immediately after graduation, even in the ICT sector, due to lack of required skills. The Japanese expert said these two challenges — shortage of ICT engineers in Japan and shortage of good jobs in Bangladesh — can be addressed through cooperation and collaboration. Dr Kano, who is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday. Read IBBL ICT wing holds discussion, hosts iftar party He said both soft and hard skills can be obtained through global experiences and the two countries can make ICT business relationships stronger. The number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh has tripled in the past 10 years with an increased attention from ICT companies (offshoring, development center, recruitment, etc.).  On Sunday, he delivered a lecture on “ICT Bridge between Bangladesh and Japan” at ICT Division, joined by more than 100 people – government officials, industry people and students. Read KUET partners with Huawei to set up ICT academy

If your ex becomes the richest person in the world, keeping his possessions could turn advantageous in the future. The ex-girlfriend of tech mogul Elon Musk is auctioning off a collection of pictures and other memorabilia from their relationship. The souvenirs are being sold by Musk’s college flame Jennifer Gwynne via the Boston-based RR Auction, reports CNN. According to a press release RR Auction provided to CNN, Gwynne and Musk began dating in 1994 while they were both employed as resident counsellors in a university dormitory. Musk began a doctoral study at Stanford soon after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, but left to found his first firm, Zip2. Read: Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter deal gets board endorsement The collection includes souvenirs from Musk and Gwynne’s time together in addition to 18 candid pictures of the businessman when he was a baby-faced University of Pennsylvania economics student. Before his quick ascent to fame, the billionaire appeared just like any other college student in the glossy images, hanging out with his fellow resident advisers, having fun in his dorm room, and cuddling with his fiancée. A birthday necklace given to Gwynne on her birthday is the item with the current highest bid, followed by a signed birthday card, the CNN report adds. Read: Elon Musk says Twitter deal ‘temporarily on hold’ The message reads, “Happy Birthday, Jennifer (aka Boo-Boo), Love, Elon.” Sunday morning's opening bid is almost $7,000, which is the most. According to RR, the card is anticipated to sell for more than $10,000. The emerald in the gold necklace was mined in Zambia by Musk’s father Errol, a successful South African engineer and real estate entrepreneur. Two photographs are also included with the necklace: one of Musk and Gwynne with the former’s mother, the model Maye Musk, and the other of them at a 1995 end-of-the-year formal. Read Musk says Twitter deal could move ahead with 'bot' info Tesla aficionados have until Wednesday, when the auction closes, to place a bid on a piece of Elon Musk memorabilia.

When regular service is unavailable, you will be able to connect to emergency services through satellite with the latest iPhone 14 model. To connect to satellite, and to maintain that connection, iPhone14 will provide directions on where to position it. More from iPhone 14 launch event With a redesigned main camera that captures 49% more light and new Photonic Engine technology, Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus address a major weakness in smartphone cameras: low-light shooting. Apple said that the Photonic Engine technology works on all the new phones' cameras, including its new selfie camera and ultrawide rear camera. The main wide-angle camera has a larger f1.5 aperture so that its lens can let in more light, CNET reports. Read: Android 14 to feature satellite connectivity support At its fall product launch event on Wednesday, Apple introduced the new camera technology, marking a significant occasion on the yearly technology calendar. The iPhone is a major company in and of itself, but it also serves as the cornerstone of a massive digital ecosystem that is deeply ingrained in the lives of millions of people. This ecosystem includes services like iCloud and Apple Arcade as well as peripherals like AirPods and Apple Watches. One of the most obvious differences from smartphone models from one year to the next is the camera, especially since that designers have adopted bigger, protruding lenses as a defining feature. Customers may not notice a speedier processor, but they may notice the introduction of additional camera modules, such as the telephoto and ultrawide options now ubiquitous on high-end phones. Highlights of iPhone 14 ● New 12 MP main camera with larger sensor and pixels ● Faster f1.5 aperture, Sensor-shift OIS ● 49% improvement in low light capture ● Autofocus front camera ● New action mode for video ● US models no longer have SIM tray ● Crash detection ● Emergency SOS via Satellite (free for two years, launches in November in US and Canada).   Read International Roaming: How to use a Bangladeshi SIM card abroad

Wouldn’t it be great if you could call without a network using your Android phone? It might sound like a sci-fi movie, but the truth is we are going to get this feature on the Android 14 operating system. Motorola invented the first satellite phone in 1989. However, satellite phones were not available to the general public. Now it seems anyone can use it in the coming years. Let’s get to know more about Android 14 and its satellite connectivity. Android 14 to feature satellite connectivity support Google’s new operating system, Android 13, was unveiled at the end of July. Google released information about the beta version of Android 14 before Android 13 became a month old. As a surprise, this new version of Android will have satellite connectivity, claimed Google Ecosystem Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer. According to his tweet, the next version of Android will have satellite connectivity. Google will help partners with this. It is expected that the beta version will be launched in 2023. He also said that the handsets would be linked directly to satellites to further improve the smartphone user experience around the world, which will be quite different from the current cellular connectivity. Read Metaverse Real Estate Investment: Buying Land, Apartment, Property in Virtual World However, Hiroshi Lockheimer did not give any details about this. But, it is expected that the old Android phones will also be able to get this feature by updating the operating system. Other than this feature of the ‘next-generation Android 14 operating system, no other possible features have been revealed yet. On the other hand, Elon Musk’s SpaceX partnered with T-Mobile to develop satellite connectivity. What are the features to expect from satellite connectivity? Many people think that satellite connectivity means very high-speed internet. But it is not the actual feature. One of the advantages of satellite phones is that even in remote, uninhabited areas where there is no cellular network, the user can communicate through SMS and calling. In the initial phase, only calls, SMS, and MMS will be available on satellite connectivity. Read How to Get a Job in Google from Bangladesh? According to Lockheimer, satellite connectivity will provide many times better service than what can be experienced with standard LTE and 5G connections. This feature will start a new chapter in the communication system. SpaceX & T-Mobile to introduce satellite features for phones in the USA While we’re on the subject, the buzz in the tech world is that SpaceX and T-Mobile are teaming up to bring satellite connectivity to phones in the US. The telecom operator has already confirmed that it plans to use thousands of Starlink satellites to provide wireless connectivity to mobile users in remote areas of the country. Under this service, customers will be able to use the beta version of satellite internet on T-Mobile by June 2023. In addition to that, voice and data services are also expected to be offered later. Elon Musk also said on Twitter that the Starlink V2 service will be launched in 2023 with a plan to “eliminate the global dead zone.” He even invited other companies to work with Starlink. Read Google Alphabet’s Project Taara: Light beam broadband internet creates new hope in Africa Will iPhone 14 have satellite features? On the other hand, the tech giant Apple is preparing to announce the iPhone 14 series on 7th September. There has been speculation that the satellite connectivity feature may be added as a ‘wild card’ feature in the lineup. As Bloomberg pointed out in a 2021 report, the tech giant has already completed hardware testing for satellite communication in the iPhone 14 series. This feature will allow users to connect to mobile networks to send messages in emergency situations in remote areas. Users will even be able to use the iPhone to report their situation in areas without cellular coverage. However, Apple device analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is not yet sure if the feature will be made available in the iPhone 14 lineup at all. Because of this, Apple will have to tie up with a satellite operator, and no such deal has been reported yet. But if the feature is included, the satellite connectivity of the iPhone 14 series will only provide essential text message and voice services. Read Shammi Quddus: A Talented Bangladeshi Woman in Google, Global Fintech Industry Will satellite connectivity be available worldwide? The answer is a bit tricky. Companies such as Google and Apple will need to take permission/license from the particular countries they are intended to offer services, as satellite connectivity may raise security concerns. To recall, SpaceX previously returned pre-booked money to the Indian customers as they did not have a license from the Indian Department of Telecommunications. As the world is becoming more technology-driven, the countries may lessen the regulations regarding satellite usage. Hence, satellite connectivity might be available worldwide in the coming years. Final words The use of Satellite phone technology in Android 14 can improve the future of communication because it doesn’t need the conventional mobile network. Furthermore, it is more reliable, and easier to use than traditional methods. With the right technology in place, people can easily stay connected no matter where they are in the world. However, in terms of pricing, satellite connectivity might be expensive initially. Read Top 10 mobile phones coming to Bangladesh in September 2022

Samsung has launched a month-long smartphone campaign for September. Customers can enjoy up to Tk20,000 cashback on the purchase of Samsung smartphones from different series and price segments. They can also get gifts like backpacks and t-shirts. Read: Twitter readies edit feature for premium users Samsung is also offering a data bundle offer (up to 26 GB on selected operators and devices) to its customers. "For many years in Bangladesh, we have been catering to the smart needs of millions of customers of different segments. This time, we have something for everybody, and that too with a window of 30 days," Md Muyeedur Rahman, head of Mobile, at Samsung said in a statement. Read Nagad recognises winners of 'Aurjon O Bijoyullash' campaign

International Roaming is possible with unlimited data plans from each of the main SIM providers in Bangladesh. If you want to go abroad, and your mobile data plan does not include an international feature, you will be required to pay a fee for each megabyte of data that you use when traveling outside of the country. International roaming can save you at such a time. Let's find how to use a Bangladesh SIM card abroad. What is International Roaming? You are considered to be "in-network" with your mobile phone provider if you are in a region that is serviced by that provider. As soon as you leave this region, you are considered to be "roaming" in the wild. Even if you are technically off-network in the United States, you will still be able to get voice and data service since the majority of domestic carriers have roaming agreements with foreign networks. When you utilize the service provided by your mobile phone carrier in a country that is not your own, this is referred to as "international roaming." International add-ons are available for purchase from all of the major carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. These add-ons enable users to continue receiving phone calls, text messages, and data when they are traveling outside of the country.  Read Top 8 International Sim Cards in Bangladesh If you are traveling inside North America, meaning that you will be in either Canada or Mexico, and you have an unlimited plan with one of these carriers, then it is quite probable that your service will be protected when crossing international borders. Why Do You Need International Roaming? While traveling in another country, mobile users who subscribe to a service known as international roaming may continue to use their cell phone or another device to make and receive calls and text messages, as well as to browse the internet and send and receive emails. The mobile user is able to continue using their home operator's phone number and data services when roaming in another nation since roaming expands the coverage of the retail voice and SMS services provided by the mobile user's home operator.  Read Android 13: Features, Biggest New Additions An agreement for wholesale roaming between a mobile user's home operator and the network of a visited mobile operator enables the expansion of coverage in a seamless manner at the visited location. The roaming agreement covers both the technical and the business aspects of the service that are necessary to make it available. Different Types of Roaming Service The following are the types of foreign roaming services that are most common: Voice: Making and receiving calls to or from one's home nation, the country being visited, or a third country while traveling outside of that country. SMS: While traveling in another nation, sending and receiving text messages to or from one's own country, the country being visited, or a third country Email: Checking and responding to emails when traveling outside the country. Broadband mobile devices: Making use of mobile devices or dongles in order to access the internet while traveling, especially for the purpose of downloading photos, MP3s, movies, and software. Applications: Utilizing smartphone apps when traveling outside of one's own country that depends on mobile data, such as translation tools and location-based services. Read How to Prevent Facebook Hacking: Security measures from Mobile, Desktop When traveling outside of their home country, mobile phone users have access to a greater variety of communication services than at home, including international mobile roaming. Other services include those provided by hotels, Wi-Fi connectivity, national and worldwide SIM cards, mobile devices that can accommodate multiple SIM cards, and local prepaid SIM cards. How Does International Roaming Work? When a mobile user is in a foreign country and switches on their mobile device, the mobile device will attempt to connect with the mobile network of the country that they are visiting. The connection from the user's mobile device is picked up by the visiting network, which checks to see whether the device is already registered with its system and then tries to locate the user's primary network.  If the home network and one of the mobile networks in the country being visited have a roaming agreement, then the call will be routed by the visited network towards an international transit network. Read Tracking Lost or Stolen Smartphone: Some easy ways to follow The delivery of the call to the network interface is the responsibility of the carrier that operates the international transit network. After this has been completed, the call will be connected by the network at the destination.  Additionally, the visiting network will ask the user's home network for service information about the user, such as whether or not the mobile phone being used is authorized for international usage and whether or not the phone being used has been reported lost or stolen.  If the phone is allowed to be used, the network that is being visited will make a temporary subscriber record for the device, and the subscriber record of the user's home network will be updated to reflect the new location of the device. This will allow the home network to properly route any calls that are made to the phone. Read How to Use eSIM in Bangladesh? How to use a Bangladeshi SIM while Staying Abroad The activation of the roaming service will take place as soon as the International Roaming form provided by a legit SIM operator company gets filled up by the consumer. All of the other conditions should be fulfilled.  Consumers have to switch on their mobile devices when they are traveling on another network that supports their existing IR services so that they may take use of this service. If the mobile device is set up to choose the network on its own (a process known as automated network selection), then it will be able to connect to the desired network.  In any other case, you will need to manually pick the network using the handset's network selection, after which you will need to search for accessible networks and select the desired network. Users must have a credit card to register for International Roaming services. Read Home Audio Speaker Buying Guide, Price Ranges in Bangladesh Conclusion The ability to make and receive phone calls, send and get text messages and emails, and surf the internet when traveling to another country is made possible by the international roaming service. Because of an agreement between the network operator of the country in which one is now located and the network provider of one's home country, international roaming is now a possibility. In order to further define the technical and contractual parameters that must be met in order to execute the agreement, the GSM association was formed. In the above discussion, we have focused on the basics of international roaming and how to use a Bangladeshi SIM abroad. Hope it helps. Read Cloud Computing Benefits: Perfect Cloud Service Provider Choosing Tips

NASA’s new moon rocket sprang another dangerous fuel leak Saturday, forcing launch controllers to call off their second attempt to send a crew capsule into lunar orbit with test dummies. The first attempt earlier in the week was also marred by escaping hydrogen, but those leaks were elsewhere on the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket, the most powerful ever built by NASA. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team tried to plug Saturday’s leak the way they did the last time: stopping and restarting the flow of super-cold liquid hydrogen in hopes of removing the gap around a seal in the supply line. They tried that twice, in fact, and also flushed helium through the line. But the leak persisted. Blackwell-Thompson finally halted the countdown after three to four hours of futile effort. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  (AP) — NASA's new moon rocket sprang another hazardous leak Saturday, as the launch team began fueling it for liftoff on a test flight that must go well before astronauts climb aboard. For the second time this week, the launch team began loading nearly 1 million gallons of fuel into the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket, the most powerful ever built by NASA. Monday’s attempt was halted by a bad engine sensor and leaking fuel. As the sun rose, an over-pressure alarm sounded and the tanking operation was briefly halted, but no damage occurred and the effort resumed. But minutes later, hydrogen fuel began leaking from the engine section at the bottom of the rocket. NASA halted the operation, while engineers scrambled to plug what was believed to be a gap around a seal in the supply line. The countdown clocks continued ticking toward an afternoon liftoff; NASA had two hours Saturday to get the rocket off. NASA wants to send the crew capsule atop the rocket around the moon, pushing it to the limit before astronauts get on the next flight. If the five-week demo with test dummies succeeds, astronauts could fly around the moon in 2024 and land on it in 2025. People last walked on the moon 50 years ago. Forecasters expected generally favorable weather at Kennedy Space Center, especially toward the end of the two-hour afternoon launch window. On Monday, hydrogen fuel escaped from elsewhere in the rocket. Technicians tightened up the fittings over the past week, but launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson stressed that she wouldn't know whether everything was tight until Saturday's fueling. Read: NASA scrubs launch of new moon rocket after engine problem Even more of a problem on Monday, a sensor indicated one of the rocket's four engines was too warm, but engineers later verified it actually was cold enough. The launch team planned to ignore the faulty sensor this time around and rely on other instruments to ensure each main engine was properly chilled. Before igniting, the main engines need to be as frigid as the liquid hydrogen fuel flowing into them at minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-250 degrees Celsius). If not, the resulting damage could lead to an abrupt engine shutdown and aborted flight. Mission managers accepted the additional risk posed by the engine issue as well as a separate problem: cracks in the rocket's insulating foam. But they acknowledged other problems — like fuel leaks — could prompt yet another delay. That didn't stop thousands from jamming the coast to see the Space Launch System rocket soar. Local authorities expected massive crowds because of the long Labor Day holiday weekend. The $4.1 billion test flight is the first step in NASA's Artemis program of renewed lunar exploration, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. Twelve astronauts walked on the moon during NASA’s Apollo program, the last time in 1972. Artemis — years behind schedule and billions over budget — aims to establish a sustained human presence on the moon, with crews eventually spending weeks at a time there. It's considered a training ground for Mars.    

Twitter said Thursday it will roll out an editing feature to subscribers of its premium Twitter Blue service later this month. In an update on its plans to introduce an edit button, the social media company said it has been testing the feature internally, which it said is one of the most requested features to date. The edit function will give users 30 minutes to make changes to their 280-character messages such as fixing typos or adding hashtags after first publishing a tweet. To make it clear that a tweet has been modified, they'll be labeled and appear with an icon and timestamp. Users can look up past versions of the tweet by tapping the label. Twitter said it's testing the edit feature with a small group of users so it can identify and resolve potential issues. “This includes how people might misuse the feature,” the company said in a blog post. “You can never be too careful.” The time limit and version history play an important role, Twitter said. “They help protect the integrity of the conversation and create a publicly accessible record of what was said. Twitter hinted that the edit feature would eventually be rolled out to all users. Testing helps the company understand how it impacts the way people use Twitter “as well as plan for and anticipate what might happen if we bring it to everyone,” spokeswoman Stephanie Cortez said. Many Twitter users — among them, Kim Kardashian, Ice T, Katy Perry and McDonald’s corporate account — have long pleaded for an edit button. The company said in April that it has been working on the feature since last year, a day after Tesla CEO Elon Musk polled his followers on whether they wanted an edit button. About three-quarters of the 4.4 million respondents said yes. Later that month, Musk offered to buy Twitter for $44 billion with the promise that his ownership would bring big changes to the service. He has since attempted to back out of the deal citing concerns about fake accounts and whistleblower allegations of poor cybersecurity, setting the stage for a bruising legal battle over whether he has to go through with the purchase. The premium service costs $4.99 per month.