Author: OMN AI

Japan is developing the L0 Series, the world’s fastest train, capable of reaching speeds of up to 603.5 km/h. The magnetic-levitation (maglev) train is being built by Central Japan Railway Company and is designed to slash journey times on the new Chūō Shinkansen line. Once operational, the L0 Series is expected to cut travel between Tokyo and Nagoya to about 40 minutes, with an eventual extension to Osaka that would link the three cities into a single mega-region. By comparison, Europe’s fastest services, such as France’s TGV or Italy’s Italo, run at around 300–350 km/h. The train’s speed comes from…

TikTok has finalized a deal that guarantees the app will continue operating in the United States. The company announced the agreement on Thursday, ending years of political and legal uncertainty. The deal settles a long-running dispute between Washington and Beijing. The conflict began during Donald Trump’s first presidency, when he attempted to ban TikTok over national security concerns. US law threatened to block the app in January 2025 unless ByteDance sold its American operations. Trump delayed enforcement multiple times after returning to office. The central issue involved TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. Under the agreement, American owners now license the system, which…

Influencers linked to the online “manosphere” are persuading healthy young men that normal tiredness, stress or changes in libido are signs of low testosterone, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine. Researchers analysed popular posts on TikTok and Instagram, finding that routine testosterone testing is being marketed as essential to masculinity, despite being medically unnecessary for most young men. The lead author from the University of Copenhagen said influencers often frame normal experiences as medical problems, driving demand for tests and supplements. Experts warn this “medicalisation of masculinity” carries risks, including unnecessary treatment, side effects and missed underlying…

A proposed security arrangement for Greenland, negotiated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will need to be put before all NATO allies before it can move forward, according to Spain’s foreign minister speaking to Euronews. José Manuel Albares said the discussions revealed so far amount to a bilateral exchange between Rutte and US President Donald Trump, not a decision taken by the alliance as a whole. “This is not NATO,” Albares said, stressing that any such framework must ultimately be debated by the NATO Council (Euronews). Limited details and growing unease Albares said allies have not been briefed beyond Trump’s…

Blue Origin has announced plans for a large satellite internet network. The company is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Blue Origin said it will launch more than 5,400 satellites into orbit. The project represents a major expansion of the company’s space operations. The network aims to provide uninterrupted internet access worldwide. TeraWave Aims for Fast Global Coverage The company named the satellite system TeraWave. Blue Origin said it will deliver continuous internet service across the globe. The network will also transfer massive amounts of data at very high speeds. The company said TeraWave will surpass current commercial satellite networks.…

Plants growing close together can warn one another about environmental stress, helping their neighbours survive conditions that would otherwise cause serious damage. In experiments with thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), researchers grew plants either in isolation or packed so closely that their leaves touched. When exposed to intense light, isolated plants suffered severe damage, while crowded plants coped much better by rapidly activating their defences. Within just one hour, densely grown plants switched on more than 2,000 genes involved in protection against a wide range of stresses. Isolated plants showed little additional gene activity, indicating they were unable to mount the…

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has settled a social media addiction lawsuit just days before trial. The case was scheduled to begin in Los Angeles. Lawyers announced the agreement during a California Superior Court hearing. Snap later said all parties resolved the dispute amicably. The settlement terms remain confidential. Other Major Platforms Still Facing Trial Other defendants include Meta, which owns Instagram, TikTok parent ByteDance, and Google parent Alphabet. None of these companies have settled. The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., alleged that platform algorithms caused addiction and harmed her mental health. Because the remaining companies did…

The U.S. State Department confirmed that short-term tourist visa applications are not affected by recent immigration pauses. This includes travelers planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Officials emphasized that the halt applies only to certain immigrant visas. Tourists, including international soccer fans, can continue applying for visas without delay. The announcement aims to reduce uncertainty for visitors planning to attend the global sporting event. Visa processing for tourists remains on schedule. Applicants are encouraged to submit requests early to allow time for normal review. The State Department said there is no change to procedures, fees, or requirements for…

A new artificial intelligence tool cleared for use in the United States could significantly improve how doctors spot fetal abnormalities during pregnancy, addressing a long-standing gap in prenatal care. Why Ultrasounds Still Miss Problems Prenatal ultrasounds are a routine part of pregnancy and play a key role in monitoring a baby’s development. They can reveal issues affecting organs, limbs or other structures while the fetus is still growing. Yet despite their importance, traditional scans don’t catch everything. Research shows that a single early scan, usually carried out between 11 and 14 weeks, identifies only about 38 percent of birth defects.…

Netflix has upgraded its $82.7bn (£61.5bn) offer for Warner Bros Discovery by making it an all-cash deal, aiming to speed shareholder approval and fend off a hostile bid from Paramount Skydance. The revised offer keeps the valuation at $27.75 per share but removes shares from the structure, allowing a potential investor vote as early as April. Netflix said the change provides greater certainty, and the WBD board continues to unanimously support the deal. WBD shareholders would also receive stock in a spun-off global networks business, including CNN and Discovery, which Netflix is not acquiring. Paramount is pressing ahead with a…