The Influencer Project

Swedish media personality Alex Schulman and Sigge Eklund have shared news about what lies ahead for their popular podcast. According to Aftonbladet, the duo revealed their decision about the show's future, prompting reactions from listeners who have followed their long-running conversations. The announcement comes amid ongoing attention on the pair's media projects and their influence on Swedish podcasting.

The US government's America.gov website has relaunched with AI features, built by former members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and powered by Musk's Grok chatbot. The project ties the federal web presence directly to Musk's xAI technology, raising questions about procurement, political influence and the role of AI in official government communications.

Liz Harris, the experimental musician behind the project Grouper, has given an interview to The Guardian discussing the music industry's dangers, including streaming scams and the pressures of virality, saying it is 'rational to fear' the industry. She also talks about her 'restorative' dream-pop trio, describing how the new band setup has influenced her recent work and outlook on making music outside mainstream structures.

The US National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2 million grant to fund research into how the brain detects protein intake. The project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind protein sensing, a topic of growing interest in nutrition science because protein intake influences appetite, metabolism and overall health. Findings could inform dietary guidance and approaches to obesity and metabolic disease.

Malaysia is developing a new research corridor spanning Asia, an initiative reported by the South China Morning Post. The project is framed as a way for the country to position itself scientifically and strategically in response to China's growing regional influence. Details on funding, partners and timeline remain limited, but the story is drawing attention to how smaller Asian states are rethinking research ties amid shifting geopolitics.

A study published in PLOS Climate examines how emissions from major historical producers of cement, coal, gas, and oil could continue influencing global warming far into the future, with effects projected as far ahead as 2500. The findings underline the long-lasting climate legacy of industrial emissions and add to discussion about accountability among the world's largest fossil fuel producers.

Malaysia is developing a new research corridor spanning Asia, a project scientists say is designed to respond to China's growing scientific and economic influence in the region. The initiative aims to strengthen research collaboration across Asian countries and position Malaysia as a regional hub for science and innovation as geopolitical dynamics shift.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are meeting, with expectations focused less on concrete outcomes than on how each leader will frame the encounter for domestic and global audiences. Commentators note that both governments are likely to prioritize messaging and optics, using the summit to project strength and stability amid ongoing tensions over trade, technology and strategic rivalry.

NASA has launched a science mission to investigate pyrocumulus clouds, the massive smoke-filled clouds spawned by intense wildfires. Researchers aim to understand how these fire-driven formations behave and influence weather and climate. The project highlights growing scientific interest in wildfire impacts as fires become larger and more frequent worldwide.

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, has brought Elon Musk in on a project to develop military weapons, according to Forbes. The pairing of the Pentagon chief with the tech billionaire is drawing attention given Musk's role in defense-adjacent industries such as SpaceX and his influence in the Trump administration.

China has expanded its military presence in Southeast Asia by establishing an air base in Laos, according to France 24 reporting. The development marks another step in Beijing's efforts to project military power beyond its borders and deepen defence ties with a close neighbour, raising questions about shifting regional influence and the response of other powers active in Southeast Asia.

A new 'Oligarch Index' has been launched to track the biggest political spenders in California. The project, reported by Capital & Main, aims to monitor how much wealthy individuals and groups are spending to influence state politics. The framing of major donors as 'oligarchs' is drawing attention, reflecting broader concerns about money in politics.

New research finds global warming could cause 'east-dominated' Indian Ocean Dipole events to become 80% more frequent. These climate patterns, which shift sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, strongly influence rainfall, droughts and flooding across East Africa, India and Australia. Scientists say the projected increase would raise the risk of extreme weather in vulnerable regions.

Ethiopian state media insist that diplomacy does not require Addis Ababa to seek Cairo's permission, a pointed statement in the ongoing dispute over Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The message frames Ethiopia's regional dealings as sovereign and independent, rejecting any Egyptian claim to veto Ethiopian projects or agreements with other Nile basin countries.

The New York Times has published a review of 'The Influencer Project', a new film, under the headline 'Terminally Online'. The review appears in the paper's Movies and Culture sections and assesses the film's take on internet and influencer culture. Discussion of the review is circulating among film and media watchers, with the critical framing drawing attention to how the movie portrays life lived online.

China has reportedly established a new military support base in Laos, extending its defense presence in Southeast Asia. Bloomberg carried the news, which analysts are likely to read as another step in Beijing's efforts to project power beyond its borders, closer to Vietnam, Thailand and key regional supply routes.

The New York Times has published a review of 'The Influencer Project', describing the work as 'terminally online'. The film, which appears to examine influencer culture, is the latest title to tackle life lived through social media. No further details about its cast, director or reception are given beyond the verdict in the headline.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Elon Musk will co-lead Project Meridian, a 120-day Department of Defense taskforce studying the future of warfare. Musk is joined by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The group is tasked with identifying capabilities the US military will need in future conflicts.

Actor Nathan Fillion is quoted saying: 'Everything that's in my control, those are the things that I worry about.' The remark, highlighted as a quote of the day by entertainment press, offers a glimpse into how the television star approaches stress and focus, concentrating his concern only on matters he can actually influence. It is being shared as a light, relatable reflection rather than news of any specific project or event.

New research published in Science shows that random, short-term fluctuations in Arctic winter clouds can push the region between two distinct radiative states, affecting how much heat escapes to space. The findings suggest cloud variability plays a larger role in Arctic climate sensitivity than previously assumed, with potential implications for modeling winter warming in the polar north.

A Climate Week panel in New York examined China's role in global development and its climate implications. Inside Climate News is streaming the discussion, which looks at how Beijing's overseas investments and infrastructure projects shape emissions and energy transitions in developing countries.

New reporting highlights that Earth's ocean floor plays a far larger role in regulating the climate than previously understood. The seafloor influences how heat and carbon are stored and exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere, processes that are central to climate models and projections. Coverage on multiple outlets is drawing attention to how much of the planet's climate machinery sits beneath the waves, largely out of sight.