Economy

Top-secret project costs Lockheed Martin billions

The American defense group Lockheed Martin reports a loss of 950 million dollars as a result of a project within Skunk Works, reports Dagens Industri. The loss is stated in the notes to the quarterly report and the CEO does not reveal any details.

– It is a top-secret project that must be described as groundbreaking for the United States and our international customers, and therefore it is critical that it is put into use successfully, says James Taiclet at the report conference.

Skunk Works is Lockheed Martin's most secret department, according to DI, founded during World War II. In total, the project has cost 1.76 billion dollars, equivalent to 16.7 billion kronor. 

Protests against Trump
South Park mocks Paramount for Trump deal

The creators of the comedy series South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, yesterday sold the broadcasting rights to the series for the next five years to Paramount for $1.5 billion. Now the comedy duo is mocking Paramount for another deal the company recently made – the criticized settlement with US President Donald Trump over a CBS interview with Kamala Harris in the 2024 election campaign.

This is reported by CNBC, which adds that Paramount has endured a storm of criticism for bowing to Trump, partly through the lawsuit, and partly by canceling comedian Stephen Colbert's Trump-critical talk show Late Show on CBS.

The first episode of the new season of South Park was released today – ten hours after the billion-dollar sale to Paramount. The episode is about the fictional city of South Park, which gives the series its name, being sued by President Donald Trump. The series' version of Jesus appears and urges the city to immediately reconcile so as not to suffer from Paramount's anxiety.

- Do you want it to end up as bad for you as it did for Colbert, says Jesus. 

The tariff crisis Trump's tariff policy
EU clubs retaliatory measures against the US for 93 billion

EU countries voted on Thursday to approve retaliatory tariffs of 93 billion euros on American goods, which could be imposed if the EU fails to reach a trade deal with the United States. This was stated by EU diplomats on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The aim is to put pressure on the US administration to agree to a deal with the EU.

The European Commission stated on Wednesday that its primary focus is to reach a solution with Washington to avoid the 30 percent tariffs that Trump has said he will impose on August 1. 

Food prices
Cheap wheat stresses farmers: “Have in stock”

The price of wheat is historically low and is below Swedish farmers' production costs, according to BM Agri, which buys and sells grain and oilseeds, writes Dagens Industri.

A weaker krona and poorer grain harvests in the US speak for a higher price. But good harvests in Europe speak against a price increase.

– Factors are pulling in different directions. My main scenario is that the price of wheat will rise, says CEO Per-Arne Gustavsson to DI.

American farmers are also hoping for a higher price, writes Bloomberg.

– I know farmers who have wheat in stock who will stay with it because it is too cheap, farmer Jim Pellman tells the news agency.