
Iran crisis spooks UK farmers over pricier fertilisers
The ongoing Iran crisis is fuelling concerns among UK farmers about rising fertiliser costs, threatening input affordability and farm profitability.
All articles tagged with #costs

The ongoing Iran crisis is fuelling concerns among UK farmers about rising fertiliser costs, threatening input affordability and farm profitability.

NASA says it will not use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2 for Artemis, halting development of those components and continuing with Mobile Launcher 1 for the first three SLS missions. Artemis IV and V had been tied to a taller Block 1B with ML2, which is now sidelined or repurposed as plans shift toward standardization to improve launch cadence. The agency is reevaluating the second stage, with Artemis II possible to launch by April 1, 2026 and Artemis III targeted for mid-2027; overall Artemis costs have surpassed $100 billion as delays and changes persist.

The UFC projects around $60 million in costs for the White House event, covering fighter pay and production, with a plan to offset about half through sponsorships; however, the promotion says it will not profit from the spectacle, viewing it as earned media and a long-term audience-growth investment for America’s 250th anniversary.

Klarna posted a loss as rapid expansion pushed up operating costs, with investors pushing the stock lower by about 23%.

Conservatives call for pausing and refocusing the Palace of Westminster refurbishment amid rising costs—potentially £39–£40bn and 61 years—arguing the plan risks mission creep. They want safety-focused, essential work with stronger oversight, and point to two decant options (moving MPs/Peers or Lords only) to be decided by mid-2030s with initial works capped at £3bn.

Disney beat on core metrics in fiscal Q1, but rising costs in its Sports and Entertainment units and a cautious, below-consensus outlook weighed on the stock.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops to multiple U.S. cities in 2025 cost about $496 million through December, with ongoing costs around $93 million per month if levels stay the same; the Los Angeles deployment largely ended but 100 guards remained, and the D.C. deployment could run about $55 million per month at roughly 2,950 personnel, while future costs remain highly uncertain due to legal challenges and scale.

Achieving the American dream now costs approximately $5 million over a lifetime, covering key goals like retirement, homeownership, and raising children, with costs rising compared to previous years, highlighting the increasing financial challenge for Americans.

The cost of paying wind farms to switch off in Britain due to network constraints has reached nearly £1.5 billion in 2025, driven by expanding wind power and infrastructure limitations, leading to higher reliance on costly gas plants and increased energy bills, with calls for urgent system reform to unlock renewable potential and reduce costs.

Employers like HCA Healthcare are dropping coverage for weight loss drugs such as Zepbound and Wegovy due to rising costs and are directing employees to manufacturer discount programs, which may be cheaper than insurance coverage. The growth of direct-to-consumer programs by pharma companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk is contributing to this shift, potentially making these drugs less affordable for the general public despite expanding access.

Assata Shakur, once a symbol of Black resistance and revolutionary activism, faced immense personal sacrifices including losing her ability to be with her family and her homeland, as she was forced into hiding and exile after her conviction and subsequent escape from prison, ultimately dying free but at a shattering cost to her personal life.

The expiration of ACA subsidies at the end of the year, coupled with political gridlock in Congress, raises the likelihood of increased health insurance costs for many Americans in 2026 due to the absence of a bipartisan agreement to extend these subsidies.

The US Mint in Philadelphia is set to produce its last circulating penny as President Trump ordered its discontinuation due to high production costs exceeding its value, leading to a phase-out that has caused some logistical challenges and nostalgic sentiments.

Hundreds of Paramount Skydance employees quit rather than return to a five-day in-office workweek, costing the company $185 million in severance and contributing to a broader $1.7 billion restructuring expense as Paramount seeks to streamline operations and cut costs amid post-merger challenges.

Zohran Mamdani, NYC's mayor-elect, advocates for free, high-quality universal child care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, aiming to reduce costs for families and boost the economy, with funding potentially coming from increased taxes on the wealthy, though legislative approval is uncertain.