In a further sign of the falling barriers to hardware innovation, the price of 3D printing machines is expected to fall 6.4 percent in 2016, according to a report by market research firm IBISWorld.

Claims related to the massive explosion at the port of Tianjin, China, may grow to as much as $6bn, says the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI). More than half of the claims reportedly fall within marine insurance or reinsurance lines - potentially making it the largest single marine disaster (by claim value) in history, surpassing Hurricane Sandy.

In many businesses, supply chain management historically has fallen outside the core of the company's compliance function. But that was then. A renewed push this year by state, federal and international regulators – not to mention consumer advocacy groups, NGOs and foreign legislatures – to conscript the business community into the fight against human trafficking and the use of child, indentured, forced and other forms of coerced labor has brought supply chain management to the front and center of the corporate compliance world.

Amazon is diving into brick and mortar in a big way, with plans to open up to 400 physical store fronts, according to reports.