International Business

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is growing its presence in the Hoosier state. The company has signed multi-unit store development agreements with two existing franchise groups to develop 46 restaurants in Indiana during the next several years.  

A new set of stiff federal regulations reportedly may limit or even scuttle Amazon.com’s plans for a drone-based aerial delivery service.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says operators of unmanned commercial aircraft, which would include Amazon drones, must keep the craft in their line of sight and not fly them over people. The FAA is currently consulting with individuals and interested parties about drone regulations, and has said it is willing to be flexible in how rules are written and implemented.

Washington, D.C. – The National Retail Federation is welcoming the direct involvement of Labor Secretary Tom Perez in the ongoing dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).

The Obama administration has dispatched Perez to participate in talks aimed at ending the standoff between West Coast port workers and management which resulted in a four-day shutdown of ports on the U.S. West Coast from Feb. 13-16.

Describing cyberspace as the new "wild, wild West," President Barack Obama on Friday said that while everyone expects the government to be the sheriff, the private sector must do more to stop cyberattacks.

He also called for the passage of a single national standard requiring consumers to be notified within 30 days if their financial or personal data is stolen.

New York – A majority of business websites are not ready for prime time, at least when it comes to global commerce.

According to a new survey from multilingual search agency Oban Digital, while 67% of business executive respondents say that internationalization is a key part of their growth strategy, only 20% of businesses have all of their current online communications adapted for local culture or language, a key driver of sales success.

Seattle – A new set of stiff federal regulations reportedly may limit or even scuttle Amazon.com’s plans for a drone-based aerial delivery service. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says operators of unmanned commercial aircraft, which would include Amazon drones, must keep the craft in their line of sight and not fly them over people.

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide posted fourth-quarter net income of $10.7 million, following a $1.7 million loss for the year-ago period. The company said it is increasing its brand-building investments in 2015, focusing on omnichannel initiatives and international expansion.

Leading branded footwear company Wolverine is eyeing 2015 as a year to focus on omnichannel and expansion.

The parent company of Stride-Rite, Merrell and other brands says it is poised to realign its resources to address a fundamental shift in consumer shopping behavior and allow for greater focus on important omnichannel initiatives.