Here is Read Magazine’s Weekly Roundup of the top news from global markets. In this fast paced world, breaking down information helps readers grasp the nuances that follow the news.
In Aerospace News this week…
NASA Awards SpaceX Second Contract Option for Artemis Moon Landing. NASA has awarded a contract modification to SpaceX to further develop its Starship human landing system to meet agency requirements for long-term human exploration of the Moon under Artemis.
With this addition, SpaceX will provide a second crewed landing demonstration mission in 2027 as part of NASA’s Artemis IV mission.
“Returning astronauts to the Moon to learn, live, and work is a bold endeavor. With multiple planned landers, from SpaceX and future partners, NASA will be better positioned to accomplish the missions of tomorrow: conducting more science on the surface of the Moon than ever before and preparing for crewed missions to Mars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
In Agritech News this week…
GrowPods from ACTX can Help Reduce Food Deserts Across the U.S. Advanced Container Technologies, Inc, said that GrowPods – the company’s unique Controlled Environment Farms – can help eliminate food deserts across the nation.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in urban areas, a food desert is an area with no ready access to a store with fresh and nutritious food options within one mile. In rural America, a food desert is defined as 10 miles or more from the nearest market.”
Unfortunately, food deserts are not few and far between. It’s estimated there are more than 23 million people, more than half of them low-income, living in food deserts.
In Automotive News this week…
McGovern Auto Group Opens McGovern Kia of Norwood. The McGovern Auto Group, a regional auto powerhouse that operates 23 dealerships across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, announced the acquisition of McGovern Kia of Norwood. The new dealership employs 30 members of staff across its sales, leasing, and servicing teams, with plans to hire approximately 15 new workers from the local community in coming months.
The opening of the new location follows McGovern’s acquisition of Dan O’Brien Kia, located on Boston Providence Highway in the heart of Norwood, MA. Under the McGovern banner, the dealership will offer over 200 new and used cars, including the latest Kia Telluride, EV6, Niro, Sorento, and Sportage models.
In BFSI sector news this week…
Regpack CEO and Founder Asaf Darash Accepted into Forbes Business Council. Asaf Darash, the CEO and founder of Regpack, a software leader that enables organizations to create flexible, customizable databases to manage automated payments and other business processes, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.
Darash was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.
In Biotechnology news this week…
BioNTech Expands Global Footprint by Acquiring GMP Manufacturing Site to Establish First mRNA Facility. BioNTech SE announced its Singapore affiliate BioNTech Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. had entered into an agreement with Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Pte. Ltd. to acquire one of its GMP-certified manufacturing facilities. The acquisition is part of BioNTech’s expansion strategy to strengthen its global footprint in Asia. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”), the facility will serve as BioNTech’s Regional Headquarters and become its first mRNA manufacturing facility in Singapore.
In Chemicals sector news this week…
BASF TotalEnergies’ petrochemicals facility earns International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals facility – a 60/40 joint venture between BASF and TotalEnergies, based in Port Arthur, Texas – has obtained the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS).
This recognition highlights both companies’ efforts to develop advanced recycling processes to recover waste and residues that can be turned into feedstock for circular plastics, chemical intermediates and consumer-facing products such as packaging and housewares.
In Energy & Power news this week…
Condor to Acquire Lithium Mining License in Kazakhstan. Condor Energies Inc., a Canadian based energy transition company with activities in Turkiye and Kazakhstan, is pleased to announce the Company has entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement with a state-owned entity to acquire a 95% working interest in a mining license in Kazakhstan. A prior well drilled in the Lithium License for hydrocarbon exploration encountered and tested lithium brine deposits with lithium concentrations of up to 130 milligrams per litre as reported by the Ministry of Geology of the Kazakh Republic.
In Food & Beverage news this week…
Z Natural Foods Announces New Chicken Bone Broth Protein. Z Natural Foods announced the release of their new Chicken Bone Broth Protein. Chicken Bone Broth Protein is natural bone broth in powder form. This versatile product is used in soups, cooking, dry blends, and any recipe that calls for chicken broth. Additionally, Chicken Bone Broth Protein is added to shakes and smoothies for its high protein and low-fat nutrition profile.
Chicken broth is a well-known traditional food that is an important source of collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, essential components for skin elasticity.
In Healthcare news this week…
FDA Advances the New Era of Smarter Food Safety, to Improve Traceability of Contaminated Foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced an unprecedented advancement in foodborne illness prevention through the finalization of a rule to more effectively trace contaminated food through the food supply, whether sourced in the U.S. or abroad.
The final rule establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for those that manufacture, process, pack or hold certain foods, including fresh leafy greens, nut butters, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and ready-to-eat deli salads. In collaboration with industry, the FDA will be able to more rapidly and effectively identify the origin and route of travel of certain contaminated foods to prevent or mitigate foodborne illness outbreaks, address credible threats of serious adverse health consequences or death, and minimize overly broad advisories or recalls that implicate unaffected food products.
In IT news this week…
Sigma Additive Solutions and Dyndrite Announce Agreement to Build Connected In-process Data Software. Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc., a leading developer of quality assurance software to the commercial 3D printing industry, announced an agreement with Dyndrite, providers of the GPU-accelerated computation engine used to create next generation digital manufacturing hardware and software. By expanding development of Printrite3D®’s visualization and analysis on Dyndrite’s Additive Developer Kit (ADK), users will have a single user experience for CAM, materials and process development, toolpath creation, and the resulting in-process quality data and analytics. This new solution marks Sigma’s connection to further cover the full quality value chain in additive manufacturing.