The NOVUS Trust has launched a new logistics and supply chain degree in order to address the shortage of graduate talent in the supply chain and logistics industry. Sponsored by companies in the industry, the 4-year Logistics and Supply Chain Bachelors of Science degree course will "arm graduates with the tools they need for a successful career in the industry," starting with a guaranteed job from one of the course sponsors.

Analyst Insight: The automotive industry is an orchestration of marketing, logistics and product development. This orchestration, which leads to higher complexity and demand, requires that many parts be available in manufacturing and services. And this global and complex way of looking at a problem drives the European automotive industry to operate in Asia, as well as localize their supply chains for sales in Asia. However, the logistics for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) between these two continents sometimes become complex. - Thomas Wiedmann, Managing Director, Europe, Tompkins International

European Commission delivered a bleak assessment Friday of Europe's economic prospects, saying that growth would be just 0.1 percent in the 27-nation European Union in 2013 and that the 17-nation euro zone would shrink 0.3 percent over the same period.

Expanding on its existing relationship in other countries, US Airways has appointed EFIS Air, a subsidiary of ECS Group, as its cargo general sales agent in France. The two already work together in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.

President Barack Obama is trying to persuade the United States to adopt a cap-and-trade system to curb greenhouse gas emissions. But the European Union's Emissions Trading System "” the world's flagship effort "” is sputtering. European carbon permits, which traded at about €30 ($40) per ton a few years ago, are now hovering at about €5 per ton or less.