No longer curious contraptions designed by hobby mechanics in garden sheds, electronic bikes have ditched the bulky batteries and become feats of engineering with motors small enough to fit inside the back wheel.

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The United Nations has launched what is being called the first anti-corruption academy, aimed at turning out a new generation of top-of-the-line corruption fighters. New types of financial crimes will be investigated.

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The Switzerland-based Basel III committee is meeting on Tuesday to further discuss stricter banking regulations designed to prevent a repeat of the global financial crisis.

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Germany's iconic Karstadt department store chain is saved for now, but there is reasonable cause to doubt the company's future in its current form. Its new owner plans to invest 65 million euros, but more may be needed.

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Berlin's IFA trade fair is among the world's leading events for consumer electronics and home appliances. This year 3-D television and TVs that connect to the Internet are receiving the most attention.

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Europe has reached a "crucial milestone" in efforts to reform the financial sector by introducing cross-border agencies to oversee banks, insurers and the markets.

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German media group Bertelsmann has posted a record mid-term operating profit as advertising revenues recover from the global economic crisis.

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Germany's market regulator is using new powers to remove "underqualified" or "unreliable" individuals from 10 banks' supervisory boards. With new appointees being audited, state-run banks may face particular problems.

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As hotels grapple with dwindling bookings and increasingly thrifty customers, some major chains have started dropping star ratings in an effort to attract more guests, especially business travelers.

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A key labor union says workers deserve a fair share of Germany's economic recovery. But employers in the metalworking industry have rejected the call, saying there is no guarantee the good times will continue.

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A German proposal to stop employers from screening current or potential workers on private Internet sites could prove difficult, if not impossible, to enforce. Yet data protection experts laud the move.

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As industrial production and exports recover, so too is Germany's logistics sector. But modern freight companies need global networks to thrive, as well as technology and young talent to improve service efficiency.

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With Berlin scheduled to unveil a new energy concept, power companies have been lobbying for the extended use of their nuclear plants, if only for 10 to 15 more years. They could recoup their investments and then some.

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German police and financial authorities have warned of an increase in money laundering. The numbers have more than tripled in recent years and the methods are becoming ever more sophisticated.

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Germany's rail operator plans to expans its high-speed services to Britain and France by the end of the year. Access to the Channel Tunnel could help it connect the financial centers of London and Frankfurt.

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