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/ 27 May 2008

Siemens boss admits setting up slush funds

A former senior manager at Siemens on Monday admitted building up an elaborate system of slush funds and shell firms at the request of his superiors to help Europe’s biggest technology group win overseas contracts through bribes. Reinhard Siekaczek told a Munich court that he had informed his entire divisional board about the system.

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/ 13 September 2007

German frustration with French leader mounts

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy were expected to form the perfect couple — a pair of like-minded conservative leaders who would work hand in hand to heal Europe after its Iraq divisions and failed constitution. From his first day in office the Frenchman’s bullish diplomacy has grated on his German partners.