Bribery allegations around the globe.

Things have just got a lot worse for the German conglomerate Siemens which makes everything from cell phone components to light bulbs and trams. Rocked by investigations in Germany, Italy and Switzerland over money taken from corporate accounts and allegedly put into slush funds to pay bribes to help land telecommunications deals, the company is now being investigating for allegedly paying bribes to Saddam Hussein!

The investigations focus on a "a six-figure euro sum" which authorities suspect was illegally paid to Saddam Hussein's regime in exchange for contracts in Iraq, reports Der Spiegel.

The significant part of this story is that the investigation is focusing on a string of Siemens divisions: Medical Solutions, Power Generation, and Power Transmission and Distribution. Until now, the probe had focused on bribery allegations in the communications division, Com. That suggests the problem of corruption might run quite deep in the conglomerate.

Corruption of another sort in Israel with Tax Authority directors indicted on suspicion of widespread bribery and fraud, with allegations that money changed hands to secure tax breaks for businessmen. Alarmingly for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the PM's office manager is also questioned on suspicion that she planted one of the directors in the job.

Ha'aretz, the best newspaper in Israel, has the lowdown on the story here and here.

The scandal jeopardises Israel's security more than a Hezbollah attack, is the warning from Israeli commentator Sever Plocker.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang is fighting allegations that he accepted bribes, reports the International Herald Tribune. The political leader claims the cash was just a "normal political donation".

As expected, corruption continues to flourish in Vladimir Putin's Russia. "Russia is more corrupt now than at any time in the last 10 years," Kirill Kabanov, chairman of Russia's National Anti-Corruption Committee told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Meanwhile, the Democrat-dominated Congress is scheduled to begin voting today on ethics rules that will strengthen the bans on privately financed trips, gifts from lobbyists and travel on corporate jets. Also expect greater public disclosure of targeted special interest legislation, reports the Houston Chronicle.

The aim is to break down the shady links between lawmakers and lobbyists that has resulted in influence peddling and bribery scandals.

Yep, it's happening everywhere.