In mid-July Shell began the first of seven wildcat wells it will drill this year in the Kingdom's Rub al-Khali, a desert known as the Empty Quarter (a name Van der Veer hopes is merely metaphorical).

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Her name is Carla Salazar and his name is Michel Van der Ven.

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Founded in 1947, even before the Federal Republic of Germany's official birth, Der Spiegel made its name by tormenting the Adenauer government, promoting dialogue with the communist east and dredging up scandals.

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And naturally the Tech City chief, Eric Van Der Kleij, is punching the air, welcoming the arrival of such an illustrious name in the technology industry as a real boost for the community.

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