• The BBC plans to cut 12% of its workforce, up to 2800 employees. Most work in what they call "factual programming"—programs such as "Planet Earth."
   
• The European Union is considering how to make its financial markets more "transparent." As in the US, they haven't a clue where the money is going—or where it went. "All G7 members have agreed reforms are needed, including the US, which had formerly resisted joint action, according to a person close to the G7." When the Bush administration contemplates increased regulation of any market, you know they're worried.
   
• The Canadian military, training police in Afghanistan, has decided to pay its charges directly, thus bypassing the extremely corrupt Afghan government. "Police were forced to steal for a living when their pay didn't arrive from Kabul, which hurt morale and fostered resentment among local Afghans."

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