Background Briefing

Mercenary armies are making up the shortfall, in a $50 billion industry. There are 50,000 in Iraq alone. In interviews with of some main players, this investigation finds that the industry is unregulated and under-reported. However, it's much cheaper for governments than a standing army. This BBC documentary raises many questions. Reporter: Peter Snow. For copyright reasons there will be no podcast or transcript of this program.

For decades questions have been asked about how Defence keeps track of its guns, bullets and rocket launchers. In coming weeks there will be two cases before the courts dealing with allegations of weapons being stolen from the military. The Defence Department is impenetrable on these issues, believing that any public information will be a security risk. Reporter Stan Correy

He is a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and has several other prestigious roles in the US health policy and public health system. As well, he's a practising doctor and surgeon, editor, author, and New York Magazine writer. Atul Gawande discusses what makes a good doctor, how hospitals can be improved, and what he has learnt about the imperfect science of medicine.

One third of the entire population of Zimbabwe has fled the violence and terror. The governing elite can send their children overseas to study. Many are in Australia. Even here, some Zimbabweans are afraid, and the global web is running hot with propaganda, fear campaigns, tall tales and true. Reporter Wendy Carlisle.

No one really knows if the Internet will be a force for a new kind of democracy, or just another (albeit miraculous) technology. Shifting sands in demography, voter behaviour, and the world wide web, are all challenges for political campaigners. Pitfalls and successes abound. Reporter Sharona Coutts.

Millions of dollars have been spent on building an enormous irrigation infrastructure on the Murray Darling system. The rivers are dry, and the pumps stand idle, with even the interest on the loans not paid. How did it come to this: greed for water, bad farming, or the drought? Will God answer John Howard's prayers? Reporter Ian Townsend.

Heads of some of the biggest corporations in the world - Dupont, LaFarge, Eskom and Shell, as well as Otto Poon from Analogue, Hong Kong, talk about corporate response to global warming. In Hong Kong for the World Business Council meeting, the group says it will not be business as usual. A BBC production. Please note there will be no podcast of this program because of copyright restrictions.

Who's to blame when gamblers go berserk? Wealthy high roller Harry Kavakas is suing Crown Casino to get back $30 million he says they illegally encouraged him to gamble away. Several more vulnerable gamblers have stolen the millions they eventually lost. How does it get this far, who's responsible, and where does the gambling buck stop? Reporter Damien Carrick.

About 30,000 hospital admissions every year are for dental problems. The main reason children under five get admitted to hospital is teeth troubles. And now science indicates that bad teeth and gums affects the whole body, and can lead to heart disease. The state of dentistry is costing us plenty. Reporter, Wendy Carlisle.

America has a new policy for Iraq: soft power. It's cultural counterinsurgency. Possibly too little too late, it may even be impossible. Americans don't speak the language, and don't understand the many cultures. Reporter: Stan Correy.