XML, by default, requires Unicode. Which is a very good thing. But other than that, XML is only as global as we make it.

Enter the Free Standard Group. They're working on the Common XML Locale Repository. It's a mouthfull, but a very important mouthfull:

"The purpose of the Common XML Locale Repository project is to devise a general XML format for the exchange of culturally sensitive (locale) information for use in application and system development, and to gather, store, and make available data generated in that format."

In other words, this repository will help us tag content much more accurately than "lang=jp." It's a very challenging undertaking, with no perfect solution, but necessary to the continued globalization of the Internet. And they're always looking for feedback...