UN Peacekeeping Ops in Need of Major Overhaul

A report commissioned by the United Nations says the organisation's peacekeeping operations need a major overhaul. The report - commissioned before recent allegations of sexual abuse in Haiti and Liberia came to light - recommends that countries that flout the rights of children should be barred from contributing troops to peacekeeping missions. It says soldiers accused of sexual exploitation should not be immune from prosecution, and their countries should be required to disclose disciplinary action taken against them.

Senior Western figures have spoken out against Russian plans to strengthen the country's nuclear arsenal with 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Nato Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, called the move dangerous and destabilising. He said it was one of the reasons why Nato was increasing the readiness of its forces. Russia has reacted furiously to US plans to bolster its military presence in east European Nato countries.

The US Food and Drug Administration has said the use of artificial trans fat additives must be eliminated from the country's food chain within three years. It is the final fall from grace for trans fats - once thought to be the cheaper, healthy alternative to saturated fat. Trans fat is found in everything from popcorn, french fries, biscuits, even coffee whitener. So how can something that has been so widely used for so long be so bad for us? Newsday speaks to Dr. Beatrice Golomb, professor of medicine at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.