Researchers have taken a look at the health care needs of people displaced by Hurricane Katrina that remained in travel trailers and found barriers to their receiving adequate care.

Specifically, researchers found a worsening of chronic disease and mental illness, as well as barriers to individuals receiving care since they were displaced. But researchers said th meeting those needs were "essential" for ensuring recovery

- Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol has joined the United Nations' "Say No to Violence Against Women" campaign.

The princess - the daughter of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Princess Soamsavali - joined the drive at a ceremony which marked her position as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

As Britain's economy grounds to a halt, the country is applying the brakes on immigrant labor from outside the European Union. Among the sectors expected to be hit hard by the new stringent migrant rules is the healthcare industry as care workers would virtually be banned from entering U.K.

The proposed migration rules would limit entry of foreign workers to jobs listed as having a critical shortage, which includes skilled nurses and consultants, certain types of engineers and math and English teachers. But care workers and nuclear energy staff are excluded

Health care will continue to hurt the pockets of Americans. Consulting firm Mercer, in a study, forecasts a 5.7 percent rise in health care cost in 2009. The increase follows 2007's 6.1 percent hike in health care and this year's estimated 5.7 percent increase.

Mercer pointed out that while the rate of increase is smaller compared to double-digit growth the past years prior to 2005, it is accelerating faster than inflation rate or salary adjustments

The new U.S. Food and Drug Administration law permitting the use of irradiation on spinach and iceberg lettuce will take some time before it will be practiced widely across the country.

According to David Gombas, senior vice president of the United Fresh Produce Association, the slow adoption to the technique is due to its cost, lack of irradiation facilities, questions over its effectiveness and consumer response to produce zapped by radiation waves