As a result of quota cutbacks in 2009, the John West Tuna cannery, known as Port Lincoln Tuna Processors, is planning to do away with its production, in May. The cannery is looking forward to get shifted to Thailand.

At present, the Australian cannery employs 260 people. The shifting would lead to loss in the jobs. However, the exact figures have not been released yet.

Showcasing a remarkable pace of growth in 10 years, Thailand posted a 3.6% rise in its GDP in the last quarter of 2009.

The benchmark SET Index gained 1.2 percent.

Being an export-driven economy, Thailand has gained most on increased exports and Government spending.

Thailand has recently issued rules about limiting sex change surgery, including a requirement that potential candidates cross-dress for a year. This is aimed at preventing people from rushing into the surgery, as per a medical association.

A national transgender beauty pageant draws thousands of people to the beachside town of Pattaya every year.

A recent review of a HIV vaccine trial in Thailand has concluded that it does show real signs of a protective effect.

Last month the scientists announced that a combination of drugs gave a 31% level of protection in trials among 16,000 heterosexuals between the ages of 18-30.

Last month, the U. S. army and Thai researchers announced the path-breaking production of a combination vaccine which caused a statistically important 31% reduction in new HIV infections in a trial of more than 18,000 volunteers in Thailand.

The Thai trial related to HIV vaccine, showing a 31 percent protection in the case of the 16,000 HIV-infected volunteers, marks a notable advance in the two-and-a-half decade long HIV vaccine research, underscoring the possibility of an AIDS vaccine.

With Palm having released its webOS firmware 1.2.1, the most recent version of its operating system for the Pre and the forthcoming Pixi, the users of the Pre will be able to sync the smartphone with the Apple's latest edition of iTunes, 9.0.1.

According to a Thursday report by US and Thai researchers, the risk of AIDS infection can be reduced by nearly one-third, as compared to placebo injections, by using an experimental vaccine that combines six "prime" and "booster" shots.

Sydney  - Australian Harry Nicolaides arrived back in Melbourne on Saturday after being pardoned by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej and released from a Bangkok prison.

Nicolaides was arrested in August and sentenced to a six-year jail term last month after pleading guilty to a charge of insulting the royal family.

Bangkok - The Thai government on Friday said they were "as lenient as possible" in their treatment of Burmese refugees living in camps in the kingdom, responding to US movie actress Angelina Jolie's call on authorities to allow the camp-dwellers more freedom.