Iran declares Hormuz ‘completely open’
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to commercial shipping on Friday, as a ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon, raising hopes that two of the main obstacles to a US-Iran peace deal may have been cleared.

PM and general apologise for latter’s troubling talk
YALA - Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the commander of the 4th Army Area have apologised to the public following a controversy over comments by the latter that have triggered calls for his transfer.

Pai tourism suffers as haze grips North
Tourist arrivals in Pai have plunged by nearly 90% as hazardous air pollution continues to grip northern Thailand, officials and residents of the town in Mae Hong Son province say.

Thais reserve judgement on new cabinet
More than half of Thais are reserving judgement on the new cabinet, with a survey by the King Prajadhipok’s Institute showing 50.8% of respondents do not yet see any group of ministers offering a clear “hope” for the country.

First Iranian oil tankers exit Gulf since US blockade
Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since a US blockade came into force, the tracking firm Kpler told AFP on Friday.

Famed Khao Yai tiger dies of natural causes
NAKHON RATCHASIMA - A male Indochinese tiger known as “Sri Kosa”, a key figure in Thailand’s wild tiger population, has died of natural causes in the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex, researchers have confirmed.

Rescuers race to save whale stranded off German coast
BERLIN - A rescue attempt for a whale stranded off Germany’s Baltic coast has entered a “decisive phase”, officials said on Friday, with the sea mammal showing more activity than in recent days.

3,800 litres of untaxed diesel seized off Trat
TRAT - Authorities seized a fishing vessel carrying 3,800 litres of untaxed diesel at a pier in Khlong Yai district of this eastern province early on Friday. The owner admitted he had bought the fuel at sea for 28 to 30 baht per litre for use in the fishing sector.

Lebanese civilians head home as truce takes hold
BEIRUT - Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians took to the road on Friday, hoping that a 10-day ceasefire with Israel would allow them to return to their homes in southern Beirut and the country’s war-torn south.

Your horoscope for April 17-23
Your spot-on horoscope for work, money and relationship from Guru by the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. Let's see how you will fare this week and beyond.