Saudi Arabia and Iran restore diplomatic ties

The formal agreement, brokered by China, was reached in Beijing. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following Saudi Arabia and Iran restore diplomatic ties [Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, shakes hands with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing, April 6, 2023.] Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP Saudi Arabia-Iran Saudi Arabia and Iran have [officially restored diplomatic ties](. The reconciliation between the long-time regional rivals has been facilitated by China and the formal agreement was reached in Beijing on Thursday after talks between the countries’ foreign ministers. They released a joint statement saying that they saw “great opportunities to achieve shared benefits for their two peoples.” They also agreed to work toward [reopening each other’s embassies]( in Tehran and Riyadh, which have been closed since 2016. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has announced that it will [introduce a new law]( making it illegal for other nations to recruit its health workers. It comes as the country’s healthcare system struggles to retain its medical professionals. The vice president, who is also the health minister, likened the loss to human trafficking, depriving the nation of its human capital. Media reports say more than 4,000 nurses and doctors [have left Zimbabwe]( since February 2021, many of them seeking better wages in the UK’s National Health Service. Nicaragua Nicaragua’s government has [banned Easter processions]( ahead of Good Friday, that also ran through Lent. People will instead have to celebrate the holiday privately behind the closed doors of their churches or homes. President Daniel Ortega has [developed strained relations]( with the Catholic Church. But he cited security concerns, fearing that Easter processions could turn into anti-government political rallies. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Many Jews this year will celebrate Passover with a traditional reading in Ukrainian for the first time]( [This illustration by Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi is from "For Our Freedom," a new Haggadah in Ukrainian, for Passover, from US-based Project Kesher.]( Credit: Courtesy of Project Kesher The night of April 5 marks the beginning of Passover. Traditionally, Jewish families gather around the dinner table for the holiday with a festive meal and to read aloud from the Haggadah. The text tells the Passover story, guiding readers through a tale of redemption. Many Ukrainians this year will be reading the Haggadah [in their own language]( for the first time. [Sikh separatist still on the run in India]( [Supporters of Waris Punjab De shout slogans favoring their chief and separatist leader Amritpal Singh and other arrested activists during a meeting at the Akal Takht Secretariat inside Golden Temple complex, in Amritsar, India, March 27, 2023.]( Credit: Prabhjot Gill/AP/File photo In his latest video, Amritpal Singh, a preacher calling for a [Sikh homeland known as Khalistan](, said he'll surrender at a time of his own choosing. Sikhs around the world remain divided on the sparatist issue, often along generational lines or between those living inside or outside of India. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Concerned that her mother's legacy would be forgotten, filmmaker Akuol de Mabior set out to create a new documentary called “No Simple Way Home.” It tells the story of Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior's contributions to the liberation of South Sudan. 🇸🇸 [Listen to the story]( by The World's Halima Gikandi. 🎧 [Family portrait of the Mabior family. From left to right: (standing) Mabior Garang de Mabior, Chol Garang de Mabior; (seated) Gak Garang de Mabior, Akuol Garang de Mabior, John Garang de Mabior, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Nyankuir Garang de Mabior.] Credit: Courtesy of Akuol Garang de Mabior In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.