Our daily pass around the world

🇬🇧 The UK government is sending 1 million free vape starter kits to cigarette smokers. The first-of-its-kind program will send vape starter kits to nearly 1 in every 5 smokers living in the UK, as part of an effort to get them to switch from cigarettes to a healthier tobacco alternative. The country’s health ministry has set a goal of reducing the number of cigarette smokers to less than 5% of the population, from 13% at present. In other UK news, Prince Harry announced plans to attend King Charles III’s coronation on May 6 without his wife Meghan Markle.

🇮🇷🤝🇸🇦 Iran’s embassy in Saudi Arabia reopened yesterday for the first time in seven years. The two countries officially restored diplomatic ties late last week, after agreeing to do so in March as part of a China-brokered deal. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held their first formal meeting of top diplomats earlier this month in Beijing, during which the two Middle Eastern countries agreed to pursue economic cooperation and seek peace in the region.

🇩🇪🌿 Germany is legalizing possession of up to 25 grams (~0.9 oz) of cannabis. The German government had initially planned to allow marijuana to be sold in licensed stores nationwide, but later revised the law so that only special non-profit groups will be allowed to distribute cannabis after receiving pushback from the EU. Growing marijuana is currently illegal under EU law, though many European countries have regulations that decriminalize possession of the drug.