Good afternoon, friends, and happy Thursday. We hope your workweek is winding down as calmly as the news cycle is today as we brace for a scorching weekend ahead.

BIG STORY TODAY-

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is headed to Russia to attend the 9 May Victory Day parade following an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an Ittihadeya statement. The trip comes after El Sisi concluded his official visit to Athens, where a strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece was signed.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

The US and the UK are expected to announce a trade agreement to lower tariffs on some goods today, making Britain the first country to secure a deal with Washington since US President Donald Trump imposed his sweeping tariffs last month. Trump teased on his social media platform Truth Social that “a full and comprehensive” agreement with the UK is in the offing, adding that there are “many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow.” The agreement will be announced in a press conference at 10am from the Oval Office, he said in a separate post.

But UK officials expect the agreement to be more limited in scope, focusing on British steel and auto exports: The trade framework could see the US agreeing to decrease tariff quotas on British car and steel exports — which were slapped with a 25% levy from the US — a British official told Reuters. In exchange, Britain is expected to lower tariffs on US cars as well as a digital sales tax impacting major US tech companies. (Reuters | The New York Times | Financial Times)

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The weather is nearing this week’s peak in the capital tomorrow, with temperatures set to hit a maximum of 38°C throughout the day before cooling to a still warmer-than-usual 23°C at night, according to our favorite weather app.

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