Take your seat because Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Department” meeting has officially been called into session and, surprise, it’s a 31-song mega double album. The Grammy-winner first released her highly anticipated 11th studio album on Friday, with the album appearing on Apple Music some time prior to its scheduled midnight release time. At 2 a.m EDT, Swift then surprise-released an additional 15-song album titled “TTPD: The Anthology.” The initial 16-track “Tortured Poets Department” album serves overall as a relaxed and mellow listen on the surface, but if you’re paying attention to the ..read more

EgyptAir resumed its flights to and from Dubai on Thursday after a one-day hiatus due to severe weather conditions in the UAE. The national carrier announced in a statement on social media that it would operate three flights to Dubai on Thursday evening. Etihad Airways also announces the resumption of its operations to normal after the difficult weather conditions that the country has experienced during the past period. Dubai Airports took a series of measures to ensure the continuation of services and the safety of passengers, and urged passengers not to travel to Dubai International Airport ..read more

Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received Dr. Mohamed Weld Omar, Director General of the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in the presence of Dr. Sherif Saleh, Acting Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, and Dr. Mohamed Kamal, Director of the Institute for Arab Research and Studies, Dr. Rami Zaki, Director of the Organization’s Education Department, and Ms. Nisreen Ghoneim, the Organization’s External Relations Officer, at the Ministry’s headquart ..read more

Egypt expects to receive dedicated budget support of around $1 billion from the World Bank during the first half of 2024, according to Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat. Al-Mashat, who also serves as Egypt’s governor at the World Bank, indicated in an interview with Al-Sharq Business on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank that the $6 billion in financing announced by the World Bank Group last March over the next three years will be directed to the public and private sectors. She pointed out that the ..read more

A Polish man has been charged over claims he assisted an alleged Russian plot to assassinate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to authorities in Poland and Ukraine. He was charged with “readiness to act for foreign intelligence against the Republic of Poland,” an offense which carries up to eight years in prison if he is found guilty, according to prosecutors. Polish authorities allege the man, named as Paweł K, was tasked “to help, among other things, in planning by Russian special services a possible attack on the life of the head of a foreign state – President of Ukraine Vol ..read more

Etihad Airways announces the resumption of its operations to normal after the difficult weather conditions that the country has experienced during the past period. In response to an inquiry from the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Etihad Airways said that its flights experienced some delays on April 16 and 17 due to the rainy weather conditions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, noting that some flights may be subject to minor delays, according to the Emirates News Agency. The company urged passengers to visit its website to check flight departure times, noting that the safety of guests and crew will re ..read more

The Egyptian government revealed on Thursday, the truth about the offers for the government regarding the “Ras Gemila” area in the tourist city of Sharm El-Sheikh. Counselor Mohamed al-Homsi, spokesperson for the Egyptian Cabinet, confirmed during a phone call to the “All Corners” program that any new deals will be announced by the Egyptian government with full transparency. Al-Homsi revealed that the Egyptian government has offers for large investment opportunities and is studying them, adding that there is a team of lawyers and technicians to study all the offers submitted. “Any new deals wi ..read more

Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received Dr. Mohamed Weld Omar, Director General of the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in the presence of Dr. Sherif Saleh, Acting Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, and Dr. Mohamed Kamal, Director of the Institute for Arab Research and Studies, Dr. Rami Zaki, Director of the Organization’s Education Department, and Ms. Nisreen Ghoneim, the Organization’s External Relations Officer, at the Ministry’s headquart ..read more

London CNN  —  The Prince of Wales was back in action on Thursday, carrying out his first public engagements since his wife, Catherine, revealed her cancer diagnosis last month. William, 41, visited a surplus food charity in Surrey before he was expected to head to a youth center in west London. The Princess of Wales, who has not carried out any official duties since Christmas Day, announced in a powerful video on March 22 that her diagnosis had been a “huge shock” and she had already started preventative chemotherapy. Kate’s cancer was found in tests following an abdominal surgery ..read more

CNN  —  Former President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda discussed NATO spending in a dinner meeting at Trump Tower in New York City Wednesday, according to a readout of the meeting from the Trump campaign. The pair “discussed President Duda’s proposal for NATO countries to go to 3 percent spending on their defense,” according to the campaign. CNN previously reported that Duda has called for all NATO member states to increase their defense spending to 3 percent of GDP, up from the current pledge of 2 percent. Duda reiterated the proposal to President Joe Biden dur ..read more