A HANDFUL OF REGIONAL DIPLOMACY STORIES:

Egypt resumes “infrastructure diplomacy” with Iraq: The “oil-for-reconstruction” mechanism agreed by Egypt and Iraq last year was the subject of talks between International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat and a delegation of Iraqi officials last week, the ministry said in a statement, which offered no further details. The two sides signed 15 MoUs in November which could see Egyptian companies awarded infrastructure projects in Iraq in return for Iraqi oil.

The talks came as Egypt’s new ambassador to Iraq, Walid Ismail, presented his credentials to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Saturday. Ismail was appointed the new ambassador in July.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s support for a diplomatic solution to the Yemeni crisis in a meeting with newly appointed Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad BinMubarak yesterday, according to a cabinet statement.

Making headlines internationally: Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Myanmar after last Monday’s military takeover, calling for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Some 1k people joined a protest in Naypyidaw and 60k in Yangon, while more protests were reported in other areas of the country. The story is everywhere in the global press from Reuters and the Associated Press to the Financial Times.