Leading the international press this morning, once again, is COP27, with Foreign Policy commenting on recent claims by environmental experts that authorities are clamping down on environmental civil society groups ahead of the summit and speculating on possible responses from Western governments.

Meanwhile, the Madbouly government is distancing itself from a decision to hike hotel rates amid accusations of price gouging, according to Climate Home News. Following the introduction of new minimum rates by the Egyptian Hotel Association in February, COP delegates have complained that their reservations have been canceled and their rooms re-advertised for 3-6x the price. Cue a he-said-she-said situation, with both the EHA and the government denying responsibility for the decision.

(Wait, what? Prices in a resort town spiking when the entire world descends on it for a few weeks at the start of the traditional high season? What a surprise…)

Also making headlines:

• Why are the Gulf states coming to our rescue? Egypt’s economic and geopolitical clout underpin the decisions by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to provide bns of USD to support the economy, says Carnegie scholar Yasmine Farouk. (Wall Street Journal)
• The charges against Mada Masr journalists got ink in the German press. (Deutsche Welle)