There was more gas-related banter in the foreign press yesterday: Egypt’s new gas fortunes could help boost our geopolitical standing by allowing us “to strengthen economic ties with Israel and Jordan while becoming an indispensable partner to Europe,” Clifford Krauss and Declan Walsh write for the New York Times. Recent agreements have “the potential to stabilize Egypt’s precarious, debt laden finances and help clean up its polluted air,” but both internal and external risks remain. While cooperation with our regional neighbors is increasing, Krauss and Walsh do not rule out the possibility that tensions could be stoked if, for example, Israel constructs its proposed undersea gas pipeline to Europe, which would undermine Egypt’s standing. They also caution the government against “squandering” the gas wealth if it fails to push ahead with subsidy cuts.

Other headlines worth knowing about:

• The Sharm El Sheikh highway barrier currently under construction earned some more digital ink, with Al-Monitor’s Rasha Mohamed wondering whether it is meant to isolate Sinai’s bedouins.
• Alexandria’s Greek community turned out on Friday to celebrate the memory of Despoina Achladioti, an iconic figure who was known as the ”Lady of Ro” and who died in 1982, according to the Greek Reporter.
• Reports that three troops and 46 Islamist terrorists were killed in Sinai has been picked up by the Associated Press, though no context has been provided.