Topping coverage of Egypt in the western media this morning is the sentencing of 30 alleged members of Ikhwan to prison on violence-related charges. Several courts, including the Cairo Criminal Court, handed down prison sentences to 30 defendants for illegal assembly, inciting violence, and possessing firearms yesterday, the Associated Press reports. The sentences include life imprisonment for eight Ikhwan members and three-year prison term for seven others, while three other suspects in the same case were acquitted, according to PressTV.

Separately, the Minya Criminal Court handed down a 13-year sentence to 10 police officers found guilty of insulting the governorate’s security directorate, Daily News Egypt reports. The court acquitted 13 other defendants.

Wire pickups of the Ismail cabinet approving legislation for a space agency came in at a close second place.

Egypt is strengthening its partnership with the US, Sasha Toperich writes for The Hill. She says “Egypt needs a strong partner in the United States … The country is going through difficult structural reforms to modernize and balance its economy … The country is managing to bring its foreign policy back on its feet … Criticism from the U.S., especially on human rights issues, is important and healthy … However, criticism alone won’t do much. Building stronger connections between Egyptians and Americans on all levels, fostering better understanding of each other, and being there for each other is the only way forward.” She adds that Egypt is moving in the right direction despite its problems.

Iranian petrochemicals producers are looking to expand into new markets in Africa, including Egypt, Tunisia, and Kenya, “in a bid to diversify their target markets,” as the sector grows, Azerbaijan’s Azer News reports. The Amir Kabir Petrochemicals Co. has reportedly already sent a shipment of heavy and light linear polyethylene to Egypt to test during 2017 in the hopes of attracting new orders.

Also worth a skim this morning:

• Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, who was arrested as part of the “Marriott cell” case, told his story in a documentary covered by Canada’s CBC. Al Donato used it to point out “signs that the press in your country may be under attack.”
• Video game Assassin’s Creed Origins will allow players to tour Ancient Egypt with an education mode early next year in a downloadable update, according to IGN. Players will be able to tour the ancient world without worrying about combat and time constraints. Origins is set in ancient Egypt and is due to be released 27 October, prompting an intense lobbying campaign by the resident 10-year-old that she is, indeed, old enough to play it.