The foreign press appears preoccupied this morning with the Lebanon crisis, with Egypt’s regional role as an ally of Saudi Arabia dominating conversation on Omm El Donia as we headed for dispatch. A number of publications including Al Jazeera are interpreting President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s message urging calm and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s regional tour as a slight break from the hardline stance of Saudi Arabia.

On that front, Shoukry met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al Sabah on his tour of the Gulf, according to official statements. While the statements from the ministry only pay lip service to the crisis in Lebanon, it made sure to stress Iran’s meddling in regional affairs, paying particular notice of Houthis threatening Riyadh with missiles.

Neither Egypt nor Turkey apply the World Trade Organization’s Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), according to Econostrum. “The expected benefits for these two countries in becoming signatories to the GPA would be enormous. This agreement would allow both countries to move towards increased competition and to improve governance. For firms, it would be a real opportunity to win new business deals by opening the doors to a large market.”

Also worth a skim this morning:

• El Alamein battle: A man from Henley in the UK followed his father’s footsteps in Egypt, where he fought in the battle of El Alamein, 75 years later, in a report for the Henley Standard.
• National team mainstay Essam El Hadary could be poised to be the oldest player in World Cup history, The Guardian reports.