Small-scale protests in a number of Egyptian cities on Friday night are leading the conversation on Egypt in the foreign press (Associated Press | Reuters | AFP | New York Times | Financial Times | Wall Street Journal | CNN | BBC | the Guardian). Pundits drew a link to calls for protests by former contractor Mohamed Ali, whose videos accusing the government of misusing public funds have gone viral over the past several weeks. El Sisi rebuked Ali’s claims as “sheer lies” during the National Youth Conference last week.

Also getting attention: 2011-era activist Wael Ghonim alleges that his brother Hazem has been arrested and his family’s home raided in response to a video he posted last week, the Times (UK) reports (paywall).

Also making the rounds:

• Sinai development: State investment in redeveloping the Sinai Peninsula is generating substantial profits, but crowding out the private sector, Haaretz says.
• “Ghost cities?” With the current focus on the government’s EGP 3 bn New Alamein City, Al Monitor explores how previous infrastructure projects have led to the existence of underpopulated “ghost cities” in Egypt.
• Gouna Film Festival: This year’s Gouna Film Festival has made it to entertainment industry mainstay Variety, which commends the festival for highlighting filmmaking talent in the Arab world.
• Pharaonic Egypt: Crocodiles were among the most venerated of ancient Egypt’s mns of mummified animals, with evidence showing that thousands were bred in hatcheries, some decorated with jewelry, and others hunted in the wild to meet demand, the Washington Post reports (paywall).