Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power last June, the country has finally tilted toward stability as the new leader focused on promoting both security and reconstruction. This favorable turn of events has opened up a host of possibilities for Egypt to regain its regional stature.

China and Egypt on Wednesday pledged to promote bilateral cooperation on big construction projects during the first China visit by President Abdel-Fattah Sisi. The premier also called for closer cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin the creation of a Russian industrial hub in Egypt as part of the latest Suez Canal development project.  The visit is also meant to address Cairo's purchase of advanced surface-to-air missiles and membership in a Moscow-led free trade zone, Agence France-Presse reported.

As Egypt prepares to swear in its fourth leader since 2011, a huge slice of $1.5 billion in US aid remains in deep-freeze amid fears the nation is sliding back into authoritarianism. Former general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be crowned as the next president on Sunday after three years of political turmoil since the ousting of long-time iron-fisted leader Hosni Mubarak. But far from welcoming Sisi as a step toward stability, some analysts are urging Washington to re-think its decades-old, military-based aid program amid concerns over human rights abuses and a crackdown on civil liberties.

Egypt is spiraling toward instability and radicalization. Since last summer’s coup, the military-backed regime has used brute force to try to restore peace and manage its form of “democratic transition.” But its repressive strategy to physically eliminate political opponents, restore stability and end society’s acute polarization is backfiring.

Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whom the military has endorsed for the presidency after he ousted a civilian leader, has emerged as a nationalist icon in the mould of Gamal Abdel Nasser. Sisi, 59, has not yet said whether he will seek the country's highest office, but Egypt's military commanders on Monday said in a statement that "the people's trust in Sisi is a call that must be heeded as the free choice of the people."

Egypt will hold a presidential poll this year before parliamentary elections, interim president Adly Mansour said Sunday, in a move seen to benefit army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The election process would have to start before mid-April, according to a timetable included in a constitution adopted in a referendum this month.

The production company of Egypt’s widely popular satire show said Sunday it has decided to leave the private station that took it off the air after it lampooned the military and the recent nationalist fervor gripping the country. QSoft said in a statement that it failed to convince CBC to resume broadcasting Bassem Youssef’s program, and will take legal action against the network over “financial and moral damages.”