On an otherwise slow news day for Egypt, Human Rights Watch says the country is trying to “silence critical voices” with arrests ahead of next month’s presidential elections. The National Press Authority has slammed HRW’s statement as “unprofessional and politically motivated” and said that there is no connection between the presidential poll and the arrests of Hisham Genena, Sami Anan and others, Al Shorouk reports.

Also worth a quick skim:

• Egypt’s representative to the UN briefed the body’s counter-terrorism office on the military campaign in Sinai, according to the SIS.
• House Speaker Ali Abdel Aal said on a visit to Abu Dhabi that terrorism in Egypt is under control, The National reports.
• Cairo makes the list of the world’s most inspiring literary cities, Hayley Skirka writes for The National.
• Open Canada’s François LaRochelle looks at domestic challenges facing Egypt ahead of the March presidential election.
• Egypt has put to death five people convicted of the murder of a child, a judicial source told Anadolu Agency.