Human rights is leading the conversation on Egypt in the foreign press this morning, as the UN Human Rights Council held a periodic review of Egypt’s rights record in Geneva yesterday. The US, UK, Germany, and Sweden called on Egypt to investigate alleged incidents of torture and killings at the hands of security forces, and urged the government to increase freedom of expression. The head of the Egyptian delegation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Omar Marwan, claimed a “blanket prohibition” on torture but admitted that there were “isolated cases.” Reuters and the Associated Press have the story.

Amnesty International also issued a statement yesterday calling on the international community to demand that Egypt release detained protesters and activists.

Yesterday’s gas fire (covered in this morning’s Last Night’s Talk Shows) is also getting international attention. Seven people died and 16 others were injured after a gas leak from a pipeline caught fire in Beheira province yesterday. The accident is thought to have been caused by people attempting to steal gas from the pipeline. Reuters and the National are both taking note.

Egypt’s push to increase renewable energy is getting positive attention: The drive to use renewables comes as an attempt to mitigate the impact of climate change and tackle environmental concerns, as are our efforts to implement waste reduction initiatives such as the ban on single-use plastics proposed in parliament in June, Arabian Industry reports.

Other headlines worth a moment of your time:

• Egypt continues pushing for peace in Gaza: Egyptian and UN officials urge a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza groups as tensions escalate, the Times of Israel reports.
• Ancient art with a modern twist: An international team of archaeologists studying an ancient Egyptian pharaonic palace from the 6th century BC found surprisingly modern paint, most commonly used in the Middle Ages, and never before seen in the art of ancient Egypt, Atlas Obscura reports.
• Reforming prisoners with industry: Manufacturing and production initiatives offer some Egyptian prisoners a chance for rehabilitation, according to Xinhua.