The Washington Post editorial board has called on the Biden administration to partially withhold US military aid to Egypt on human rights grounds. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will decide in the next few weeks whether to suspend USD 300 mn of the USD 1.3 bn in military aid annually given to Egypt. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal interviewed novelist Alaa Al Aswany on his new book, The Republic of False Truths, set during and in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution.

Egypt’s record on human rights came under scrutiny in the foreign press over the weekend, as Amnesty International called on Egypt’s public prosecutor to investigate potential extrajudicial executions by the Egyptian armed forces. Amnesty’s statement came in response to a graphic video released by the military spokesperson last week, announcing the killing of 89 terrorists during operations in North Sinai. Amnesty’s statement was picked up by the Associated Press.

Also making headlines:

• Bread price hike met reax: Some of the country’s poorest are responding with worry to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s announcement that the price of subsidized loaves will rise for the first time in 44 years. (Reuters)
• Remains of ancient warship, Greek cemetery found in sunken city off the coast of Alexandria: Divers made the rare discoveries as part of an Egyptian-French archaeological mission in the underwater city of Thônis-Heracleion, once Egypt’s largest Mediterranean port, which was rediscovered in 2001. (Reuters)
• An Egypt-based designer is bringing back the ancient Egyptian batik art — a form of hand-made painting in which the fabric is printed with wax before being dyed. (AFP)