US withholds $85 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses — senator

The US will freeze $85 million earmarked for military aid to Egypt over Cairo’s continued incarceration of political prisoners and other human rights issues, a senator said this week. A decision on withholding another $235 million is expected to come soon, according to two sources familiar with the developments cited by the Reuters news agency. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy announced the decision from the Senate floor on Tuesday while urging President Joe Biden’s administration to hold back the rest of the funds until Cairo stems what critics say is rampant...