Egyptian court orders news site closed as critics warn of a crackdown

An Egyptian misdemeanor court ordered Mada Masr shut Tuesday after convicting founder and editor Lina Attalah of operating a website without a license. The court fined her the equivalent of about $53,400 and ordered her detained until payment. The fine was paid hours later, but her whereabouts were unknown, the outlet said. Mada Masr plans to appeal the closure order. Press-freedom groups called the verdict a blow to independent journalism, as authorities extended detention of six journalists from another platform.