'Discarded like a dirty rag': Chinese state media hails Trump's cuts to Voice of America

State newspaper gloated that the network has "now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag".

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The decision affects thousands of employees - some 1,300 staff have been put on paid leave at Voice Of America (VOA) alone since Friday's executive order.

Critics have called the move a setback for democracy but Beijing's state newspaper Global Times denounced VOA for its "appalling track record" in reporting on China and said it has "now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag".

The White House defended the move, saying it will "ensure that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda".

Trump's cuts target the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which is supported by Congress and funds the affected news outlets, such as VOA, Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Radio Free Europe.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgwzmj9v34o

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