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Radio Free Europe to shut in Trump ally Hungary ahead of elections

Reuters · Just In
Reuters
Reuters
Just In

U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is shutting down in Hungary (November 21), it said, ending a media service that a U.S. official said had damaged President Donald Trump's foreign policy in a key ally.

Breakdown
  • Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is being shut down in Hungary from midnight after losing US government funding.
  • The closure follows alignment between President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with RFERL accused of undermining US foreign policy. 6s
  • Funding for RFERL's Hungarian service, Szabad Europa, was ended by the US Agency for Global Media, citing opposition to Orban. 38s
  • RFERL's Hungarian service was relaunched in 2020 due to concerns over media diversity, but critics accuse Orban of tightening media control since 2010. 1m 4s
  • Reporters Without Borders called the shutdown a serious blow to Hungarians' right to information ahead of elections. 1m 28s
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