The Epoch Times

British chat forums are shutting themselves down rather than face regulatory burdens recently applied to internet policing laws. On March 17, the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, a law that regulates internet spaces, officially kicked into force. The law means that online platforms must immediately start putting in place measures to protect people in the UK from criminal activity with far-reaching implications for the internet. However, for some forums—from cyclists, hobbyists, and hamster owners, to divorced father support and more—the regulatory pressure is proving too much, and its myriad of rules are causing chat forums that have been operating for decades, in some cases, to call it a day. Conservative Peer Lord Daniel Moylan told The Epoch Times by email that “common sense suggests the sites least likely to survive will be hobby sites, community sites, and the like.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ejqc5qh5

South Texas rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, was driving his pickup on his ranch in Mexico when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED), detonating it. The force of the explosion flipped his truck onto its side, killing the retiree and his friend inside. A third occupant, his friend’s wife, was hospitalized. The incident happened in January near the Mexican town of San Fernando in Tamaulipas, just south of the border from Brownsville, Texas. Saldierna, a U.S. citizen, immigrated to the United States in the 1970s to pursue the American dream, according to his son, U.S. Army veteran Ramiro Céspedes. He told The Epoch Times that his father, who worked on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border, was a victim of Mexican cartel terrorism. Céspedes, a veteran of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, is all too familiar with IEDs. He was awarded a Purple Heart after being injured by an explosive device during a tour of duty. He said IEDs and drones are something fairly new that the cartels are using in their turf wars with rival organizations. “I’ve stated that the way that my father was killed was a terrorist tactic because I saw those tactics in Iraq,” Céspedes said. Céspedes said the cartels have armor-plated vehicles, Kevlar vests, night vision technology, and 50-caliber sniper rifles—equipment every bit as sophisticated as that of the Mexican military. “Nowadays, it’s more like defending a small army against another small army—and there’s a lot of collateral damage,” he said of the cartels. “I think President Trump’s policy is putting a lot of pressure on Mexico. I can see it here at the border.” The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a?warning in January concerning IEDs. It noted that on Jan. 23, an IED had destroyed a Mexican official’s vehicle in Rio Bravo, Mexico, injuring the occupant just days before Saldierna’s death. The incident spotlighted the growing sophistication of the cartels, whose criminal human and drug smuggling operations have flourished in recent years. In the past four years, some 11 million foreign nationals have crossed into the United States illegally, with most crossing the U.S. southern border with Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned on securing the U.S. border, deporting millions of illegal immigrants, and stopping fentanyl from pouring into the country. In February, the U.S. State Department designated the Sinaloa, Gulf, United, Northeast, and Jalisco New Generation cartels and La Nueva Familia Michoacana as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists. During his March 4 address to Congress, Trump signaled that he is determined to directly confront the threat that cartels pose to the United States. “The cartels are waging war in America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels,” he said. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eUXQkzAC

A new Epoch Times survey reveals overwhelming support among readers for reforming—and in many cases, eliminating—the Department of Education. Respondents strongly favored reducing the department’s workforce, transferring control of education policy to the states, and giving parents greater influence over school decisions. The poll, which drew over 31,000 responses, was conducted in the days leading up to President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order, which launched the process of dismantling the Department of Education and returning educational authority to state governments. Since its establishment in the late 1970s, the Department of Education has spent more than $3 trillion. Yet, according to a White House fact sheet, academic performance has stagnated. Despite a 245 percent increase in per-pupil spending, math and reading scores have declined, and American students consistently rank behind peers in other developed nations. In a speech before signing the order, Trump said federal efforts in education have failed to deliver results. “Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making,” he said. “My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the Department,” Trump continued. “We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible—it’s doing us no good.” The president said that critical components of the department such as Pell Grants and resources for children with disabilities would be “preserved in full” and shifted to other agencies. The administration’s effort to wind down the Education Department quickly drew pushback. Teachers’ unions vowed to challenge the move in court, and several congressional Democrats signaled opposition to any attempt to shut down the agency, which would ultimately require legislative action. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eguxt2jE

In his new role as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin has proposed changes that would fundamentally alter government regulation of America’s energy and transportation industries—if the changes can survive legal challenges from environmental groups. On March 12, Zeldin announced what he called “31 historic actions in the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history.” “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S., and more,” Zeldin said in an official statement. These changes, he said, would “roll back trillions in regulatory costs and hidden ‘taxes’ on U.S. families” and make it “more affordable to purchase a car, heat homes, and operate a business.” The announcement sparked both applause and condemnation. “The EPA’s recent deregulatory shift reflects a philosophy of regulatory humility and away from Washington micromanagement,” Sarah Montalbano, energy and environmental policy expert at the Center for the American Experiment, told The Epoch Times. “The EPA is reconsidering unworkable greenhouse gas regulations on power plants. “This rule would have forced reliable coal plants to retire and impeded new natural gas plant construction unless they capture 90 percent of their emissions by 2032. It’s great news for utilities and American consumers that reliable generation like coal and natural gas can stay on the table and avert devastating blackouts.” Environmental groups saw it differently. “Mr. Zeldin seems to have lost sight of the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency,” Jason Rylander, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, told The Epoch Times. “EPA’s job is to protect the environment and public health, not to promote American industry. “EPA’s rules already reflect a balance that more than takes into account the interests of America’s automakers, power plants, and manufacturers.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eMbDP2f2

China's Dark Secret That The Media REFUSES To Talk About Feat. Jan Jekielek, Senior Editor at The Epoch Times Huge thanks to Joe Polish for having me on his show, exposing "the hidden battles happening right now—battles for freedom, truth, and humanity itself. His work has uncovered the darkest realities of China’s regime and its global influence strategies, revealing a world few truly understand." Check it out on Youtube ?? https://lnkd.in/emPEk_tV Per Joe: I’m always looking to learn different perspectives, and this was a fascinating and important conversation. Here’s what you’re going to discover in this session: The Newspaper That Terrified Communist China: How The Epoch Times went from a basement startup to a global force exposing the CCP’s darkest secrets. Exposing the Unspeakable: China’s Forced Organ Harvesting Industry – The horrifying reality of prisoners executed for their organs—and the survivor testimony that proves it’s real. The Silent Takeover: How the CCP Controls Universities, Corporations & Politicians – The disturbing extent of China’s infiltration into America’s most powerful institutions. Grey Zone Warfare: How China Expands Its Power Without Firing a Shot – How the CCP pushes its influence to test how far it can go before the world pushes back. Fentanyl, Organ Harvesting & the Silent War Against America – How the CCP floods the U.S. with deadly drugs while profiting off human rights abuses. The Business of Oppression: How the CCP Profits from Forced Labor & Trafficking – China’s persecution machine isn’t just about power—it’s about making billions. Spirituality as a Threat to Tyranny: Why China Fears Meditation More Than Missiles – How Falun Gong’s peaceful principles provoked one of the most brutal crackdowns in modern history. Why ‘Never Again’ Keeps Happening: The Global Blindness to Genocide – From Rwanda to the Uyghurs, why world leaders always promise to act—yet rarely do. The Real Estate Invasion: Why China is Buying U.S. Land Near Military Bases – The growing pattern of Chinese land grabs near sensitive sites—and why it’s a national security crisis. China’s Underground Resistance: The Hidden Rebellion Against the CCP – Inside China, millions are rebelling—quitting the Communist Party, sharing censored news, and exposing government lies. Full interview on Youtube ?? https://lnkd.in/emPEk_tV

China's Dark Secret That The Media REFUSES To Talk About Feat. Jan Jekielek, Senior Editor at The Epoch Times Huge thanks to Joe Polish for having me on his show, exposing "the hidden battles happening right now—battles for freedom, truth, and humanity itself. His work has uncovered the darkest realities of China’s regime and its global influence strategies, revealing a world few truly understand." Check it out on Youtube ?? https://lnkd.in/emPEk_tV Per Joe: I’m always looking to learn different perspectives, and this was a fascinating and important conversation. Here’s what you’re going to discover in this session: The Newspaper That Terrified Communist China: How The Epoch Times went from a basement startup to a global force exposing the CCP’s darkest secrets. Exposing the Unspeakable: China’s Forced Organ Harvesting Industry – The horrifying reality of prisoners executed for their organs—and the survivor testimony that proves it’s real. The Silent Takeover: How the CCP Controls Universities, Corporations & Politicians – The disturbing extent of China’s infiltration into America’s most powerful institutions. Grey Zone Warfare: How China Expands Its Power Without Firing a Shot – How the CCP pushes its influence to test how far it can go before the world pushes back. Fentanyl, Organ Harvesting & the Silent War Against America – How the CCP floods the U.S. with deadly drugs while profiting off human rights abuses. The Business of Oppression: How the CCP Profits from Forced Labor & Trafficking – China’s persecution machine isn’t just about power—it’s about making billions. Spirituality as a Threat to Tyranny: Why China Fears Meditation More Than Missiles – How Falun Gong’s peaceful principles provoked one of the most brutal crackdowns in modern history. Why ‘Never Again’ Keeps Happening: The Global Blindness to Genocide – From Rwanda to the Uyghurs, why world leaders always promise to act—yet rarely do. The Real Estate Invasion: Why China is Buying U.S. Land Near Military Bases – The growing pattern of Chinese land grabs near sensitive sites—and why it’s a national security crisis. China’s Underground Resistance: The Hidden Rebellion Against the CCP – Inside China, millions are rebelling—quitting the Communist Party, sharing censored news, and exposing government lies. Full interview on Youtube ?? https://lnkd.in/emPEk_tV

WASHINGTON—Thousands of pages of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, were released late in the evening of March 18, revealing details about intelligence-gathering operations but little new information. While researchers have long awaited the declassification, some are questioning the content of the released files and whether more documents exist or were previously destroyed. Many digitized documents?are?illegible, either because of the quality of the source material or inadequate scanning methods. Critics of the government’s slow release of information over the past 62 years suggest that the lack of transparency has created controversy and eroded credibility. Many of the newly released files describe CIA efforts to counter Russia and Cuba, including plans to isolate, “further discredit,” and overthrow foreign governments with coup d'etat missions using “political and psychological warfare.” A declassified CIA?file from October 1963 instructs agents to offer “no comment and complete denial if specifically asked” about a plot to attack a Cuban merchant ship. According to the document, Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro was concerned about a bomb—which failed to detonate—planted on the ship in Genoa, Italy, that he claimed had been placed there by the CIA. Some reports reveal?methods?of?intelligence?gathering, with?details?about how records are maintained. In one instance, operatives were?advised to destroy all documents to prevent information from falling into the hands of a foreign government. Several documents indicate that Lee Harvey Oswald, identified by the Warren Commission as the lone gunman responsible for killing Kennedy during a political visit to Dallas, was under U.S. government surveillance well before the assassination. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eQepTXbZ

BREAKING: Trump to put Department of Education on Chopping Block Tomorrow President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on March 20 that will facilitate the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, taking a step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge. By Emel Akan & Zack Stieber

Plummeting reading and math scores are often blamed on COVID-19, but negative trends in U.S. public school performance compared with that of other developed countries predate the pandemic. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported at least six years of steady decline in reading and math scores on domestic standardized tests leading up to the 2024 results. Sixty-nine percent of fourth graders scored below grade level in reading last year, and the rate was 70 percent for eighth-grade students. NAEP’s 2024 math results were equally disappointing: 60 percent of fourth-grade students and 72 percent of eighth graders scored below their respective grade levels. Martin West, vice chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees NAEP, said student skills have eroded for more than a decade. He attributed the downward spiral to two significant events: a softening of public school accountability and a new era of “screen-based childhood,” in which students spend far more time on smartphones and social media than on schoolwork. “‘Sobering’ would be a good word for it,” West said during a February panel discussion with the National Conference of State Legislatures. Education policy experts identify three significant barriers to catching up to higher-performing nations in classroom performance: lack of accountability, relaxed standards, and lack of engagement. On the global stage, the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study assessment ranked the United States 22nd out of 44 nations. On average, American eighth graders scored more than 120 points below their peers in Singapore and Taiwan. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ewCgMmN2

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