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Notifications, deadlines, car horns. The constant hum of "progress." This is the sound of being alive in the 21st century.

Now imagine waking up, and the entire world is still. Not because of disaster, war, or because something went wrong.

Once a year, a small island in the Indonesian Sea erases itself. The fires go dark. The streets empty. The sky clears. An entire civilization disappears for 24 hours. Folklore says it's hiding from something—but the most unsettling part isn't what lies outside. It's being able to hear our thoughts in a world that drowns them out.

What would you hear if all the distractions and noise stopped? Why did we build a world that cuts us off from our own thoughts? Have we forgotten what silence feels like? What happens to the body and mind?

China's stock market has shed $2.4 trillion in value since May, amid a sluggish economy and disappointing performance from Chinese artificial intelligence companies.

U.S. lawmakers are making evidence public that Webull, a U.S.-based online investment platform, shared sensitive American data with Beijing.

On religious freedom in China, Pastor Ezra Jin shares his experiences and speaks out about persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.

Five Taiwanese men are accused of plotting a car crash to silence a critic of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Now, they're facing charges over the alleged scheme.

China has announced updated export controls on drones and related components. Meanwhile, Ukraine has sharply reduced its reliance on Chinese suppliers and is diversifying its drone supply chain.

President Donald Trump says a settlement in the Russia–Ukraine war may be close. What's the latest on the negotiations?

A prominent Virginia lawmaker is indicted by federal authorities. What is state Sen. L. Louise Lucas charged with, and what did the Justice Department have to say?

A $1.6 billion fraud scheme in California is exposed. What did the investigators find, and who did they say made this possible?

Vice President JD Vance questioned today the accuracy of recent polling ahead of a midterm rally in Nebraska, saying he believes a Marist poll showing Republican candidates trailing in Ohio will prove inaccurate.

Vance also warned that unfavorable polls can discourage Republican voters from turning out on Election Day.

Republican candidate Ken Paxton rallied in Corpus Christi on Wednesday while Democrat candidate James Talarico campaigned in Houston in a bid to win a Senate seat representing Texas.

Talarico and Paxton will compete for the Senate seat currently held by GOP Sen. John Cornyn, whom Paxton defeated in a primary runoff with Trump's endorsement.

Talarico has maintained a consistent polling lead over Paxton across the election cycle. A Republican hasn't lost a U.S. Senate race in Texas in nearly four decades.

President Donald Trump was asked on Tuesday whether he would endorse his vice president, J.D. Vance, to succeed him in 2028, but Trump was non-committal, saying it's too "early" to think about that.

"I don't think we've ever talked about it. You know, who would believe that?" Trump said of Vance, who was standing behind him.

He called Vance "a very talented person" and "a very good person," but said it was too soon to talk about the future.

"It's early, very early right now. We have to get through the midterms. We'll see how it goes," he said.

Vance told journalist Mark Halperin in an interview that he still hasn't made up his mind about running, but that if he does, he expects that Trump would back him.

The convergence of AI, Quantum Computing, and data-centric lifestyles has created a new level of threats, from cybercriminals to adversarial nation-states.

NTD discussed the threat and the solutions with Chris Tam, President of Nasdaq-listed BTQ Technologies, an encryption security company.

Étienne Fauchaire, a Paris-based journalist for The Epoch Times who specializes in French politics and U.S.-France relations, describes the unrest in Paris as authorities anticipate more riots this weekend.

President Donald Trump convened top officials for a White House roundtable on Oct. 21 to review his administration's efforts to stem more than $20 billion in reported losses last year.

Speaking at the event, FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the bureau's Operation Blackout in Southeast Asia and Africa. He said the agency has demolished more than 20 compounds overseas and helped seize over $17 billion from these scam centers.

Separately, Vice President JD Vance and other officials announced results from a seven-week nationwide effort targeting alleged fraud in food assistance programs. The administration said more than 40 suspects have been charged.

Mike Leon, Debra Lea, and Adam Weiss react to President Donald Trump's boosting of Sen. Darline Graham against Democrat Annie Andrews in a race that has turned more competitive than expected. They weigh whether South Carolina remains a safe Republican seat, Graham's qualifications, and the first visible friction between Trump and Graham over waiving Russia sanctions tied to a law named after her late brother, Lindsey.