WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said Thursday he had started a &quot;lengthy&quot; phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a day before Ukraine&#39;s Volodymyr Zelensky meets the US president to push for Tomahawk missiles. &quot;I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&quot; Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Americas

Europe

Donald Trump announced he was in a “lengthy” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just a day before Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with Trump to request Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine’s defense

Trump says 'lengthy' call to Putin has started

Saqib Tanveer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to hold talks to defuse ongoing border tensions, security sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital on Thursday, following a week of deadly clashes and a temporary 48-hour ceasefire. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing his cabinet earlier in the day in Islamabad, said the &ldquo;ball is in the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s court&rdquo; to ensure a lasting truce and address Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns. &ldquo;If in 48 hours they want to resolve the issues and address our genuine demands, then we are ready for them,&rdquo; Sharif said, stressing that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks inside Pakistan. His remarks came as the Pakistan Army announced that more than 80 militants were killed in a series of counterterrorism operations along the frontier, even as the ceasefire remained in effect. According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces foiled a major infiltration attempt in the Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 45 militants linked to Fitna al-Khwarij, a term used by Islamabad for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The ISPR said the attackers had crossed from Afghanistan intending to strike targets inside Pakistan. &ldquo;Between 45 and 50 militants were killed, while several others were injured,&rdquo; the statement added. In earlier operations between October 13 and 15, the army targeted militant hideouts in North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Bannu districts, killing 34 terrorists, including 18 in North Waziristan&rsquo;s Spinwam area, eight in South Waziristan, and another eight in Bannu, after intense exchanges of fire. The military described the operations as part of a broader campaign against groups backed by &ldquo;hostile intelligence networks.&rdquo; The clashes this week were among the most serious in months, leaving dozens of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides before the ceasefire took effect. The latest exchange comes after cross-border assaults on the night of October 11&ndash;12, when Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launched coordinated attacks along multiple sectors. Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the military&rsquo;s media wing ISPR. As both sides prepare for talks, Sharif&rsquo;s remarks signal Islamabad&rsquo;s firm stance: any enduring peace, officials say, will depend on Kabul&rsquo;s willingness to rein in militants operating from Afghan soil.

Security

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the ball is in the Afghan Taliban’s court for lasting peace, as Pakistan’s military kills over 80 militants in border operations amid a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan.

EXCLUSIVE: Pakistan, Afghanistan to hold talks as border tensions ease

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s prime minister said on Thursday that &quot;the ball is in the Afghan Taliban&#39;s court&quot; for a permanent ceasefire, a day after a 48-hour truce was called in the wake of deadly cross-border clashes. &quot;If in 48 hours they want to resolve the issues and address our genuine demands, then we are ready for them,&quot; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told his cabinet, reiterating that Pakistani Taliban militants should be eliminated and that Afghan territory not be used to plot attacks. The remarks came a day after the 48-hour ceasefire was announced, following a week of violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier in which dozens of troops and civilians were killed on both sides. Pakistan is facing a resurgence of attacks against its security forces on its western border with Afghanistan, led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. Islamabad has condemned&nbsp;Kabul of harbouring militant groups led by the TTP on its soil, a claim Kabul denies. Tensions spiked last week when explosions struck Afghan territory, including the capital, which Taliban officials blamed on Pakistan.&nbsp;Afghan Taliban forces launched an offensive near the border in response, prompting Islamabad to vow a strong retaliation. The temporary ceasefire, which came into effect at 6 pm Islamabad time (1300 GMT) on Wednesday, was aimed at halting the bloodshed and opening a window for talks. Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Taliban to stop militant groups from using Afghan territory as a staging ground for cross-border attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Taliban security personnel on a Soviet-era tank are followed by motorcyclists as they ride towards the border, as clashes take place between Taliban security personnel and Pakistani border forces, in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province on Octobe

Pakistan's PM said the Afghan Taliban must ensure a permanent ceasefire after deadly border clashes; Islamabad demands TTP elimination and no Afghan soil for attacks

Pakistan PM says 'ball in Afghan Taliban's court' for permanent ceasefire

NEW DELHI: The father of one of the pilots of June&#39;s deadly Air India crash has asked India&#39;s top court for an independent investigation, saying the official probe unfairly blamed the crew. A total of 241 people on board the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner were killed when the plane crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India on June 12. Another 19 people were killed on the ground. A preliminary investigation report by India&#39;s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said fuel to the jet&#39;s engines was cut off moments before impact. Pushkaraj Sabharwal, 91, the father of deceased pilot Sumeet Sabharwal, claimed in his petition that the preliminary AAIB investigation was &quot;profoundly flawed&quot;. The AAIB report in July did not offer any conclusions or apportion blame for the disaster, but indicated that one pilot asked the other why he had cut off fuel and that the second pilot responded that he had not. The investigation appears to &quot;predominantly focus on the deceased pilots, who are no longer able to defend themselves, while failing to examine or eliminate other more plausible technical and procedural causes of the crash&quot;, the petition read. Sabharwal&#39;s petition was filed on October 9 and seen by AFP on Thursday. It was unclear when the court would respond. Two major Indian commercial pilots&#39; associations have already rejected claims that human error had caused the crash. The Airline Pilots&#39; Association of India has accused the AAIB of &quot;secrecy&quot; surrounding the investigation. Indian authorities have rejected suggestions of any manipulation in the investigation, which is yet to submit its final report.

India

The father of a pilot killed in June’s Air India crash has petitioned India’s Supreme Court for an independent probe, alleging the official investigation unfairly blamed the crew and ignored possible technical failures

Father of Air India crash pilot seeks independent probe

OSLO: The Lutheran Church of Norway on Thursday apologized to the country&#39;s LGBTQ community, at a gay pub in Oslo, for the discrimination and harassment it subjected them to in the past. &quot;In 2022, the bishops of the Church of Norway acknowledged that the institution we lead has caused suffering and pain to gay people,&quot; said Olav Fykse Tveit, presiding bishop of the Church of Norway, in a speech at the London Pub, a prominent venue for the gay community. &quot;It is therefore right that we take responsibility as a church and offer our apologies,&quot; he said, referring to the &quot;discrimination, unequal treatment and harassment&quot; that caused &quot;shame&quot; and led some to lose their faith.&nbsp;

Lutheran Church of Norway on Thursday apologised to the country's LGBTQ community, at a gay pub in Oslo, for the discrimination and harassment it subjected them to 

Lutheran Church of Norway apologises to gay community

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) has appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices and continued commitment in the global fight against terrorism, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior following a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad on Thursday.&nbsp;Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Secretary Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha, and senior Islamabad administration and police officials were also present at the meeting.&nbsp;According to the statement, both sides discussed Pakistan&ndash;US bilateral relations, counterterrorism cooperation, and opportunities to enhance collaboration across various sectors, including investment and security.&nbsp;Naqvi commended the role of the United States in recent peace efforts in the Middle East, particularly praising US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;sincere efforts&rdquo; in facilitating the Gaza peace agreement.&nbsp;&ldquo;The credit for sustainable peace in the Middle East goes to President Donald Trump,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;Naqvi also welcomed US investment companies&rsquo; interest in Pakistan&rsquo;s minerals and other key sectors, highlighting Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to providing a secure environment for international investors.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to combat terrorism, the interior minister said the country had &ldquo;paid a heavy price to keep the world safe&rdquo;, adding that Pakistan remained &ldquo;a frontline state in the fight against terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;He emphasized that security forces, police, and citizens from all walks of life had made immense sacrifices in this struggle.&nbsp;Quoting the American diplomat, the ministry&rsquo;s statement said Natalie Baker expressed sorrow over recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan and appreciated the country&rsquo;s contributions to global security.&nbsp;&ldquo;We value Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and will continue to cooperate with Pakistan,&rdquo; Baker said, according to the official release.&nbsp;The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continued engagement and partnership in security, peace, and regional stability.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with the Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker in Islamabad.

Foreign Affairs

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says Pakistan remains a frontline state in the war on terror, emphasizing heavy national sacrifices, as US diplomat Natalie Baker appreciates Islamabad’s role and reaffirms continued cooperation against terrorism and for regional stability.

US appreciates Pakistan’s sacrifices in War on Terror: envoy

DHAKA: Bangladeshi prosecution lawyers demanded on Thursday that fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina receive the death penalty in her trial for crimes against humanity. Hasina has defied court orders to return from India, where she fled last year, to face charges of ordering a deadly crackdown in a failed attempt to crush a student-led uprising. Up to 1,400 people were killed in the clashes between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations. &quot;We demand the highest punishment for her,&quot; chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters outside court. &quot;For a single murder, one death penalty is the rule. For 1,400 murders, she should be sentenced 1,400 times -- but since that is not humanly possible, we demand at least one.&quot; The prosecution alleges that Hasina, 78, was &quot;the nucleus around whom all the crimes committed during the July&ndash;August uprising revolved&quot;. She is being tried in absentia alongside two former senior officials. Her ex-interior minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, is also a fugitive, while former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun is in custody and has pleaded guilty. The prosecution said on Thursday that Kamal should also face the death penalty. The trial, which opened on June 1, has heard months of testimony alleging Hasina&#39;s role in ordering or failing to prevent mass killings. &quot;Her goal was to cling to power permanently -- for herself and her family,&quot; Islam said.

In this handout photograph taken and released on July 25, 2024 by Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses the media at a vandalized metro station in Mirpur, after the anti-quota protests. (AFP)

Bangladesh

Hasina has defied court orders to return from India, where she fled last year, to face charges of ordering a deadly crackdown in a failed attempt to crush a student-led uprising.

Bangladesh prosecution demands death penalty for ex-PM Hasina

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: After years of imprisonment and alleged abuse in Indian jails, sixty Pakistani fishermen have finally reunited with their families in the southern port city of Karachi. The freed fishermen crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan on September 9. The first group of 53 fishermen reached Karachi on October 13, while the remaining seven arrived on October 15 after completing government clearance in Lahore. The returnees were received at the Fishermen&rsquo;s Cooperative Society (FCS) office, where each was presented with a cheque of Rs10,000 ($35.57) during a welcoming ceremony organized by the FCS. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/25b80479-7e11-4367-a82c-debe1de6f901-3.jpeg" alt="Pakistani fishermen receive cheques following their return to Karachi after years of detention in Indian jails." class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Pakistani fishermen receive cheques following their return to Karachi after years of detention in Indian jails.</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;These men are innocent victims of circumstance,&rdquo; explained the chairperson of the FCS Fatima Majeed Motani. &ldquo;They were only trying to earn a living when they drifted across an invisible line. Both governments must ensure no fisherman suffers like this again.&rdquo; Years of abuse and neglect The fishermen were detained between 2017 and 2021 after unintentionally crossing the maritime boundary near the disputed Sir Creek area, about 200 kilometers from Karachi. Many recounted horrifying experiences of beatings, burn injuries, and forced labour while imprisoned in India. &ldquo;I was beaten until I couldn&rsquo;t move,&rdquo; said Abdul Qadir, a fisherman from Thatta district in Sindh province. &ldquo;They pressed hot irons against our legs. One of my friends is now half-paralyzed because of the torture.&rdquo; Their ordeal worsened after the May 2025 tensions between Pakistan and India, when Pakistani detainees reportedly became targets for mistreatment. Human rights advocates condemned the abuse, citing violations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which both countries are signatories. The convention mandates a quick release of detained fishermen who cross borders unintentionally, typically after posting a bond. Painful wait for families For years, families of the detained men lived in uncertainty and poverty. Many children grew up without fathers, while wives struggled to support their households. The Edhi Foundation played an important role in facilitating the fishermen&rsquo;s transport from Lahore and meeting their immediate needs upon return. &ldquo;When we saw them walk through the gate, it felt like a miracle,&rdquo; said Rehana Bibi, whose husband had been imprisoned since 2018. &ldquo;We never stopped praying, but every day was filled with fear.&rdquo; Permanent solutions An FCS spokesperson said the release was &ldquo;a moment of relief and celebration&rdquo; but cautioned that &ldquo;dozens more remain behind bars.&rdquo; According to FCS data, 63 Pakistani fishermen are still detained in Indian prisons. &ldquo;The Fishermen&rsquo;s Cooperative Society, along with the Pakistani High Commission in India and the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, worked tirelessly for their release,&rdquo; the spokesperson&nbsp;added. While Monday&rsquo;s celebration brought tears of joy, the scars, both physical and emotional, remain. The FCS and Edhi Foundation have called for a permanent bilateral mechanism to prevent such detentions and ensure humane treatment of fishermen caught in disputed waters. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/255c457f-f445-430c-841e-0399ac88b3e1-2.jpeg" alt="Freed Pakistani fishermen given a warm welcome upon returning to their country." class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Pakistani fishermen receive warm welcome upon returning home after years of detention in India.</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;These men are among the poorest of the poor,&rdquo; said Motani. &ldquo;Their suffering should remind both nations that compassion, not politics, must guide their actions.&rdquo; For now, as the freed fishermen embrace their loved ones, the moment is bittersweet. Their homecoming offers relief, but also a painful reminder that 63 others remain stranded across the border, still waiting for their own chance to come home.

"Freed Pakistani fishermen reunite with loved ones after years of detention and alleged torture in India

Politics

Sixty Pakistani fishermen, imprisoned in India since 2017, were released and reunited with families in Karachi amid calls for humane treatment and a permanent bilateral mechanism.

Freed Pakistani fishermen return home after years of torture in India

For many college basketball experts, selecting the greatest players of the women&#39;s poll era sounds easy &mdash; until they try it. Of course, USC&#39;s Cheryl Miller and Diana Taurasi of UConn are relatively easy choices.&nbsp; But narrowing the list from there gets tricky, inevitably leaving out talented players, including those who sharpened their skills during later professional careers. The greatest playersIn honor of the 50th anniversary of the women&#39;s basketball poll, The Associated Press assembled a list of the greatest players since the first poll in 1976.&nbsp; And in the spirit of the Top 25 rankings, the choices are certain to spark a debate and prompt plenty of handwringing among those who were in a position to vote. &ldquo;Nearly impossible,&rdquo; Rebecca Lobo, a former UConn standout and NCAA champion, said of the assignment. &ldquo;As I&rsquo;m looking down the list, I&rsquo;m like no-brainer, no-brainer, no-brainer. But then I&rsquo;m like wait, there&rsquo;s too many no-brainers and not enough slots.&rdquo; Lobo was one of 13 members of a panel of former players and AP sportswriters who voted on the greatest players.&nbsp; They were instructed to consider only the athletes&#39; college careers. Other factors, however, were up to their discretion, including championship pedigree, record-breaking statistics or simply their ability to will their teams to victory. &ldquo;It was extraordinarily difficult especially to try to hone in on a players&rsquo; college career and eliminate their pro career from your brain,&rdquo; Lobo added. &quot;There are going to be players who are Hall of Fame caliber players who aren&rsquo;t on the list.&rdquo; Joining Miller in the frontcourt on the first team are Breanna Stewart and Candace Parker. Caitlin Clark joins Taurasi as the guards. Taurasi helped UConn win three national championships, including carrying the Huskies to the last two basically on her own during her junior and senior season. &lsquo;What an honor&rsquo;&ldquo;What an accomplishment and what an honor,&rdquo; Taurasi said.&nbsp; &ldquo;To think about the history of the game and where it&#39;s gone. You always have to look at the past to go into the future. There&#39;s so many great women who paved the way.&rdquo; Clark led Iowa to back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances while setting the career scoring record for any Division I women&rsquo;s or men&rsquo;s basketball player. Her play on the court, including her logo 3-point shots, helped lift women&rsquo;s basketball to unprecedented levels of attention and energy during her last two seasons. &ldquo;Being named an AP All-American is one of the most storied honors in college sports,&quot; Clark said. &ldquo;It means a lot to be named to this all-time list alongside players I looked up to. It&#39;s fun to think about what it would have been like if we all played together.&rdquo; The frontcourt of Miller, Stewart and Parker dominated the game during their eras. Stewart won four NCAA championships at UConn and earned Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four all four years.&nbsp; Parker led Tennessee to back-to-back titles in 2007-08. Miller, one of the original NCAA greats, starred for USC and led the Trojans to consecutive championships in 1983-84. &ldquo;I grew up watching Cheryl Miller play,&rdquo; Parker said. &ldquo;She&rsquo;d be No. 1. My dad was like &lsquo;This is who we wanted you to be.&rsquo; I&#39;m honored to be on this list with her.&rdquo; The second team&rsquo;s backcourt is UConn&rsquo;s Sue Bird and Virginia&#39;s Dawn Staley. The former Cavaliers guard and current South Carolina coach is the only women&rsquo;s player to win the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four on a losing team when her Cavaliers fell to Tennessee.&nbsp; Bird helped UConn win championships in 2000 and 2002. Consecutive titlesThe Lady Vols&rsquo; Chamique Holdsclaw, UConn&rsquo;s Maya Moore and Lusia Harris of Delta State are on the second team frontcourt.&nbsp; Holdsclaw was a three-time NCAA champion and twice earned the tournament&#39;s MOP honor. Moore was part of the Huskies&#39; dynasty that won a then-record 89 consecutive games.&nbsp; She helped the Huskies to consecutive titles in 2009-10. Harris led Delta State to three AIAW titles in the mid-1970s and was the tournament&#39;s MVP each year. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d watch these two teams play and I&rsquo;m not sure who would win,&rdquo; UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of the first and second teams selected by the panel. Auriemma has four former players on the first two teams, but would enjoy looking to the bench at a group of reserves that includes:UCLA&rsquo;s Ann Meyers Drysdale, Kansas&rsquo; Lynette Woodard and Texas Tech&rsquo;s Sheryl Swoopes in the backcourt. For the frontcourt, there is USC&rsquo;s Lisa Leslie, Baylor&rsquo;s Brittney Griner and South Carolina&rsquo;s A&rsquo;ja Wilson. &ldquo;I am always asked if players today could play back in the &lsquo;70s or &rsquo;80s or vice versa. When you&rsquo;re great in one generation, you&rsquo;re going to be great in any generation,&rdquo; said Meyers Drysdale, who also was a member of the voting panel.&nbsp; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s any name that is wrong or there&rsquo;s any name that is right. There&rsquo;s so many great players that are going to be left off.&rdquo;

Athletics

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the women's basketball poll, The Associated Press assembled a list of the greatest players since the first poll in 1976. 

The greatest women's college basketball players: Who made the list?

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style='font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;' id="isPasted">NEW YORK:&nbsp;The stage is set Thursday for the first debate of the New York City mayoral election, with Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa looking to halt the momentum of Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who already defeated the once-powerful New York governor in the primary this summer. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Cuomo, who&#39;s now running as an independent, the stakes are high. The debate is one of his last chances to sway voters to his side and convince them that going with Mamdani would be a mistake. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The race is also Cuomo&rsquo;s attempt at a political comeback after he resigned as governor four years ago following a barrage of sexual harassment allegations. He denies wrongdoing but has been trailed by heavy criticism over the scandal, along with other damaging baggage he picked up during his tenure as governor. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, is in a more comfortable position, though he will need to fend off two hours of sharp jabs from Cuomo while maintaining the hopeful, charming vibe that has characterized his campaign.<img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2b228499-f627-4aac-ba37-0a033f3d4c05-AP25288704706240.jpg" alt="New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during an interview on " style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; height: auto; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(75, 85, 99); font-style: italic; margin-top: 0.25rem; display: block; text-align: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during an interview on &quot;The Story with Martha MacCallum&quot; at Fox News on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)</figcaption> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, Sliwa, the colorful creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, hopes to land a major upset in the deeply blue city. Sliwa received almost 30% of the vote when he last ran as the GOP candidate four years ago. This time around he&#39;s hoping Mamdani and Cuomo split the Democratic vote while he secures Republicans and centrists to come out on top. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/54857c18-d4cb-44b6-8118-fabf3510e1ad-AP25288801959872.jpg" alt="FILE - New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa speaks during a New York Young Republicans Club vigil for Charlie Kirk at Madison Square Park on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur,File)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption style="text-align: center; line-height: 2;">FILE - New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa speaks during a New York Young Republicans Club vigil for Charlie Kirk at Madison Square Park on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur,File)</figcaption></figure> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The race has catapulted Mamdani to national political stardom, with Republicans, including President Donald Trump, trying to turn him into the face of the Democratic Party by highlighting his most controversial past comments and positions and casting him as dangerous, a communist, and an antisemite. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump has threatened to arrest Mamdani, to deport him and even to take over the city if he wins. Mamdani is a naturalized U.S. citizen. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mamdani has tried to distance himself from some of his past statements, including calling the New York Police Department &ldquo;a major threat to public safety,&rdquo; and his refusal, during the Democratic primary, to disavow use of the phrase &ldquo;globalize the intifada,&rdquo; which is seen as a call to violence for many Jews. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mamdani&#39;s brand of economic populism &mdash; a laser focus on lowering the city&#39;s astronomical cost of living through the idea that government should do more to help the lower and middle classes instead of the wealthy &mdash; has generated buzz and excitement.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time, the state assemblyman&#39;s calls to raise taxes on the wealthy and intense criticisms of the Israeli government&#39;s military actions in Gaza have unnerved some centrists and conservatives. That&#39;s where Cuomo&#39;s rebooted campaign sees its path to victory. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The former governor has painted Mamdani as a potentially dangerous leader who would lead the city into financial and social ruin, while casting himself as a competent manager who can handle the city&#39;s expansive bureaucracy and finances. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, suspended his reelection campaign late last month, after being deeply wounded by a now-dismissed federal corruption case and his relationship with the Trump administration. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A poll of New York City likely voters conducted by Quinnipiac University in early October, after Adams ended his bid for a second term, found that Mamdani continued to hold a lead over Cuomo. The poll suggested that Cuomo may have benefited somewhat from Adams&rsquo; departure, but the current mayor&rsquo;s exit did not appear to have a meaningful impact on the state of the race. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adams was not included in the poll but remains on the November ballot because he didn&#39;t withdraw his candidacy before a balloting deadline. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The candidates are scheduled to meet for a second and final debate next week.<figure class="fr-media" style="line-height: 2;"> </figure>

          FILE - Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters during a Democratic primary watch party, June 24, 2025, in New York. 

The stage is set Thursday for the first debate of the New York City mayoral election, with Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa looking to halt the momentum of Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who already defeated the once-powerful New York governor in the primary this summer.

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