United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, urging voters not to elect Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani, while warning that federal funding for the city could be drastically reduced if Mamdani wins. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday evening. Cuomo, an Independent candidate and former Democratic governor, responded cautiously, saying, “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.” Trump previously signaled that he would limit federal support to New York City if Mamdani were elected, calling the Democratic nominee a “communist” in an earlier television interview. “It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there,” Trump said. Mamdani, 34, a state assemblyman and democratic socialist, rejected the label and dismissed the president’s comments as a “threat, not law.” He accused Trump of attempting to influence the city’s political landscape for personal gain. “The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo reflects Donald Trump’s belief that Cuomo would serve his interests, not those of New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest leader in over a century. He has criticized Cuomo as a “puppet of Trump” and pledged to offer an alternative vision that prioritizes the dignity and needs of all residents. Cuomo, meanwhile, has emphasized his experience in dealing with the Trump administration, citing his tenure as New York governor during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I fought Donald Trump. When I’m fighting for New York, I am not going to stop,” Cuomo said. Trump’s threat to cut federal funds follows a broader pattern of the administration targeting Democratic-led cities and jurisdictions that resist cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, alongside deploying National Guard troops in certain areas as part of a crime crackdown.   Source: BBC

Democratic Socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said US President Donald Trump is “threatened” by his campaign, after Trump warned voters that the city would face a “complete and total economic and social disaster” if Mamdani won Tuesday’s mayoral election. “You can clearly see that Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign,” Mamdani told CNN on Monday, the eve of the election. “He’s threatened because, like him, we’ve diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers’ lives — the cost of living. But unlike him, we’re actually going to deliver on it.” Mamdani criticized Trump for “wasting” USD 300 million on remodeling a White House ballroom — funds he said could instead provide food assistance to 100,000 New Yorkers through the federal SNAP program, which has been affected by the ongoing government shutdown. Trump, meanwhile, threw his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, warning voters that the city would have “zero chance of survival” under Mamdani’s leadership. “If Communist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election for mayor, I will not contribute federal funds beyond the bare minimum required,” Trump said in a statement. “This once great city will be a complete and total economic and social disaster should Mamdani win.” Responding to Trump’s remarks, Mamdani said, “This money we’re talking about is money that New York City is owed. It’s not Donald Trump’s to decide which city or state gets what. We will fight for what’s rightfully ours.” Trump urged voters to back Cuomo, saying, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him.” The 34-year-old Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani, serves as a New York State Assembly member and is running as the Democratic nominee. He faces off against Cuomo, who is contesting as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Trump labeled Mamdani a “Communist with no experience and a record of total failure,” saying he has “no chance” to restore New York to its former glory. Mamdani dismissed Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo as proof that both men share the same billionaire backers. “Now it’s written out for the entire world to see,” he said. “This is the man Donald Trump wants to be mayor — not because he’ll be good for New Yorkers, but because he’ll be good for Donald Trump.” Current Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race in September amid corruption scandals. Over 735,000 people voted early this year, nearly four times the number recorded in 2021, according to the New York City Board of Elections. Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June, has emerged as the front-runner in the race. He has pledged to freeze rents for stabilized tenants, expand affordable housing, and “make life easier” for working-class New Yorkers struggling with rising costs.   Source: NDTV

Candidates vying to become New York City’s next mayor made a final push on Monday to rally voters ahead of Election Day, marking the closing hours of one of the city’s most closely watched political races. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa spent the day crisscrossing the five boroughs in a last-minute bid to win over undecided voters and energize their supporters. Mamdani, 34, a democratic socialist and the potential first Muslim mayor of New York, has energized younger and progressive voters with his grassroots campaign centered on affordable housing and social equity. He stunned the political establishment earlier this year by defeating Cuomo in the Democratic primary. In the final stretch, he’s been posting viral videos and urging his supporters not to be complacent. Cuomo, 67, is attempting a political comeback four years after resigning as governor amid sexual harassment allegations, which he denies. Running as an independent, he has recently appealed to centrist and conservative voters, presenting himself as the only candidate capable of blocking Mamdani’s rise. Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder and longtime radio personality, has focused on public safety, canvassing city streets and subways in his trademark red beret to attract voters frustrated by crime. Early voting ended Sunday, with officials reporting more than 735,000 ballots cast — a significant turnout compared to previous mayoral elections. The outcome of Tuesday’s vote will determine the successor to outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, whose term has been marred by criticism over public safety and housing challenges.  

The U.S. military conducted another deadly strike against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Saturday. Hegseth said in a post on X that the targeted vessel was linked to a U.S.-designated terrorist group, though he did not specify which one. He added that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying narcotics along a known trafficking route. This marks at least the 15th U.S. military strike in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September, bringing the total death toll to at least 64. Hegseth defended the campaign, saying, “Narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans, and we will treat them exactly how we treated al-Qaeda.” President Donald Trump has described the operations as part of an “armed conflict” against drug cartels, using the same legal framework that authorized the war on terror after 9/11. He argues the strikes are necessary to curb drug trafficking into the U.S. However, members of Congress, particularly Senate Democrats, have pressed the administration to disclose its legal justification and identify which cartels and individuals have been targeted. On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and several Democratic senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard demanding all related legal opinions and a full list of groups deemed targetable. The letter accused the administration of sharing “contradictory and selective information” with lawmakers. Earlier correspondence from the Senate Armed Services Committee had also requested a clear explanation of the administration’s rationale for designating cartels as terrorist organizations.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that more than half a million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride have been recalled because they may contain a potentially cancer-causing chemical. According to the FDA, New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and drug distributor Amerisource Health Services voluntarily recalled over 580,000 bottles of prazosin capsules of various strengths earlier this month. Prazosin is commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. Doctors also use it to treat nightmares and other sleep-related issues linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The FDA stated in its online enforcement reports that the recalled lots have been classified as a Class II risk due to possible contamination with nitrosamine impurities, which are believed to be potentially cancer-causing. The agency explained that N-nitrosamine impurities are a group of chemicals that may form during the manufacturing or storage of certain drugs and have been linked to cancer risks.

President Donald Trump’s statement indicating that the United States will restart nuclear weapons testing has overturned decades of U.S. policy and alarmed nonproliferation experts who warn it could trigger a new global arms race. The announcement came Thursday ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he had directed the “Department of War” to resume nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with other nations — despite nuclear oversight falling under the Energy Department, not the Defense Department. The U.S. last conducted a nuclear test in 1992 at the Nevada National Security Site. Since then, it has relied on computer modeling and simulations to maintain its arsenal. The country signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty in 1996 but never ratified it. Experts say Trump’s move represents the most significant reversal in U.S. nuclear policy since the end of the Cold War. They warn it could prompt Russia, China, and other nuclear powers to conduct their own tests, destabilizing global security. Russia recently tested its Burevestnik cruise missile — known to NATO as Skyfall — and a nuclear-powered underwater drone, while China continues to expand its missile silos. North Korea has also unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Trump claimed the U.S. holds more nuclear weapons than any other country, though data from the Arms Control Association indicates Russia has 5,580 warheads, compared to America’s 5,225. Together, the two nations possess nearly 90% of the world’s nuclear stockpile. Restarting testing in Nevada would require extensive site preparation, as the facilities have been inactive for more than three decades. A 2018 Los Alamos National Laboratory briefing estimated that even a single test could take up to four years to plan and execute. Analysts say the decision, if carried out, would be political rather than scientific and could reignite nuclear tensions not seen since the Cold War.  

Former US President Joe Biden on Sunday warned that the United States is going through “dark days” as he urged Americans to remain hopeful and defend democratic values. Speaking publicly for the first time since finishing radiation therapy for aggressive prostate cancer, Biden said the country is witnessing attacks on free speech and the constitutional limits of presidential power under President Donald Trump. He made the remarks while receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston. Biden said the United States has long stood as a “beacon” of an idea stronger than any army or dictator, but stressed that it depends on a presidency with limited authority, a functioning Congress and an independent judiciary. The federal government is currently in its second-longest shutdown, and Trump has used the situation to expand his control over government operations, he said. “I can’t sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days,” Biden told the audience. He added that the US will “find our true compass again” and become stronger and more just if Americans continue to keep faith in democracy. He praised career officials who resigned in protest, universities and comedians facing pressure, and Republican lawmakers who challenged the administration. “For 250 years, America has been a constant struggle between danger and opportunity,” he said, urging people to “get back up.” Biden, 82, left office in January after one term and later dropped his re-election bid due to age, health concerns and a poor debate performance against Trump. His office announced in May that his prostate cancer had spread to his bones, with a high Gleason score indicating aggressive disease.  

Two people, including a 16-year-old, were killed and several others sustained injuries after gunfire erupted at a large outdoor Halloween gathering in southeastern North Carolina early Saturday, according to local authorities. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said a total of 13 people were hit by bullets during the party at a residence located in a rural community outside Maxton, roughly 95 miles (150 km) southwest of Raleigh, near the South Carolina state line. The shootings reportedly followed a dispute between two groups among the crowd of more than 300 attendees. Those present ranged from young teens to people in their 50s, Wilkins told WBTW-TV. The other deceased victim was later identified as 49-year-old Jessie Locklear Jr. of Lumberton. Victims of the attack are aged between 17 and 43, officials said. One person suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a medical facility, while several others remain in hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Some were treated and released from medical care. No arrests have been made so far, though investigators have identified several persons of interest, The Robesonian reported. Authorities believe that multiple shooters and weapons were involved. The sheriff’s office added that the broader community is not under immediate threat. Deputies had initially been dispatched around 1:15 am responding to a noise complaint about loud music at the party. Before they arrived, 911 calls reported the shooting. Texas man kills 5 neighbors after they complained of gunfire “This was yet another senseless act of gun violence that has taken the lives of two individuals and left many others seriously injured,” Wilkins said in a statement. He expressed particular concern about the presence of teenagers, guns and alcohol at such a large house party. Alcohol enforcement officials are also assisting in the investigation. More than 150 people reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived. Authorities urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward and assist investigators. Wilkins noted that law enforcement had been unaware of the event as it did not exceed the size that requires a formal permit. Source: AP 

In-person early voting began Saturday in two of this year’s most closely watched U.S. elections: the New York City mayoral race and the contest for New Jersey’s next governor. In New York City, voters are choosing among Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat now running as an independent. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who withdrew from the race last month, has endorsed Cuomo. In New Jersey, Republican state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli faces Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. New York introduced early voting in 2019, and it has grown in popularity. About 35% of ballots were cast early in June’s mayoral primary. New Jersey adopted early voting in 2021. Early voting in Virginia, where voters are selecting between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, began on Sept. 19. Analysts say the off-year elections in New York and New Jersey could indicate which types of candidates might energize voters in the broader struggle against Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has drawn support with proposals for universal free childcare, free public transit, and rent freezes for one million regulated apartments. Cuomo has criticized these policies as financially unrealistic and has questioned Mamdani’s stance on Israel, while Mamdani has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, and Cuomo have framed Mamdani’s position as antisemitic. In New Jersey, Ciattarelli and Sherrill debated topics including the federal government shutdown, Sherrill’s military service, Trump-era policies, and the rising cost of living. The winner will become the state’s next governor. Early voting continues through Nov. 1 in Virginia and Nov. 2 in New York and New Jersey, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 4.  

European leaders found themselves hovering in Trump’s shadow earlier this month when the US president basked in acclaim at a ceasefire announcement in Egypt, flanked by world leaders who appeared more like supporting characters than decision makers. The scene underscored a growing concern in Europe: Washington’s “America First” foreign policy is increasingly sidelining its traditional allies. While Trump has taken center stage in diplomacy over the Gaza conflict, major European governments have struggled to make their voices heard. And on Ukraine, a matter far closer to home, European capitals are finding it equally difficult to guide Trump’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s relentless war. “Is Europe able to influence Trump? I think the short answer … is no,” said Lindsay Newman, a geopolitical analyst at GZERO Media. Policy on Ukraine, Israel and even ties with Europe are, she noted, shaped almost entirely by Trump and his closest advisers. Newman added that the president’s ever-expanding foreign policy footprint challenges assumptions that “America First” meant US disengagement. “He's remaking the world in his image,” she said. Mixed signals over Ukraine Europe’s efforts to support Kyiv have frequently clashed with Trump’s desire to see the conflict end quickly, even if that requires territorial concessions from Ukraine. Attempts to secure stronger US backing have brought inconsistent results. This week, Trump finally imposed sanctions on Russia’s vital oil and gas sector. The move followed persistent appeals from Kyiv and its allies, along with pressure from US lawmakers in both parties. Yet, by Trump’s own explanation, the sanctions stemmed more from irritation with Putin’s refusal to engage directly with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy than from any attempt to accommodate European demands. “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump told reporters. “I just felt it was time. We waited a long time.” Even so, Trump has openly expressed frustration that he has failed to deliver on his campaign promise to end the war quickly. He has alternated between publicly chastising Zelenskyy and seeking new avenues to negotiate with Moscow. Though willing to consider deeper European involvement in enforcing any peace agreement, Trump has also appeared sympathetic toward Russian claims on the eastern Donbas region. His administration maintains that the conflict poses limited strategic significance for the United States and insists Europe must shoulder more responsibility. Ukraine, European leaders oppose land concessions to Russia in peace talks Despite disagreements, some European governments welcomed the new US sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron described them as “a turning point.” The EU still faces internal disagreements on Ukraine aid. A plan to tap frozen Russian assets for a large loan remains stalled, with Belgium seeking guarantees against potential retaliation and Hungary resisting support for Kyiv. Still, Grégoire Roos of Chatham House argued that Europe’s consensus has held together better than anticipated. “I don’t see absolute unanimity, but I didn’t see unity crumbling significantly,” Roos said. “As far as Europe is concerned, this is already a victory.” Little leverage on Gaza Europe’s ability to shape the Gaza ceasefire has been even more limited. “Europe has had no real impact, let’s face it,” said Roos, while noting that EU support will be essential for Gaza’s long-term reconstruction. The bloc remains the largest donor to Palestinians but divided over how to approach the conflict. Trump has highlighted the roles of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in brokering the ceasefire while downplaying Europe’s involvement. His ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, went as far as calling a British official “delusional” for claiming the UK was crucial to the deal. Washington’s irritation has grown after several European states, including Britain and France, recognized a Palestinian state in recent weeks. Still, analysts say the ceasefire has eased tensions between Europe and Washington by temporarily muting European criticism over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Zelenskyy seeks more European support against Russia during London trip Jonath Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said the development created “a more constructive” atmosphere between allies. Newman, meanwhile, observed that Trump appears intent on building deeper ties in the Middle East. “There have been efforts to pivot away from the Middle East for successive U.S. administrations,” she said. “But it’s almost as though there’s a pivot toward the region.” Europe steadies itself The war in Ukraine and heightened threats toward NATO states have jolted Europe into accelerating defense spending, spurred by Trump’s repeated warnings that the US may not defend members failing to pay their share. Some European fears have not materialized. Trump has kept US troops stationed on the continent, avoided quitting NATO and held back from imposing steep tariffs on European products. Britain, now outside the EU, has drawn closer to its European neighbors as Prime Minister Keir Starmer works to ensure coordination with the White House. Kathleen Burk, professor emeritus at University College London, said that a unified Europe can still have influence on the Oval Office. “If the Europeans hang together,” she said, “Trump may have actually realized that it’s always better to have allies than enemies.” Source: AP