WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. TV network Fox News on Tuesday announced the 10-participant list for the first prime-time debate of the primary season of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The debate, featuring the top 10 Republican candidates in the latest five national poll chosen by Fox News, is slated for Thursday night in Cleveland, Ohio. Those included in the lineup are New York real estate mogul Donald Trump, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Rand Paul, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

The debate on Thursday night marks the beginning of a new phase for the nomination process of the Republican party, which has witnessed an uNPRecedented swelling of its fields during the past months, with a total of 17 major candidates throwing the hat into the ring.

The rest major candidates, including former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Senator Lindsey Graham, will appear at a lower-tier debate Thursday ahead of prime time.