Iraq

ISIL: Iraqi forces started battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State

According to Peshmerga military commanders, the battle to recapture the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) stronghold on Mosul could take two months. ISIL militants overran Mosul in June 2014, before taking control of other cities in northern and western Iraq. The long-awaited battle to liberate Iraq’s second city with a coalition of Iraqi personnel, Kurdish fighters, Sunni tribesmen, and Shia paramilitary forces, began advancing on October 17. It is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 7,000 ISIL fighters remaining in Mosul, with roughly one million civilians whose safety remains at serious risk.   

With files from CNN

USA

US election: Melania Trump said Donald’s accusers are telling “lies”

Melania Trump defended her husband as a “gentleman,” accusing the women who have alleged he sexually assaulted them of being liars. She also defended his bragging to TV host Billy Bush about groping women, which was caught on videotape, as “boy talk.” Mrs. Trump condemned the comments as unacceptable, but not representative of the man she knows. She added that “he was led on — like, egged on — from the host to say dirty and bad stuff.” Several women have made accusations of sexual assault against Mr. Trump, all of which he has denied.

With files from Reuters

UK

UK Brexit update: Another Scottish independence referendum?

Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has drafted a bill that sets out plans for a second independence referendum. Although the UK voted to leave the European Union, Scotland voted to stay in, with 62 percent of the population voting “remain.” The draft bill has been published, but Scottish Parliament would still need to give approval on a referendum. Sturgeon said Scotland has the right to choose “a different path” if it doesn’t get the deal it wants, claiming that a second referendum is “highly likely.”

With files from BBC