News Headlines - 17 October 2016

▽Iraq announces start of offensive to retake Mosul | Reuters

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday announced the start of an offensive to retake Mosul, the capital of Islamic State's so-called caliphate in Iraq... The assault on Mosul is backed by the U.S.-led coalition and could be one of the biggest military operations in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

▽Northern Ireland should push for special EU status, says Martin McGuinness | The Guardian

The deputy first minister and Sinn Féin leader told the Guardian that leaders in Belfast and Dublin needed to work together to make the case for special rules to apply to Northern Ireland. The province voted 56:44 in favour of staying in the EU in June’s referendum, but will be forced to pull out when Britain does.

▽Labour asks Government 170 questions about what Brexit will look like | The Independent

Labour has released a list of 170 questions about Brexit it says the Government must answer as it moves towards secession negotiations with the EU.

▽China launches its longest crewed space mission yet | Fox News

Two Chinese astronauts began the country's longest crewed space mission yet on Monday, blasting off on a spacecraft for a 30-day stay on an experimental space station as China steadfastly navigates its way to becoming a space superpower.

▽Teenage daughter of Tyson Gay killed in shooting - CNN.com

The teenage daughter of U.S. Olympian Tyson Gay has died after an early morning shooting in Lexington, Kentucky and police have arrested one man in connection with the crime.