Iraqi Troops 'Ahead of Schedule' in Mosul Battle

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A huge offensive has begun by the Iraqi government to recapture the city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State. The city was captured in a lightning offensive two years ago - and its loss added to the number of oil installations in the northern Iraq in Islamic State hands. We find out how Iraq's economy is bearing up from Amar Karim, a journalist with Agence France Presse, based in Baghdad. Bayan Rahman is the US representative of the political leadership in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq – we ask what she makes of the Mosul offensive. A so-called 'Monsanto Tribunal' was held in The Hague in the Netherlands last weekend. It had no legal powers, but was an attempt to assess allegations of damage to people and the environment by agri-chemical companies. The BBC's Anna Holligan went along to find out more. As the rest of Europe continues to wait for the British government to begin the formal process of leaving the EU, businesses and politicians in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are already making detailed plans. We hear the views of John McGrane, Director General of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin. The conflict in Mosul brings with it the likelihood of civilian casualties and refugees. With this in mind, we discuss the plight of young girls affected by war and conflict. A survey for Save the Children has ranked 144 nations in a ‘Girls Opportunity Index’. All these topics discussed with Anu Partanen, a New York-based journalist and author and David Kuo of the Motley Fool is in Singapore. (Photo: Iraqi forces advance towards Mosul. Credit: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images)