Objections and Nyet To Russian Peace Talk Proposal For Syria: Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015 and has been crucial to President Bashar al-Assad’s forces’ defeat of ISIS and other anti-Assad Syrian rebels. Now Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to help find a political solution to the six-year war. He has extended invitations to 33 Syrian groups and political parties to attend the “Syrian Congress on National Dialogue,” peacemaking talks to be held in Sochi on November 18. Syria’s government is ready to attend, which will focus on a new constitution. Turkey objected to invitations extended to Kurdish groups, calling them national security threats, and the head of the Syrian anti Assad opposition objected Sochi as the venue, preferring instead UN sponsorship in Geneva. A Russian negotiator said Tuesday that Syrian groups who boycott the congress risk being left out as the political process moves forward.
UK Defense Secretary Resigns After Admitting To Sexual Misconduct: Michael Fallon resigned as UK Defense Secretary as the Conservatives face a growing sexual harassment scandal at Westminster. Earlier on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May ordered an investigation into her deputy, Damian Green, after allegations of misconduct, which he denied. Last week, May ordered an investigation into international trade minister Mark Garnier, who admitted he asked his personal assistant to buy sex toys and used a sexual slur against her. Earlier this week, Fallon apologized to journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer for repeatedly placing his hand on her knee during a dinner in 2002. In his resignation letter, Fallon said: “A number of allegations have surfaced…including some about my previous conduct…In the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces that I have the honour to represent. I am now resigning as defence secretary.” This came on the day May toughened her proposals for dealing with sexual misconduct in politics by promising that complaints could be referred to an independent body, as more accounts of incidents emerged.
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