German minister resigns over airstrike in Afghanistan

BERLIN: Germany’s Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Franz-Josef Jung resigned on Friday over alleged cover-up of 124 civilian casualties in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan last September by the German Armed Forces and the Defence Ministry. Jung was under pressure to step down following the resignation of Armed Forces head Gen Wolfgang Schneiderhan and State Secretary in the Defence Ministry Peter Wichert, taking responsibility for withholding information on the air strike, including civilian casualties.

Iran denies taking Ebadi’s Nobel prize

Tehran: Iran denied on Friday confiscating the Nobel peace prize of human rights campaigner Shirin Ebadi and protested against Norway for making the allegation, the IRNA news agency reported. However, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast appeared to confirm that Ebadi’s assets had been frozen for “refusal to pay tax”. “We do not understand why Norwegian officials... are seeking to justify people’s negligence and refusal to pay tax on assets, and are casting doubt on countries’ legal mechanisms.”

Filipino who lost wife files candidacy

AMPATUAN: Philippine politician Vice-Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu, whose wife was among 57 people massacred in an apparent bid to stop him from running for Governor, filed his candidacy papers on Friday. Mangudadatu registered his candidacy for the elections on Friday, escorted by soldiers, a police commander, a senior army general and supporters in a 50-vehicle caravan. “Only death can stop me from running,” he said in the Maguindanao provincial capital of Sharrif Aguak.

Four shot dead at US Thanksgiving party

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