Briefs, September 27, 2012

Priest faces questions over ivory icons

MANILA - Philippine authorities will question a Roman Catholic priest about ivory smuggling after his collection of ivory religious icons was featured in National Geographic magazine. Monsignor Cristobal Garcia is quoted in the magazine describing how to bring ivory figurines into the United States. Officials are investigating the origin of the ivory icons. AP

Travel ban on ousted president of Maldives

COLOMBO - A court in the Maldives has slapped a travel ban on ousted president Mohamed Nasheed pending a hearing over allegations of abuse of power during his tenure. The order prevents him from leaving the capital island, Male. AFP

Taliban spare minister who offered bounty

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani Cabinet minister who put a US$100,000 bounty on an anti-Islam filmmaker's head has impressed the country's Taliban militants so much they have announced they are taking him off their hit list. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said the minister's views represent the true spirit of Islam. AP

Would-be asylum seekers arrested

JAKARTA - Indonesian police arrested 119 Afghans and two Iranians as they were about to board a rickety boat to Australia to seek asylum, having earlier fled a detention centre. AFP