Melbourne, Feb. 3 : The leader of a Melbourne-based terrorist cell, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, has been sentenced to 15 years'' jail for failing to renounce violent jihad.

Benbrika, 48, of Dallas, was sentenced to a non-parole period of 12 years in the Supreme Court. He has already served 1184 days in custody.

Justice Bernard Bongiorno said Benbrika and six of his followers had shown no remorse for their involvement in a terrorist group that had been bent on destroying "kuffar''''- Arabic for "unbelievers'''' - in Australia.

Melbourne, Feb. 3 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is likely to be the top choice for this year's Allan Border Medal.

According to Fox Sports and the Courier-Mail, Johnson may get the nod ahead of skipper Ricky Ponting, batsman Mike Hussey and vice-captain Michael Clarke for the medal.

Despite a slow start to the Test season in the West Indies last year - and picking up relatively few votes in one-day matches - Johnson''s incredible performances in Tests this summer have propelled him into the top spot.

Melbourne, Feb. 3 : Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has urged Cricket Australia not to be desperate to include all rounder Andrew Symonds in the squad for the tour to South Africa.

Waugh, who will be the 30th cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Melbourne tonight, was quoted by Fox Sports as saying: "I personally don''t think he''s ready. He hasn''t really proved that his form justifies a place in the side right now."

Sydney  - An Australian cleric and six of his followers were jailed Tuesday for forming a terrorist cell that police allege plotted to bomb the 100,000 spectators at the 2005 rugby cup final in Melbourne.

The Islamists were rounded up in November 2005 and found guilty in September 2008.

Algerian-born Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 48, who told his followers it was "permissible to kill women, children and the aged" in the cause of jihad, was sentenced to 15 years for intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organization.

Sydney  - The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut interest rates by 1 per cent to 3.25 per cent in hopes of lifting consumer confidence and helping the economy skirt the global recession.

It was the RBA's fifth monthly cut and brings the rate it charges banks for borrowing to a level not seen since the 1960s.

The further easing of monetary policy comes after figures were released showing inflation falling sharply towards the RBA's 3-per-cent upper-range target.

Sydney  - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Tuesday announced a 42-billion-Australian-dollar (27-billion-US-dollar) spending programme that he hoped would stop the faltering Australian economy from lurching into recession.

Rudd last raided the piggy bank in October for a 10.4-billion-Australian-dollar package of one-off payments to low-income families, first-time house buyers and pensioners.

The latest stimulus package is more of the same: one-off payments to families, to farmers and the unemployed. But as well as hand-outs to households, there will be a