Sydney - A slowing economy may compel Australia to tighten its borders, Immigration Minister Chris Evan said Sunday.

The nation's immigration will be reassessed by the government next month when the mid-year economic data is released.

The global financial crisis has resulted in an increased interest in migrating to Australia, especially from Britain and New Zealand.

"I think the downturn in Great Britain over the last year or two has actually seen a renewed interest from Great Britain in people looking to migrate either temporarily or permanently," Evan told Channel Nine.

Sydney, Oct 25: In his new book to be released next week, former Australian wicket keeper has elaborated on his loveless relationship with his former teammate Shane Warne, saying he was “hurt” at being called an "a . . . licker" by the legendary spinner.

The incident happened in a Sheffield Shield match in the late 1990s when Warne mercilessly sledged the wicketkeeper in an incident, which Gilchrist has never forgotten.

Sydney - The Australian Rugby League players will wear black armbands at Sunday's World Cup match against New Zealand as a mark of respect for the uncle of Johnathan Thurston, who died after being assaulted in a Brisbane park on Saturday.

Rugby league player Thurston's uncle, 38-year-old Richard Saunders, was one of three persons attacked at Ewing Park in Brisbane's southern suburb of Woodridge on Saturday, reports Australian Associated Press news agency.

Sydney - Over 140 Australian reserve soldiers will be deployed to the Solomon Islands to help maintain peace and stability, a Defence Department statement said Saturday.

"During the four-month deployment, the soldiers will carry out street patrols alongside the Australian Federal Police and in support of the RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands) participating police forces within Solomon Islands," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said.

Sydney, Oct 24 : The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have reportedly passed the obligation of charging Dr Mohamed Haneef with terrorism on to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).

In a submission to the Clarke inquiry into the case, the AFP said that while the decision to charge Dr Haneef ultimately rested with it, the CDPP’s legal advice was “a fundamental factor” in the decision-making process to charge Dr Haneef.

Sydney, Oct 23: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have revealed that a search of Dr Mohamed Haneef''s apartment shortly after he was arrested from Sydney last year had found some “jihadist” materials, including a brochure from a proscribed terror organisation and an inflammatory lecture by an al-Qa''ida-linked preacher.

The revelations are contained in the Federal Police''s submission to the Clarke inquiry, which was published on the Internet today, reported news. com. au.

The AFP also revealed that investigators had found a brochure from an organisation the AFP said was "prescribed in a number of countries".