THE NEWS WRAP: Head of the International Monetary Fund charged with sexual assault

Julia Gillard’s personal poll ratings have gone backwards, with the public split over the fairness of the budget, according to new research.

An Age/Nielsen poll found that people were evenly divided, at 44% each, over whether they were satisfied with the budget. This is a reversal for the Government on polling after the 2008 and 2009 budgets.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s preferred Prime Minister ratings are down three points to 47%, with Tony Abbott up 2% to 44%.  

IMF chief arrested

The head of the International Monetary Fund has been arrested after being charged with sexual assault and attempted rape.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a leading figure in the global economy and a potential French presidential candidate, was bundled off a Paris-bound plane at a New York airport over allegations that he sexually assaulted a hotel maid.

Google faces US fine

Google may have to pay up to $US500 million over online pharmacy ads that broke US law.

The search engine giant has been investigated by US authorities over allegations that it profited by accepting ads from online pharmacies from Canada and other countries outside the US.

Overnight

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 100.17 points, or 0.8%, at 12,595.75. The Australian dollar slid to 105.77.