POLITICS & POLICY

The Duchess' first car, which she sold to a Chelsea resident, will be auctioned off on eBay and is expected to draw in as much as £30,000.

According to a source, the Royal Couple has been invited to see Harper Seven, Victoria and David Beckham's newborn baby daughter in the Beckham residence in England.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)Debt concerns in the US and Europe once again rattled local investors, with the Australian share market ending the trading week in the red. Ratings agency Standard & Poor´s today warned there is a one-in-two chance it could cut the United States´ prized triple-A rating if a deal on raising the government´s debt ceiling is not agreed soon. The deadline for the agreement is August 2nd. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 18.6pts or 0.4pct to 4542.7 while the S&P/A...

View exclusive images from Lady Gaga's sensational concert event "Sydney Monster Ball" last July 13.

The singer known to use many props to elevate her performances was attacked by several disability groups after dragging herself in a wheelchair during her Sydney concert last July 13.

Change and changing mindsets, no matter at what stage are loathed at, but at times circumstances just points to the inevitable. This is how the staunch supporters of the carbon tax in Australia perceive their advocacy in the days to come.

There have been three major disasters in the first three months of this year in the Pacific region: the Japanese quake and tsunami ranks the highest for the human and financial costs, followed by the Christchurch quakes in New Zealand and then the Queensland (and Brisbane) floods and cyclone.

MARKET CLOSE (4.30pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket fell for the third time this week, with the ASX 200 index (XJO) dropping 0.5 pct or 24.1 pts to 4490.7 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) losing 0.5 pct or 21.9 pts to 4561.3. Most sectors fell today, however some modest gains from mining and energy companies helped minimise the losses.

Across Asia, regional markets are mostly lower after credit rating agency Moody's said after hours that the United States' triple-A credit rating is under review for possible downgrade. This has seen widespread caution throughout Asia, with the Kospi and Hang Seng the worst performers, down 0.8% and 0.7%. The Nikkei 225 is softer by 0.6% while the Shanghai Composite is showing modest gains of 0.1%.

Perth's state government is planning to build a public transport system around light rails and rapid transit buses which will cope with the public transport needs over the next 20 years.

The relative funding allocated to carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies reflects how out of step Australia is becoming with the approach of the rest of the world to tackling climate change, the nation’s coal sector has criticised. The Government was allocating over $13.2 billion of funding to renewable technologies and less than $2 billion to CCS.

MIDDAY REPORT (12.00pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket is falling back today, wiping out yesterday's modest improvement. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is down 0.3 pct or 13.9 pts to 4569.3. Most sectors are trading lower with the exception of the energy, mining and telecommunication sectors.

Gay marriage advocates and Holocaust survivors have slammed Loree Rudd, sister for former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, for accusing some Labour members of being brainwashed by a "global gay Gestapo".

Australia's interest rate futures have attracted the interest of most investors, who have considered them a safe haven from the European debt crisis.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge seem to be tired of the spotlight after their much-talked about North American tour, and a royal insider confirms its truth.

The much-awaited day of all Lady Gaga fans in Australia has already arrived. Tonight, the Sydney Entertainment Hall is the setting for Lady Gaga's one-time-only "monstrous" performance.

Australia's reforms to improve on the retirement savings of citizens are still hanging and waiting to be addressed, according to the industry group Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) after meeting with government authorities

Australia did not agree to give more protection on Japanese whaling vessels passing by the country's waters under attack by environmentalists and anti-whaling activists.

Companies with misleading claims on the impact of the Gillard government's planned carbon tax will face heavy penalties, Treasurer Wayne Swan said today.

Aussie taxpayers with savings in banks, building societies and credit unions will only be charged half the tax on the interest they receive, meaning more money in their pocket come tax time.

American pop star Lady Gaga has been declared an honorary citizen of Sydney for her 'unwavering support' of gay rights as she delighted fans with surprise shows at two city nightspots, reports said.

The cast of the multibillion dollar movie franchise gathered during the much-awaited New York premiere of the last Harry Potter movie.

The National Australia Bank has slashed down its economic growth forecasts for the country based on its latest survey that shows very slight increases in domestic sectors in Australia for the last six months.

Australia’s solar energy industry has welcomed the release of the Gillard Government plan to put a price on carbon. Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) acknowledged “Big Solar is a big winner” in the Clean Energy Future announcement.

Beleaguered and undaunted, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard had begun her final push for the carbon tax deemed necessary for the environment but would be costly for the domestic economy. There is no turning back for Ms Gillard determined to put a carbon emissions scheme in place no matter what the odds.

The Royal couple let their hair down to spend some time with the kids of Los Angeles as they visit the Inner-City arts club and distributed care packages to military children.

The release of the Australian Government plans to put a price on carbon will potentially hit vegetable and potato growers around the country as the sector battles with further hikes in electricity costs, according to AUSVEG, the National Peak Industry body for Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

With the release of the Gillard Government plan to put a price on carbon pollution, the Australian prime minister has promised that more than half of the revenue raised on the new levy will go to households to help meet price impacts. This assistance will be through increases in pensions, allowances and family payments, and personal income tax cuts.

Nearly 300,000 people have signed an online petition for the creation of a federal law that would make it a felony for a parent to fail to notify police of a child's disappearance or death.