News: Kyle and Jackie O Show ratings slide

Radio ratings reveal hit to Kyle Sandilands show

After an ill-considered rant by ‘King Kyle’ in 2011 that ended in an all-out social media backlash, it seems his 2DayFM show is struggling to pick up in the ratings. The entire network was in third place behind 2GB and ABC’s 702 in the Sydney market. It dropped 1.8 per cent across all timeslots, but took a 1.1 per cent hit for the Kyle and Jacki O Show specifically. The show is already reeling from an exodus of sponsors following Kyle’s remarks about a female News Limited journalist who had poorly reviewed his Channel 7 show, which he co-hosted with Jackie O.

130 billion Euro bailout won’t save Greece from pain

Greece might not default on its debts next month like it otherwise would have, but a huge 130 billion Euro bailout (the second bailout) won’t protect it from years and perhaps decades of hurt from a deep recession, cuts and grinding unemployment.

Syria cracks down on protests, journalists dead

The situation in Syria is worsening. President Bashar Assad’s regime has intensified the crackdown on rebels within the country who are fighting for a change in leadership. Thousands have been killed in the Government’s fight back and the fight in the rebel stronghold of Homs has become critical. The regime has dispatched helicopter gunships to the north-west and shelled Homs in an attempt to drive out the rebels, to no avail. Hundreds have died in this chapter alone including the deaths of two journalists overnight. One was world renowned foreign correspondent, Marie Colvin, killed while trying to leave her shelled base. Ms Colvin was in Syria covering the bloodshed as it unfolded. Her most recent report:

“I watched a little baby die today,” the award-winning reporter said. “Absolutely horrific.

“There is just shells, rockets and tank fire pouring into civilian areas of this city and it is just unrelenting.”

In a report published in the Sunday Times over the weekend, Colvin spoke of the citizens of Homs “waiting for a massacre”.

“The scale of human tragedy in the city is immense. The inhabitants are living in terror. Almost every family seems to have suffered the death or injury of a loved one,” she wrote.

Scientologists want to pay below minimum wage

A submission to Fair Work Australia by the head of Scientology’s public affairs – Mary Anderson – claims the church should be exempt from workplace laws because it is a genuine religion. Joe Hildebrand of the Daily Telegraph saw a copy before the submission was removed. The submission read: “There is nothing wrong with the concept ‘a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work’ but it is misdirected when applied to religious volunteers whose focus is not on pay but on service to a spiritual cause. Historically, members of religious orders have taken a vow of poverty. At the present time, there are church volunteers who are not vowed to poverty but who do volunteer their time and effort to church work, without focus on financial reward.” Ms Anderson then went on to claim that being forced to pay workers the minimum wage was a ‘violation of human rights’. The Church of Scientology was investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman last year for claims some adherents worked up to 72 hours without a break and for as little as $10 a week. However, it was deemed that some of these workers were volunteers.

Amnesty damns Australian detention centres

Amnesty International has inspected Australian detention centres and released a scathing report in which it claims human rights violations are undoubtedly occurring in detention. “Amnesty International remains appalled that this policy has continued for so long,” it said after an 11-day tour of the centres. Amnesty called on remote centres to be closed altogether and asylum seekers to spend no more than 30 days in other centres before being processed as quickly as possible while in the community. The Department of Immigration said it wanted to see that happen to, in an ideal world. “In the past 16 months we have moved more than 3600 children, families and vulnerable people into community arrangements, either into community detention or on bridging visas with work rights,” a spokesman said. “People who remain in detention facilities are treated humanely and have appropriate access to health care and education, as well as a variety of activities and excursions.”

In case you missed it, Kevin Rudd resigned

Here’s what you need to know quickly. He resigned as Foreign Minister, didn’t tell PM Gillard, she’s holding a press conference today and is likely to hold a leadership ballot on Monday to bring the tensions to a head once and for all. But who will win? Deputy PM Wayne Swan also launched an extraordinary attack on Mr Rudd, savaging his character in a statement which you can read (along with all the other updates and info) right here. It’s all happening.

And in slightly related news, Channel 10 went into overdrive last night at the news of Rudd’s resignation to launch it’s new 6am breakfast show four days early. It is called, unsurprisingly, Breakfast. Have you had a chance to watch it yet? The show is hosted by Andrew Rochford and controversial Kiwi choice Paul Henry.

And in a special report last night, Channel 7 aired claims Kevin Rudd used a Labor backbencher as a go-between to let Clubs Australia know he would rip up pokies reform if he became Prime Minister. Channel 7 says Mr Rudd resigned just hours after it contacted him for comment. Clubs Australia confirmed the version of events.

Need a job? How about several?

The future ‘average worker’ may well hold more than one job. Especially as employers grow nervous about hiring permanently during wobbly economic forecasts around the world. The solution is a rapid growth in temporary positions. News.com.au reported: BT Financial Group chief economist Chris Caton said the skills shortage caused by the nation’s ageing population would mean business and unions would need to adapt to offer more contract roles in the future. “If an employer is reluctant to hire due to global economic uncertainty, there’s a strong case for the use of temporary employment,” Dr Caton said.  “Long term – as the working age participation falls, labour will become increasingly scarce and you will have to have a multi-faceted approach as a country and as an employer if you’re going to do something about that.” Dr Caton was speaking at the launch of a recruiting report in Sydney this morning which found temporary labour grew by 4 per cent to 428,000 jobs in 2010/2011 compared to 2.9 per cent growth for total employment over the same period. What are your working arrangements like?