AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 10Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130
US United cuts (CHICAGO)
United Airlines says it's going ahead with proposed pay cuts of up to 11 per cent forits top executives -- hours after filing for bankruptcy.
High costs and low airfares have left the world's number two carrier with too muchdebt and not enough cash.
The company says the cuts for executives will be effective from December 16.
At the same time, the airline -- which is bleeding cash at the rate of $A12.4 milliona day -- will slash the wages of salaried officers and lower-level management by anywherebetween three and 11 per cent.
GLENN TILTON, United's chairman, president and chief executive officer says by filingfor Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company can stem United's continued losses andget costs under control.
He says reducing labour costs are a critical component of the recovery effort and willneed to be implemented as soon as possible.
United says it's business as usual for customers.
Bushfires NSW (SYDNEY)
Welcome rain is dousing bushfires across New South Wales -- but authorities warn thedanger isn't over yet.
More than 20mm of rain has fallen along the south coast in the past 12 hours and shouldcontinue for much of the day, dampening blazes in the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla regions.
And fire bans have been lifted for the first time in more than a week.
Rural Fire Service spokesman JOHN WINTER says it's great to be able to give tired crewsa break, now that more than half of the 57 fires still burning across the state are contained.
But about 1,000 firefighters will remain on the job today, patrolling fire lines andsecuring containment following raging fires that have destroyed 43 homes.
And drought-hit areas of southern Queensland have received some much-needed rain overnight.
Meanwhile, a large bushfire is still out of control in South Australia's Flinders Ranges-- but it's not threatening any homes.
Drought Howard (CANBERRA)
The federal government's $368 million drought relief package has been criticised asboth too generous and too stingy.
But Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says that shows it's about right.
He says some critics of the package, which includes an interest rate subsidy on loansof up to $100,000 to eligible farmers, believe the criteria are too liberal.
He says others are attacking the package for being too generous and fostering a handoutmentality.
Mr HOWARD has told Channel Nine there needs to be a balance between the needs of farmersand those of other taxpayers.
And he says current cash grants of about $600 a fortnight aren't a king's ransom --but are enough to put food on the table.
Meanwhile, the New South Wales government says nine towns have now run out of water,with five of them relying totally on water-carting at a cost of $5,000 per week each.
Iraq Howard (CANBERRA)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the United States should reveal material that contradictsIraq's claims it has no weapons of mass destruction.
The US and United Nations are currently analysing a 12,000-page Iraqi dossier, whichBaghdad claims shows it does not possess any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.
Mr HOWARD's told Channel Nine the declaration needs to be examined carefully, addingthat Iraq's lied about its weapons in the past.
The US has indicated that subject to protecting the security of its sources, it's preparedto make its information available to UN weapons inspectors.
Mr HOWARD says that's the right thing to do.
Meanwhile, Russian diplomats have warned against an effort to unseat Iraq's legitimateleadership and say the country's report on weapons programs creates a basis for resolvingthe crisis peacefully.
Boat Ruddock (CANBERRA)
Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK says Australia will be more vulnerable to illegalarrivals after Labor and the minor parties blocked moves to further reduce the nation'smigration zone.
The opposition teamed with the Australian Democrats and Australian Greens to throwout the proposal last night.
The planned laws would have excised islands off the coast of Western Australia, theNorthern Territory and Queensland.
Mr RUDDOCK says the move leaves Australia more vulnerable and makes the government'stask more difficult.
He says if there are more boat arrivals, the responsibility will be with those who'veopposed the measure.
Gutnick (CANBERRA)
International news service Dow Jones has lost its High Court bid to have a defamationaction brought by Australian mining magnate JOSEPH GUTNICK heard in the United States.
The landmark judgment -- with implications for internet publishing worldwide -- givesthe green light for the case to be heard in Mr GUTNICK's home state of Victoria.
The judgment means material published on the internet is deemed to have been publishedin the place it is viewed online -- not the country of origin.
Mr GUTNICK claims he was defamed in an article on a website hosted by the Wall StreetJournal in New York.
He wants the case heard in Melbourne, the city where he claims his reputation was damaged.
Dow Jones, which operates the website, wanted the case heard in the US because it saysthat's where the article originated.
Terror Howard (CANBERRA)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD is urging caution over calls for a reorganisation of thenation's security and counter-terrorism arrangements.
Mr HOWARD says he's looking at different ways to reorganise intelligence and security responses.
And he says suggestions that there be a singled integrated national counter-terrorismunit under one commander appear reasonable.
But he's told Channel Nine it misses the point that Australia already has a very highlycoordinated security arrangement.
Mr HOWARD says there's a danger in people thinking that if there's a new title, a newoffice, or a new description, then everything is solved.
McCabe (MELBOURNE)
Law firm Slater and Gordon is setting up a trust fund for the orphaned family of smokingvictim ROLAH McCABE.
PETER GORDON, a partner in the firm that acted for Ms McCABE in her landmark case againstBritish American Tobacco, has told ABC radio the fund is to assist her four children.
Ms MCCABE's family has already paid back almost $700,000 she was awarded in damages,after her historic win was overturned in the Victorian Court of Appeal last Friday.
But they could also be forced to pay millions of dollars in legal costs to the multinationaltobacco giant if they lose a High Court appeal.
The family fears it could lose the family home, where the three youngest children stilllive following the deaths of both parents in the past three months.
Med Mills (WASHINGTON)
Canadian researchers say air pollution from steel mills causes genetic damage thatfathers can pass to the next generation.
The researchers from McMaster University in Ontario say it's not clear if the geneticdamage can harm anyone's health.
But they say tests on mice show those allowed to breathe air from near a smoke-belchingsteel mill have fewer pups, which have more genetic mutations than their country cousins.
BRIEFLY............
Experts and environmental organisations say the socio-economic impact of the oil disasteroff northwest Spain will be comparable with that of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska,which cost almost $A4 billion to clean up.
Arts Minister RICHARD ALSTON says art institutions may have to demonstrate they'reattracting reasonable numbers of patrons to satisfy a new government inquiry.
The body of a Californian tourist who drowned while scubadiving has been discoveredoff the New South Wales south coast overnight.
Police are interviewing a man over the fatal shooting of another man in the north Queenslandtown of Hopevale.
A 62-year-old man will face a Sydney court today charged with murdering the motherof his two young sons in northern New South Wales.
FINANCE............
At 1128 AEST the all ordinaries index DUMPED 26.8 points to 2961.1 while the Standard& Poor's ASX/200 index DROPPED 26.6 points to 2996.9.
The Australian dollar was marginally WEAKER at 56.31 US cents compared to its closehere yesterday of 56.36 US cents.
The local currency was marginally STRONGER at 55.73 euro cents compared to its closehere yesterday at 55.72 euro cents.
Gold in Sydney was trading 45 US cents LOWER at $US325.75 an ounce.
AND IN SPORT............
Cricket England (CANBERRA)
England's tour match against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra will get underwayat 11.45am (AEDT).
Captains MARK WAUGH and MARCUS TRESCOTHICK and local officials have just completedan inspection of the Manuka Oval pitch, which was affected by heavy overnight rain inthe nation's capital.
The match will be reduced to 42 overs a side.
Squash World (ANTWERP)
Australian ANTHONY RICKETTS has used his impressive volleying and speedy court coverageto outplay Malaysia's seventh-seeded ONG BENG HEE 15-8 15-8 15-5 at the World Open squashchampionship in Belgium..
RICKETTS now plays a quarter-final against top seed and defending champion PETER NICOLof Britain.
ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP
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KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP
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