Zedlines Friday 20th March 2009.

Blogged by Natasha Christian

Reported by Aneta Nedemovic, Rose Kang, Elisha Brinnand and Peta Fuller.

Last night the tenth Australian soilder died in the Afghanistan War.

The soldier was trying to defuse an imporvised explosive device. This is the second casulty this week. No details on the man’s identity have been released.



Fast food chain, McDonald’s will be sponsering an online maths program for Australian teenagers.

The online maths learning aid will feature the chains logo and message in the opening sequence. It is estimated that it will cost McDonalds millions of dollars and reach roughly 1.4 million children in grades 7 to 12.



Danny Lim, an independent Strathfield councilor is facing harassment claims after putting to lodging a motion for a fellow councilor to ’screw herself’.

Lim allegedly lodged the motion last month that council purchase a vibrator for New South Whales Minister for fair trading Virginia Judge to encourage her “to stop screwing with the people of Strathfield and screw her- self instead”.

Council refused to table the motion and Ms Judge has lodged a complaint with the council calling for action against Mr Lim.



The US will finally endorse the UN declaration to end discrimination against homosexuality.

President Bush was notably the only western leader who didn’t sign up last year.

Corey Irlam, spokesperson for the Australian Coalition for Equality, says this move puts pressure on countries that haven’t signed on.



A bill to protect journalists from naming their sources has passed parliament.

Attorney-general Robert McClelland strengthened shield laws for journos, provided the circumstances are appropriate. The Media, Entertainment and Arts alliance has welcomed the news, saying it was long overdue.



The Fair Work Bill was passed by the Senate in the early hours of this morning.

But the law to raise the threshold definition of a small business from 15 to 20 workers was amended.

The Coalition, Family First Senator Steve Fielding and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon argued this would deter too many businesses from employing people.