Kylie Moore-Gilbert freed

AUSTRALIAN ACADEMIC RELEASED

Following the release of Australian university lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert from prison in Iran, The Age reports the academic was originally detained after Iranian authorities discovered she was in a relationship with an Israeli citizen, a discovery that sparked baseless claims of spying for the Netanyahu government.

Moore-Gilbert, who was released yesterday in exchange for three Iranian men linked to a botched 2012 bomb plot in Bangkok, spent two years in prison after being detained at Tehran airport as she attempted to leave the country following an academic conference.

The Australian ($) has also revealed that the head of Australia’s intelligence community, Nick Warner, used back-channel contacts to negotiate with the Iranian regime for Moore-Gilbert’s release, while Australia’s ambassador to Thailand Allan McKinnon lobbied Thai officials to hand over the three Iranian terrorists.

WAR CRIMES FALLOUT CONTINUES

According to the ABC, at least 10 current SAS members implicated in the Afghanistan war crimes inquiry and suspected to have been “accessories” or “witnesses” to alleged murders carried out by other soldiers have received “show cause” notices from the Defence Department.

The soldiers facing possible expulsion were members of the now-disbanded 2 Squadron and the Regiment’s 3 Squadron, but are not among the 19 personnel who Justice Brereton recommended be referred to Federal Police.

In other fallout, The West Australian ($) reports that ADF chief General Angus Campbell could be stripped of the Distinguished Service Cross, given for his command of troops in Afghanistan, following a controversial decision to revoke the “meritorious group citation” for those who fought in the country between 2007 and 2013.

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CASE-ING THE JOINT

South Australia yesterday recorded two new COVID-19 cases, the ABC reports, both of whom are believed to be linked to the Parafield cluster.

The news comes as the government launches a new QR code app for businesses and, as AAP explains, following sweeping reforms to the state’s hotel quarantine system that will see anyone who tested positive, including returned travellers, moved to dedicated health facilities.

Elsewhere, The Age reports that another contact-tracing app for businesses should be rolled out in Victoria as early as next week.