"Australian War Hero Appeals Court Ruling on Afghan Murders"

Australia's most decorated war veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, has lodged an appeal against a court ruling that blamed him for the unlawful killings of four Afghans. Roberts-Smith lost a defamation suit against newspapers that accused him of war crimes, with the court confirming his appeal on Tuesday. He remains under police investigation for criminal prosecution over war crimes, and there are calls for him to be stripped of his Victoria Cross. Roberts-Smith has agreed to pay the legal costs of the newspapers if his appeal fails.