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Al Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri dead after drone strike on home in Kabul

Al Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri dead after drone strike on home in Kabul

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed at the home of an FBI-wanted Taliban lackey who was once given a platform by the New York Times.

The jihadist, one of the planners of the Sept. 11 attacks, was taken out by a CIA-issued drone strike Sunday morning at a Kabul home belonging to senior Taliban official Sirajuddin Haqqani, according to initial reporting by Gray Lady herself.

The publication infamously published an op-ed penned by Haqqani — the leader of the insurgent Haqqani Network in Afghanistan linked to brutal and deadly attacks — to ask for a peace agreement between US and Afghan leaders in 2020.

The paper was slammed by critics and even its own reporters for giving the global terrorist a microphone to thousands of readers to spew what many saw as thinly-veiled propaganda. The Times defended its decision to publish the piece at the time.

The home that Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed at belonged to senior Taliban official Sirajuddin Haqqani.
The home that Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed at belonged to senior Taliban official Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Bilal Sarwary/Twitter

Now the Times is being accused of “stealth-editing” their reporting on the killing of al-Zawahri to remove details of the initial report specifically naming Haqqani.

“According to one American analyst, the house that was struck was owned by a top aide to Sirajuddin Haqqani, a senior official in the Taliban government whom American officials say is close to senior Qaeda figures,” the Times wrote in his initial reporting.

However, that paper axed that paragraph without an editor’s note and later replaced it with language that failed to name Haqqani specifically, as first pointed out by Pluribus editor Jeryl Bier.

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed at the home of an FBI-wanted Taliban lackey who was once given a platform by the New York Times.
The New York Times published an op-ed written by Sirajuddin Haqqani regarding a peace agreement between Afghan and the US.
Universal Images Group via Getty

“After the strike, members of the Haqqani network, a terrorist group that is part of the Taliban government, tried to conceal that Mr. Zawahri had been at the house and restrict access to the site, according to a senior administration official. But the official said the United States had multiple intelligence threads confirming that Mr. Zawahri was killed in the strike,” the Times wrote in the updated story.

Critics of the newspaper suggested the publication removed the initial paragraph linking Haqqani’s role in protecting al-Zawahri due to the backlash it received for publishing the Taliban leader’s op-ed.

Critics of the New York Times suggested the newspaper remove Haqqani's initial paragraph linking his role in protecting al-Zawahri.
Critics of the New York Times suggested the newspaper remove Haqqani’s initial paragraph linking his role in protecting al-Zawahri.
FBI

However, a Times spokesperson denied such a narrative in a statement to Fox News.

“We regularly edit web stories—especially breaking news stories—to refine the story, add new information, additional context or analysis,” the spokesperson told Fox.

In this case, we updated a complex piece of breaking international news with additional detail from open press briefings. There is absolutely no connection between the editing of this news item and any previous publication by Times Opinion.”

Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the planners of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the planners of the Sept. 11 attacks.
FBI

Haqqani, deputy leader of the Taliban, is on the FBI’s most wanted list for his alleged involvement in a January 2008 attack on a Kabul hotel that killed six people, including an American citizen. He is also believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan, according to the agency.

The FBI is offering up to a whopping $10 million for information leading directly to his arrest.

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Technology

How to Nab a Free Xbox This Telstra Day

How to Nab a Free Xbox This Telstra Day

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like it too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Happy Telstra Day everyone.

The telco has resurfaced Telstra Day in 2022, with the idea basically being its own little Black Friday-like sale. You can score smartphones, tablets, speakers, smartwatches and accessories, kind of just depends on what they feel like discounting.

Telstra Day comes around sporadically, and there’s also a caveat – each deal is only valid for the day. Here’s what they’ve got for tomorrow, Thursday, August 7, 2022.

Telstra Day August deals:

This month, Telstra is feeling generous. It’s offering up a bonus Xbox All Access bundle with any Samsung Galaxy S22 purchase.

Xbox All Access includes an Xbox Series S and 24 months of Game Pass Ultimate. This is valued at $792 and Telstra is slinging it for free (as long as you get a Samsung Galaxy S22 device). The Samsung Galaxy S22 series comprises the S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra.

Let’s dive into the deals. They’re open to new and existing Telstra customers, via the telco’s online store and in-store. The sale is on August 7, 2022.

Samsung

While there’s no sale on the S22 range of phones, for Telstra Day the telco es slashing the price of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $300, making the phone $699 instead of $999. the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G will cost $449 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 5G is down to $1,649.

Here are Telstra’s Samsung plans if you’re interested in taking the telco up on its S22 Xbox deal for Telstra Day.

Galaxy S22

Galaxy S22+

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

And the rest of the Galaxy range:

Galaxy S21 FE

Galaxy A53

What else?

In addition to cheap phones, you can also score $150 off the Samsung Galaxy Watch4with the 44hmm model coming in at $399 and the 46mm Classic Edition selling for $549 on Telstra Day.

You can also grab the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for $149after a $100 discount, and rounding out the Samsung kit is the Samsung Trio Wireless Charger, $99 for Telstra Day, instead of its usual $159 RRP.

In the sound space, you can score a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones for $289instead of $389, JBL Live 660 noise-cancelling headphones for $179instead of $249, JBL Tune 130NC Earbuds for half price at $75, a BlueAnt X2 for $60down from $120, and a BlueAnt Xo for $24.50.

On the prepaid side of things, Telstra is flinging its $150 Telstra Pre-Paid SIM starter kit for $120 and the nokia c30 pre-paid for $89.

Check back next month as we’ll keep this page updated. The last update was made on August 3, 2022.

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Entertainment

Are ‘Attack On Titan’ Fans Review-Bombing ‘Bluey’ on IMDb?

bluey attack on titan imdb

bluey attack on titan imdb

Credit: Ludo Studio/Funimation

Anime fans are famously ride-or-die, but now lovers of Attack on Titan might have just taken things to a new extreme: review-bombing beloved Australian children’s program bluey over an IMDb rating. Another day at the office.

For context, Daley Pearson, who serves as executive producer on blueytweeted that the 2020 episode “Sleepytime” was the second highest rated episode of television ever on IMDb, with a rating of 10.0 stars. At the time, only breaking bad‘s “Ozymandias” stood ahead of it, accruing a 10.0 rating as well though somehow skewed slightly higher.

However, if you check the same IMDb listing now, things look awful different. “Sleepytime” has descended 15 spots down to #17 and has had its rating fall to 9.9.

In addition, if you check the stats breakdown for how users have voted for the episode (the number of which has increased by almost 700 since the time of the tweet), you can see that there has been an outlying uptake in people giving it one star. With the exception of the 10-star rating, this is now the most popular rating for “Sleepytime.”

bluey attack on titan anime IMDb
Credit: IMDb

But what episodes now sit between the earlier ranking of “Sleepytime” and where it sits now? Seven of them are from various anime — Attack on Titan, code geass, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba specifically.

In fact, five of those episodes belong to Attack on Titan, including “Hero” which now sits at #2. That is 25 percent of the top 20 total.

While other series’ like breaking bad, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars all rank highly, the sheer presence of Attack on Titan on the list, and that the show was at one point pipped by blueymeans that fans of the anime could have quietly banded together to bring the ranking of “Sleepytime” down as far as it did.

Whether fans of Attack on Titan are actually review-bombing is hard to say, but given the evidence and sudden change in votes, it’s fair to say that something is up.

We’ll see if bluey fans retaliate to bring the episode back to its #2 spot, and given how many people are in Pearson’s replies sharing their love, this possible strange rivalry might be far from over.

Categories
Sports

Supercars owner confirms sale of shares

Supercars owner confirms sale of shares


Slade Perrins

Supercars at Townsville

The owner of Supercars, Racing Australia Consolidated Enterprises (RACE), has confirmed that a stake in the business has recently been sold.

In a statement provided to select media, including Speedcafe.com, RACE Chairman Barclay Nettlefold has spoken on the transaction.

Notably, it was referred to as a consolidation of the shareholding, indicating purchase by an existing RACE shareholder.

It is understood that the stake which has changed hands is that of Australian Racing Group (ARG) co-founder Brian Boyd, whose holding was approximately 15 percent.

As reported earlier today by Speedcafe.com, ARG itself does not own any shares in RACE.

However, RACE is continuing on due diligence regarding a potential acquisition of ARG.

Nettlefold said: “In the normal course of business shareholders buy and sell shares.

“I wish to note ARG as an entity does not have a corporate holding in RACE, however individual shareholders that may be regarded as related parties of ARG do hold shares.

“A recent sale has been completed and the purchase of those shares has allowed for further consolidation in the shareholding of RACE.”

“Regarding the potential sale of ARG to RACE as part of the initial RACE whole of sport strategy which is well documented, Management and Directors of Supercars and RACE continue to work through due diligence items in relation to a potential transaction and expect to finalize any recommendation this month.”

Boyd would be one of the ‘related parties’ of ARG to which Nettlefold refers, the other being the Rogers.

Barry Rogers expressed a commitment to his motorsport properties, including the Rogers stake in RACE to Speedcafe.com earlier today.

Categories
Australia

Corporations’ profits soaring as inflation skyrockets and real wages fall, report reveals

Business generic

There are fresh calls for big business to rein in their big or “supernormal” profits in order to provide low wage earners some desperately needed household budget relief.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) wants businesses to share a large portion of their profits with their workforce.

The latest national accounts show Australian companies are taking a record share of company earnings in the form of profits.

The latest profit results from Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and BP show record half-year earnings.

Half-yearly profits for all companies together had almost doubled to $US55.2 billion ($79.6 billion), up from $US28.7 billion for the same period last year, the ACTU noted.

“These energy giants are posting staggering profits while fueling our cost-of-living crisis,” ACTU president Michele O’Neil says.

“Their shareholders are pocketing billions while working people are wondering how on Earth they can afford to fill up their car or heat their homes.

“The big oil and gas companies booked super windfall profits while Australian taxpayers have subsidized the bowser price of petroleum.

Vehicle at petrol bowser at Shell and Coles Xpress service station in Brisbane
The latest profit results from big energy corporations Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and BP show record half-year earnings.(ABC News: Lucas Hill )

“It’s time that big businesses do their part to address the cost-of-living crisis gripping Australians right now.

“If the bargaining system was working the way it is supposed to, workers’ standard of living wouldn’t be hit as hard by big increases in power, gas and petrol prices.”

Productivity first, according to businesses

Business groups argue that for real wages to lift, worker productivity needs to lift.

The Productivity Commission’s interim report confirms that the productivity growth that drives real wages is languishing at 60-year lows, Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott says.

“This challenge is monumental because it is productivity that has overwhelmingly driven better living standards and higher wages for Australians since the Federation.

But labor market economists say there should be less focus on the trend in the rate of productivity growth and more attention given to the difference between wage growth and productivity.

Figures from the Center for Future Work, part of the progressive think tank The Australia Institute, show productivity growth has beaten wages growth for over a decade.

That should, in theory, mean a higher rate of pay growth for workers.

A line char shows productivity rising far above wages
Productivity growth has beaten wages growth for over a decade, data from the Center for Future Work shows.(Greg Jericho, ABS)

Impact Economics and Policy lead economist Angela Jackson says stubbornly low wage growth is a symptom of a broken industrial relations system.

She says the basic formula is that inflation plus productivity growth should equal wage growth.

“The system of wage determination and enterprise bargaining hasn’t factored in productivity gains for decades,” she says.

“It’s frustrating.”

The latest private-sector check on corporate profitability may only add to that frustration.

Double-digit rise in private infrastructure company profits

The big end of town, according to the latest gauge of corporate profitability, is swimming in cash.

Consulting firm Deloitte Access Economics has released its quarterly Investment Monitor.

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Categories
US

Girl found walking on Alabama road leads to discovery of 2 bodies

Girl found walking on Alabama road leads to discovery of 2 bodies

A 12-year-old girl found walking on an Alabama road Monday morning led to the discovery of two decomposing bodies inside a nearby home and the arrest of a man on a kidnapping charge, officials said.

Jose Paulino Pascual-Reyes, 37, could also face capital murder and other charges after the child was found by a passerby around 8:30 am, authorities said Tuesday.

“I would say she’s a hero,” Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said at a news conference Tuesday.

Sheriff Jimmy Abbett speaks to the media.
Sheriff Jimmy Abbett speaks to the media.WSFA

Investigators later found two decomposing bodies in the home, which is south of Dadeville, and Pascual-Reyes was arrested on a first-degree kidnapping charge in Auburn, Abbett said.

The connection between the girl and Pascual-Reyes, and more details about the people whose bodies were found, were not released.

The first time the sheriff’s office had contacted the girl was Monday after the passerby found her, Abbett said, and she had not been considered a missing person.

NBC affiliate WSFA of Montgomery reported that court records indicate the girl had been tied up and drugged with alcohol before she was able to escape.

District Attorney Jeremy Duerr said multiple counts of capital murder would likely be filed in addition to the kidnapping charge.

“And of course, once we continue and finish our investigation, I feel certain that several more charges will follow,” Duerr said.

Pascual-Reyes was being held in jail Tuesday night. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

The identities of the people found dead and how they died was not released Tuesday.

The girl received medical care and was doing well, Abbett said.

“She’s safe now, and so we want to keep her that way,” he said.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Associated Press contributed.

Categories
Technology

Resident Evil homage Outbreak heads to Kickstarter for next release

Resident Evil homage Outbreak heads to Kickstarter for next release

Outbreak Shades of Horror is the next from developer Drop Dead Studios.

resident Evil homage Outbreak is heading to Kickstarter in an attempt to launch the next in its franchise, OutbreakShades of Horror.

Developed by the two-person team at Drop Dead Studios, a playable teaser is now available for the title on Windows PC via Steam, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and Stadia ahead of a Kickstarter campaign that launches on 31 August.

You can grab the playable teaser below, per platform:

“Shades of Horror… will bring full co-operative gameplay and a huge audiovisual overhaul to the retro survival horror aesthetic that has made the series a cult favourite,” reads a press release.

The title is further described as “a love letter to the thought-provoking, mind-bending video games of the golden age of survival horror in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Towards the end of this era, there was an emphasis on stories driven by multiple characters with multiplayer co-op — and it’s this spirit that Dead Drop Studios aim to capture in their new title.”

Players will control one of eight total survivors fighting to escape a contaminated city called Cypress Ridge.

Past titles in the Outbreak franchise include Outbreak Contagious Memories, Outbreak Endless Nightmares, Outbreak The Nightmare Chronicles and many, many more.

“Since 2015, the Outbreak series has had tens of thousands of players and has sold over one hundred thousand games across our physical and digital platforms,” said co-founder Evan Wolback. “Now it’s time for us to shoot for the moon and deliver the true co-op survival horror experience that fans have been demanding.”

You can get a taste of what to expect below.

We’ll have more on OutbreakShades of Horror as it is made available.

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

Categories
Entertainment

Young man’s shock at finding his dad on dating app Grindr

A man has told Kyle and Jackie O about finding his dad on Grindr - despite the man still being married to his mum

A young man has revealed his shock at finding his married, ‘homophobic’ father on Grindr – years after the older man ‘disowned’ him for coming out as gay.

Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O the man known only as Jacob said he clicked on his dad’s headless profile one day when he was cruising the popular hook-up app.

He didn’t recognize his dad’s torso from the pictured but couldn’t shake the feeling there was something a little too familiar about it.

‘They have one of those ensuites that are through the walk-in closet – I thought that looks sort of like my parents house,’ he said.

A man has told Kyle and Jackie O about finding his dad on Grindr - despite the man still being married to his mum

A man has told Kyle and Jackie O about finding his dad on Grindr – despite the man still being married to his mum

‘I clicked through the profile to see if it could be my dad,’ he said.

The young man went on to explain that his parents seem as happy as ever, and have been together for 27 years.

‘I have never seen any signs of a rift between them,’ he said.

So he decided to engage with the profile, to see if it really was his dad, a fake profile or someone with an eerily similar home.

‘I wasn’t flirting with him, I just engaged in normal conversation, told him I liked his picture and asked where he is from,’ he said.

‘Then I asked for a picture of his face – when he felt it through it was my dad,’ he said.

Jacob is now torn over what he should do and says he feels for his mum.

‘I am very open and forward thinking, I don’t care if he is gay I just don’t want him lying to my mum,’ he said.

chicken

What should Jacob do?

  • Pretend he doesn’t know. 21 votes
  • Talk to his dad! 67 votes
  • Talk to his mum. 17 votes
  • Talk to both of his parents! 22 votes
  • Call his dad live on air! 11 votes

‘So now I am torn, do I tell mum, do I confront my dad,’ he asked the dumbfounded radio hosts.

Jackie O said she would have ‘walked away’ after seeing the familiar bedroom in the background.

‘I want to hear his opinion and get his story,’ Jacob said.

‘I want to know why he has been hiding it from me for so long.’

He also added that his father stopped talking to him for years when he found out he was gay.

‘He was super against it when I was coming out – he hated me – he was super angry and didn’t want anything to do with me in his life,’ he said.

‘The older closed men are often homophobic,’ he added.

Jacob said it took years for him and his father to get back on good terms.

‘I just don’t want this to hurt my mum,’ he said.

He then asked for advice from the shows listeners who all agreed he needed to have a sit down chat with both of his parents.

‘You have to discuss this with both of your parents, they have to be aware,’ one man said.

‘My partner had a similar thing happen, his dad had six kids, was a construction manager and appeared happily married.

‘Your dad will be happier if he can be true to his real identity, and your mum deserves the chance to be happy too,’ he said.

Another said he should speak with his father first – before having a chat with his mum.

The man said he and his dad both have anonymous Grindr profiles - like many users only sharing face pictures after connecting online

The man said he and his dad both have anonymous Grindr profiles – like many users only sharing face pictures after connecting online

A third said his dad did the same thing – but has managed to repair the relationship with his wife while being honest about his sexual identity.

‘I found gay magazines in the back of his car and followed him after work where I found out what he was doing in the evening,’ he said.

‘I spoke to my siblings about it and we realized he had been doing it our whole lives.

‘My parents are still together, we had a sit down chat about it, after all we all need to be able to feel proud about who we are,’ he added.

Jacob was undecided by the end of the segment, but told Kyle he wouldn’t be calling his dad on-air about it.

Jacob also has a headless profile on the app, and says many men choose to keep their faces off the app.

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Categories
Sports

Paul Gallen to fight twice on one night, Justin Hodges, when will it be, next opponent, date, latest, updates

Paul Gallen to fight twice on one night, Justin Hodges, when will it be, next opponent, date, latest, updates

Paul Gallen is set to end his boxing career in the most spectacular way possible: by fighting twice in one night.

Foxsports.com.au understands negotiations are nearing completion for the unique boxing extravaganza, with Gallen to feature in two fights on a star-studded card being planned for a date in September. And in another twist, the NSW Blues legend will attempt the feat deep in enemy territory in Queensland.

Gallen is already regarded as one of Australia’s toughest athletes but the prospect of trying to defeat two opponents on the same night — something rarely seen in professional boxing — will put that reputation to the ultimate test.

Watch Boxing Live & On-Demand on Kayo. Selected international fights, classic bouts and more. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

One of Gallen’s opponents will likely be a fellow former NRL star Justin Hodges, who recently won two fights in the space of three weeks by defeating Ben Hannant (via UD) and Jordan Simi (via UD).

Gallen’s second opponent is yet to be decided but foxsports.com.au understands the shortlist includes several former footy stars. Hannant, Sam Thaiday, Russell Packer and Chris Walker are among those to have been sounded out.

With several of the prospective opponents hailing from Queensland, Gallen has the chance to realize a dream he teased recently.

Paul Gallen will need plenty of time to cool down in between fights. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Paul Gallen will need plenty of time to cool down in between fights. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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Jake Paul’s next fight scrapped as opponent slammed for ‘lack of professionalism’ in weight cut

‘He made the bet’: Hodges demands Gal be a ‘man of his word’, vows to ‘hurt’ ex-NSW star

speaking to foxsports.com.au ahead of Hodges’ fight against Hannant in June, Gallen claimed the opportunity of “getting to bash two Queenslanders in one night would be fun.”

Hodges and Gallen have engaged in a war of words after the pair made a bet that whichever state won this year’s Origin series would host a fight between the two.

Despite the Maroons great being willing to give up hometown advantage, such is his desperation to fight Gallen, Hodges is set to get to fight in front of a hometown crowd for just the second time in his boxing career.

The time frame between fights is one element yet to be confirmed. Gallen could either take on one opponent earlier on the card and return to the ring for the main event, or fight back-to-back fights in a grievous test of endurance.

Gallen has suggested on numerous occasions he will hang up the gloves at the end of the year, if not before.

But in a career that boasts wins over UFC legend Mark Hunt and Aussie former world heavyweight champion Lucas Browne, the chance to win two fights in the same night would be the perfect way to bow out of the sport for good.

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Categories
Australia

Geraldton methamphetamine trial hears drugs worth $160 million transferred mid-ocean

Geraldton methamphetamine trial hears drugs worth $160 million transferred mid-ocean

The seizure of 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine in the port city of Geraldton almost five years ago was preceded months earlier by the “successful importation” of hundreds of kilograms of the drug, the WA Supreme Court has been told.

The revelation came at the start of a new trial for five men accused of involvement in the massive drug importation in December 2017 — Jabour Anthony Lahood, 56, Peter Harb, 48, Christos Cafcakis, 48, Serupepeli Anthony Rasaubale, 38 and Khalid Elia Kaena , 57.

The court was told the methamphetamine, or ice — worth about $160 million — had been transferred onto a 55-foot vessel, called the Valkoista, in a mid-ocean rendezvous with another vessel dubbed “the Asian boat.”

It is alleged the crew members on each boat provided a half-torn Hong Kong bank note to verify their identities before the transfer took place.

Police were watching

Commonwealth prosecutor Chris O’Donnell SC said the Valkoista then made its way to Geraldton where a “ground crew” was waiting to collect the drugs.

Unbeknown to those involved, the importation was being watched by police, who swooped as the 60 bags containing the drugs were loaded into a van.

Two AFP officers with faces blurred next to an open van door containing sacks of drugs.
A van containing the methamphetamine was seized by authorities in Geraldton in December, 2017.(Supplied: AFP)

Mr O’Donnell said Mr Cafcakis was one of the crew on the Valkoista, Mr Rasaubale and Mr Kaena were members of the ground crew, and Mr Lahood and Mr Harb were the organizers of the operation and oversaw what was happening from Sydney.

Mr O’Donnell said the importation had not “come out of the blue” but had followed a successful operation five months earlier, when the Valkoista had been purchased for $350,000.

Those who bought the boat were told they needed to look for a vessel that had a carrying capacity of between 400 kilograms and 800 kilograms.

The methamphetamine smuggled in during the July operation was transferred to the Valkoista mid-ocean, then driven from Geraldton to Sydney, Mr O’Donnell said.

He said that earlier importation was the beginning of a “chain of events” that culminated in the December drugs seizure.

Boat running low on fuel

The court heard the drugs were again transferred to the Valkoista in a mid-ocean rendezvous in December 2017, and while they were meant to be taken back to Hillarys, in Perth’s north, they ended up in Geraldton because that was the nearest port and the Valkoista was low on fuel.

Mr O’Donnell said the “successful” importation happened after meetings in Sydney involving Mr Lahood.

A van with its back doors open with a charge of bags containing meth, at Geraldton harbour.
The drugs ended up back in Geraldton because the vessel that was meant to transport them was low on fuel. (Supplied: AFP)

Witnesses in the case are expected to include two men who were involved in the December importation—the captain of the Valkoista and one of the “ground crew.”

At the beginning of the case, Justice Michael Corboy informed the jury members there had been a previous trial involving the men, but it had concluded for reasons he said were not relevant to anything they will have to consider.

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