Authorities in South Africa carried out a high-risk recovery operation over the weekend, airlifting a massive crocodile suspected of eating a local resident.

The operation followed last month’s disappearance of a 59-year-old businessman from Gauteng, South African Police Service (SAPS) said. Local media Smile FM identified him as Gabriel Batista, the owner of the Border Country Inn located a short drive from the river.

A specialized task force eventually tracked down the reptile Saturday along the Komati River, where it was euthanized and removed from the area, officials reported. Upon examination, they said human remains were discovered in its digestive system.

The operation was also captured on camera and has since spread widely on social media, showing personnel hoisting the massive crocodile from the water by helicopter.

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According to the police, the local businessman went missing late last month after his Ford Ranger became stranded at a flooded low-lying river crossing near crocodile-infested waters.

State media SABCNews reported that the vehicle was swept away as he attempted to cross the bridge.

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Following a weeklong search, the team reportedly identified a large crocodile nearby that they believed may have attacked and consumed the victim. 

According to officials who monitored the reptile for several days, the reptile appeared to show signs it had recently fed, including prolonged periods of inactivity, South African outlet ENCA said.

“During the search, we saw that this particular crocodile was only about 150 meters away from where the person had washed off the bridge. This crocodile stayed there the whole time. When the helicopter went over it, it wouldn’t move away,” SAPS Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter said.

“We know from experience that if crocodiles have had a big meal, they’re not very active, and need to lie in the sun for their digestive system to start working.”

After authorities euthanized the animal with the necessary permissions, Potgieter operated under “extremely dangerous conditions,” being lowered from a helicopter into crocodile-infested waters. 

It was then secured with a rope, hoisted from the water, and airlifted away, SAPS said.

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During the examination, officials reportedly discovered human remains, as well as six pairs of sandals inside the animal’s stomach, SABC News reported.

The remains have been submitted for DNA testing to confirm the victim’s identity. 

It remains unclear whether the shoes are linked to any missing residents or villagers in the area. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs caught a franchise-changing break on Tuesday, defying the odds to jump from fifth to the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery.

Coming into the selection ceremony with just an 8.5 percent chance, Toronto vaulted past multiple teams to nab the top selection, which hasn’t happened since 2016.

The outcome gives Toronto a rare opportunity to add a blue-chip asset without sacrificing current roster pieces.

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This stroke of luck follows a disastrous regular season in which the Maple Leafs finished 32-36-14, placing eighth in the Atlantic Division, which marked a 30-point drop from the previous year and led to their first missed postseason since 2016.

The season was defined by turmoil, including a season-ending injury to captain Auston Matthews and 299 goals allowed, one of the league’s worst defensive marks.

The focus now turns to projected top pick Gavin McKenna. The dynamic Penn State left wing finished second in the NCAA in points per game. For a team that has struggled with depth scoring and cap constraints, drafting a player of McKenna’s caliber signals a clear path to strengthening the roster for the long term.

TOP NHL PROSPECT GAVIN MCKENNA CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN DOWNTOWN PENN STATE INCIDENT, COURT DOCUMENT SHOWS

The lottery result also pulled Toronto away from a potential asset-management misstep tied to previous trades.

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By staying within the top five, the Maple Leafs triggered the protection clause on the first-round pick sent to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal.

Had the pick slipped outside that range, it would have gone to a division rival. Instead, Toronto keeps the No. 1 selection.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela 

Azizul Bari Helal, Information Secretary of Bangladesh’s ruling party BNP, has praised the excellent performance of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari in West Bengal. Helal said that he congratulates the winning party BJP and Shubhendu Adhikari. He expressed confidence that this victory of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari will ensure that relations between the Government of West Bengal and Bangladesh remain as good and strong as before. The BNP’s response offers a rare and positive moment of diplomatic hope over the long-running cross-border disputes between Dhaka and Kolkata. He believes that this change of power will not only stabilize but also improve bilateral relations between the two sides.

Will Teesta water dispute be resolved after Mamata leaves power?
The most important thing in this entire statement of BNP has been said about the Teesta water sharing treaty, which has been hanging in the balance for more than a decade. BNP leader Helal has directly described the outgoing Trinamool Congress leadership and especially Mamata Banerjee as the biggest obstacle to this agreement.

BNP claims that Mamata Banerjee’s previous administration was obstructing the Teesta Barrage agreement. The party is hopeful that now that power in West Bengal has come into the hands of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari, the state government will work with the Modi administration to finalize this pact. Helal clearly said that with BJP coming to power in place of Trinamool Congress, the Teesta Barrage project will definitely be implemented.

What is the old dispute regarding river water?
India and Bangladesh share a total of 54 rivers, but so far only two water treaties have been signed between the two countries (Ganga Water Treaty and Kushiyara River Treaty). The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty regulates the sharing of water at the Farakka Barrage during the dry season, but Bangladesh often alleges that India releases less water during dry months, adversely affecting their agriculture and livelihoods.

A temporary agreement was reached in 1983 regarding Teesta River water, giving 36 percent to Bangladesh and 39 percent to India, but it was never fully implemented. During the visit of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in 2011, there was a proposal to give 37.5 percent water of Teesta to Bangladesh and 42.5 percent water to India. However, the then West Bengal government strongly opposed it citing its agricultural interests, due to which the agreement remained pending.

How will BNP and BJP come together?
On this important question, BNP leader Helal clarified that even though there is a clear ideological difference between the centre-right BNP and the BJP, national interests always come above party principles. He said that our relations are very good and despite ideological differences, we are completely united on some national issues.

Teesta Barrage and general relations between India and Bangladesh are such important issues where both sides are on the same page. Expressing full hope, Helal said that despite ideological separation, we are together on the basis of issues and with the coming of the new government in West Bengal, our mutual relations will see even greater momentum.


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U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Tuesday that the U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three suspected narco-terrorists.

The strike, which was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear at the direction of Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, targeted a vessel that was operating along known narco-trafficking corridors and engaged in narco-trafficking activity. 

No U.S. service members were injured in the operation, according to SOUTHCOM.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the command wrote on X. “Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

US MILITARY KILLS 3 IN LATEST STRIKE ON A SUSPECTED DRUG VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC

SOUTHCOM did not immediately release further information about those killed.

The U.S. military has carried out numerous strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.

The announcement comes a day after SOUTHCOM said it conducted a similar strike in the Caribbean on Monday, killing two suspected drug traffickers.

US KILLS 2 MORE SUSPECTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN BOAT STRIKE

Earlier, on April 24, SOUTHCOM carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two suspected narco-terrorists.

That strike followed less than a week after SOUTHCOM said it conducted an operation in the Caribbean, killing three suspected narco-terrorists.

US MILITARY LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER AUTONOMOUS WARFARE COMMAND TO DEPLOY UNMANNED SYSTEMS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA

SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.

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The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with cartels often using small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs toward the U.S. and Central America.

Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz, Michael Sinkewicz, Alex Nitzberg and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The lights were too bright for the Boston Celtics, and one of their All-Stars started pointing fingers everywhere but at himself.

After Boston blew a 3-1 series lead to Philadelphia, Jaylen Brown went from calling out Sixers center Joel Embiid to taking aim at the media over dumb comments he made on a postgame livestream.

76ERS’ JOEL EMBIID FACES ‘FLOPPING’ ACCUSATIONS AFTER PHILLY’S GAME 7 OVER CELTICS

Brown labeled Embiid a “flopper,” suggesting he duped both officials and coverage of the series. As his comments gained traction for name-dropping Embiid, Brown took to X to deflect.

“Clickbait is like flopping for the media, exaggerating contact. Y’all be safe out here,” he wrote.

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Most embarrassingly, the remarks came after Boston failed to close the series in three chances, including a Game 7 at home against a 76ers team that played half the matchup without its MVP.

The critics came out to drag Brown, including former teammate Jeff Teague, who pushed back on “The Rich Eisen Show”.

“I think that’s a sore loser,” Teague admitted. “You were up 3–1. You had enough opportunity to win a game and take over.”

Brown also raised eyebrows by calling the season his “favorite year,” a comment that landed poorly after a first-round exit.

Stephen A. Smith seized on that point on ESPN’s First Take.

“You get paid over $300 million. You were up 3-1. Did you say anything then? No,” Smith said. “That is not why the Celtics lost… they played dumb basketball down the stretch.”

Brown was definitely part of Boston’s demise. In the closing minutes of Game 7, Boston settled for six straight three-point attempts instead of attacking the rim.

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Kendrick Perkins summed it up on the Road Trippin’ podcast, saying the 76ers “walked into your m**********g crib, shoes all muddy, and kicked their feet up on your coffee table.”

Brown’s criticism of Embiid and the media now sits alongside a series where Boston had three chances to advance, and failed every time.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela