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Remains of missing 12-year-old girl in Australia found after apparent crocodile attack
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The remains of a 12-year-old girl have been found in Australia after an apparent crocodile attack. Police said the girl’s remains were found in a river system near where she went missing two days earlier in the Northern Territory’s Indigenous community of Palumpa, according to The Associated Press.
Northern Territory Police said Thursday that the injuries on the girl’s body confirmed a crocodile attack, adding that her remains were found after an “extensive search effort.”
“The recovery has been made. It was particularly gruesome and a sad, devasting outcome,” Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said. “It was an extremely difficult, essentially 36 hours… For the family, it is the most devastating outcome possible for them. They are in a state of extreme shock and disbelief.”
In a statement shared on the Facebook page for the Northern Territory’s emergency services, Gibson said officers were providing support to the family and the local community.
Gibson was quoted by the AP a saying officials were still trying searching for the crocodile to trap the animal, as the territorial creatures often remain in and around the same area.
“We live in a place where crocodiles occupy our water places,” Northern Territory Police Minister Brent Potter said, according to CBS News partner network BBC News. “It’s just a reminder to stay out of the water as best we can.”
According to the Northern Territory’s tourism site, the region is home to the world’s largest wild crocodile population, with more than 100,000 freshwater and saltwater predators. The latter can grow up to 20 feet long.
“The more common and more dangerous species is the saltwater crocodile,” the tourism website says. “These ‘salties’ side along the coastline and waterways of the Territory. They have a taste for fish, but will eat just about anything including cows and buffaloes, wild boar, turtles, birds and crabs.”
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Biden tells congressional Democrats he is “firmly committed” to staying in 2024 race
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Washington — President Biden on Monday sent a letter to congressional Democrats saying that he is “firmly committed” to staying in the race and making clear that he wouldn’t be running again if he “did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”
Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week after a July 4 recess, which came as questions about Mr. Biden’s ability to serve another term roiled the political sphere following a disastrous debate performance last month. A slow leak of Democratic lawmakers have since called on Mr. Biden to step aside from the race. But the president has been clear that he will not drop out.
In the letter, the president cited the votes he received in the primaries so far, saying “the voters of the Democratic Party have voted,” and selected him as their presumptive nominee.
Mr. Biden said the question of “how to move forward” had been aired for more than a week, saying it’s “time for it to end.”
“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” he said. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us.”
This is a breaking story. It will be updated.
Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.
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Some doctors recommending Apple Watches to manage health conditions
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Candidates in local elections across the country face intimidation, harassment
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