The remains of Hank Frantz, missing for four years, were discovered in a treehouse on his father’s property after his father’s death. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identity of the skeletal remains, which are estimated to be months to years old. While the cause of death is difficult to determine from skeletal remains alone, police believe no foul play was involved. The discovery occurred after the family went to settle the father’s affairs following his death in a scuba diving accident in Maui.
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The US has presented Ukraine with a revised agreement concerning the management of its natural resources, demanding a joint investment fund overseen by a US-majority board. This significantly expands upon a previous proposal, granting Washington veto power and priority access to revenues and infrastructure projects. Ukrainian officials have strongly criticized the agreement as unfair and potentially detrimental to their sovereignty, citing concerns about resource control and financial dependence on the US. While the deal currently excludes nuclear assets, the possibility of future negotiations regarding nuclear energy infrastructure remains a concern.
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Effective March 28th, Amazon is eliminating the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” setting for Alexa devices, mandating that all voice data be sent to Amazon for Alexa Plus processing. This change, driven by the need to improve Alexa Plus’s conversational AI capabilities, removes user choice regarding data sharing. While Amazon claims data is encrypted in transit and deleted after processing, past incidents of data mishandling raise concerns about data security and potential misuse. Users who disable the remaining “Do Not Save Voice Recordings” setting will lose access to features like Voice ID.
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The Baltimore Orioles dominated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-2 on opening day, fueled by Cedric Mullins’ five RBIs, including two home runs. Tyler O’Neill also contributed a three-run homer for the Orioles, who enjoyed a multi-home run performance from Rutschman and Westburg. Zach Eflin pitched six strong innings for Baltimore, while Jose Berrios struggled for Toronto. Despite pre-game awareness of potential protests, scattered boos greeted the U.S. national anthem at Rogers Centre, a recurring event at recent sporting events.
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A significant majority of Americans view the leak of US attack plans for Yemen via a Signal group chat as a serious matter, with 53% deeming it “very serious,” despite the Trump administration’s attempts to downplay the incident. This surpasses public concern over previous controversies like Hillary Clinton’s email server and Trump’s retention of classified documents. The leak, involving sensitive intelligence shared with Israel, sparked bipartisan unease, even among some Republicans, despite claims the information was unclassified and the mission successful. The White House acknowledged the mistake and pledged to prevent recurrence.
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President Trump’s escalating tariffs on imported goods, including a forthcoming duty on vehicles, are causing unease among some Republicans. Concerns are rising over potential price increases and a resulting voter backlash, leading some GOP lawmakers to advocate for returning tariff authority to Congress. While some Republicans remain optimistic about the long-term benefits, the Congressional Budget Office predicts short-term negative impacts on consumers and businesses due to increased prices and economic inefficiency. This internal party division highlights the significant economic and political ramifications of the President’s tariff strategy.
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For the first time since joining NATO in March 2024, Sweden has deployed six Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets to Poland for an alliance airspace surveillance mission. These aircraft, specifically designed to counter Russian Sukhoi jets, are based from civilian roads, offering a strategic advantage against potential Russian aggression. This deployment signifies Sweden’s proactive role in bolstering NATO’s eastern flank and reflects the growing concern among alliance members regarding potential Russian aggression in the region. The Gripen’s unique capabilities, including its adaptability and lower maintenance needs, are considered highly valuable in this context.
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Following a Washington Post report highlighting its termination, the Trump administration’s decision to end a program tracking mass child abductions in Ukraine has been reversed. This reversal comes after significant pressure from U.S. lawmakers and Christian evangelical groups. The program’s reinstatement signifies a renewed commitment to monitoring this critical human rights issue. The details surrounding the initial termination and subsequent reversal remain under scrutiny.
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King Charles III was briefly hospitalized Thursday due to temporary side effects from ongoing cancer treatment, initially diagnosed in February 2024 following a procedure for benign prostate enlargement. His afternoon engagements were postponed, and Friday’s schedule was also rescheduled as a precaution. The King’s treatment is reportedly progressing positively. He expressed his apologies for any inconvenience caused by the cancellations.
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In handling the Signal message scandal, the Trump administration failed to adhere to crisis communication best practices. Instead of swiftly accepting responsibility and limiting further discussion, the administration engaged in a protracted dispute over the classification of leaked information. This prolonged the scandal and shifted focus to semantics, deflecting from the core issue: the Secretary of Defense’s disclosure of launch times and subsequent White House denials. The administration’s attack on journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who passively received the leaked information, further exacerbated the situation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker