South Carolina Pastor Accused of Decades-Old Sexual Assault

The United States has stationed six of its 20 B-2 stealth bombers in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant military deployment aimed at reinforcing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Pentagon, this move accounts for around 30% of the total B-2 fleet and is a part of a broader increase in military assets, which now includes three aircraft carriers operating in the region. Satellite imagery captured the bombers at the Diego Garcia military base, a joint facility of the US and Britain. The USS Carl Vinson is set to operate in the Middle East, while the USS Harry S. Truman remains in the Arabian Sea. The USS Nimitz is directed towards the South China Sea, signaling heightened military readiness amid increasing tensions with Iran and its allies. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell indicated that the deployment aims to bolster America's defensive posture, suggesting preparedness against potential threats from state and non-state actors in the region. Analysts speculate that this substantial military surge is also intended to deter adversaries such as China and Russia.

A catastrophic weather event is unfolding across central and eastern United States as severe storms are expected to bring long-lived tornadoes and life-threatening flooding. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), more than 20 million people from Louisiana to Ohio are at risk, with powerful tornadoes rated EF2 or higher anticipated later today. Severe thunderstorms swept through the Plains early Wednesday, with confirmed tornadoes reported in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a rare level 5 risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Mississippi Valley, warning of potential multi-generational flooding due to excessive rainfall. Forecasters predict up to 15 inches of rain by Saturday in certain areas, particularly where Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee converge. The flooding is described as a potentially historic event, with the NWS cautioning that many areas may experience flash flooding that they have never encountered before. Experts highlight the increased frequency of extreme rainfall events as a consequence of climate change, exacerbating risks in a warming world.

In a significant shift in U.S. trade policy, President Donald Trump announced on April 3, 2025, the implementation of universally high tariffs, starting at 10% for all imports and 20% specifically on European Union goods. This marks the highest import taxes seen in a century, aimed at addressing the U.S.'s $1.2 trillion trade deficit, according to a White House statement. During his speech in the White House Rose Garden, Trump claimed that the new tariffs would reinvigorate American industry, labeling April 2 as the day of “America’s economic independence.” He presented charts suggesting that U.S. trading partners impose tariffs on American products that are significantly higher than the new U.S. rates. Economists, however, warn that these tariffs may incite a trade war, potentially plunging both the U.S. and its trading partners into recession. The tariffs follow a series of earlier impositions on Chinese goods and selected products from Canada and Mexico. The White House clarified that while some tariffs will take effect immediately, reciprocal tariffs will be enforced starting April 9, 2025.