The USS Higgins (DDG-76), a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer forward deployed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), suffered a major main space engineering fire earlier this week knocking out electricity as well as propulsion and leaving the destroyer “dead in the water,” according to CBS News.

Details on how the fire started and the exact location of the Higgins in the Pacific are not publicly known, with no injuries to Sailors onboard the destroyer having been reported as of Wednesday. The Higgins was last seen ported in Singapore in February and was observed last year in the South China Sea near the Philippines, according to maritime tracking data via MarineTraffic.

Oil prices spiked overnight, with Crude Oil WTI surpassing $105 per barrel, as it appears more and more likely that the U.S. naval blockade of Iran will continue for the foreseeable future along with significant disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

As oil prices rise and the likelihood of resumed hostilities between Iran and the United States grows, chances on Polymarket of a nuclear deal with Tehran by the end of 2026 have begun to dive, down over 15% in the last day and currently sitting at only 53%.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has wished Iraqi Prime Minister Delegate Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi success as he works to form a new government, following the lengthy impasse over the next Iraqi prime minister, as Iraq’s government continues to struggle balancing competing U.S.-Iranian interests in the country. Per the Iraqi prime minister’s office, President Trump spoke with Al-Zaidi today and discussed bilateral cooperation. Additionally, per the Iraqi prime minister’s office, President Trump extended an invitation to the prime minister designate to visit Washington.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced in a post today on TruthSocial, following the recent visit by King Charles lll, "I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon."

The last 24 hours of playback via MarineTraffic of the Strait of Hormuz shows some transits are occurring and are mostly using the Iranian traffic separation scheme announced by the IRGC. Daily traffic transit volume is still less than 10% of pre-war levels, which averaged 130 per day prior to the Iran War.

Reporting indicates that President Trump is seriously mulling renewed combat operations against Iran, as Israeli media also reports that the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, is set to brief President Trump on military options for Iran.

U.S. hostilities with Iran that began in February have "terminated" for purposes of the War Powers Resolution, according to a senior administration official to Reuters. "Both parties agreed to a ​2-week ceasefire ​on Tuesday, April 7, ‌that ⁠has since been extended…there has ​been ​no ⁠exchange of fire between ​U.S. Armed ​Forces ⁠and Iran since Tuesday, April ⁠7."

His Majesty, King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated in an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Thursday, marking the final day of the Royal Couple’s state visit commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, along with the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Trump today for 45 minutes on new plans for possible military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, two U.S. officials told Axios.

The Pentagon is planning to withdraw roughly 5,000 American troops from Germany in the near future, as part of the Trump Administration’s retaliation against European allies who refused to join or aid in the Iran War, senior defense officials have told CBS News.

Germany hosts over 36,000 American Servicemembers, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilian employees with the U.S. Department of Defense, according to the latest figures from last December. Additionally, Germany is home to the Headquarters of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM), and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations, including recent military operations against Iran. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. military hospital abroad is also located in Germany and has been used to care for dozens of Americans injured in strikes during the Iran War.

Hung Cao, the Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy, has announced that William J. Toti, the Former Captain of the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Indianapolis (SSN-697) and Commodore of Submarine Squadron 3, will perform the duties of Undersecretary of the Navy.

Speaking tonight at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in Florida about the recent interdiction, boarding, and seizure of several Iranian cargo ships and oil tankers by the U.S. Navy, President Trump stated: “We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It's a very profitable business. Who would have thought we're doing that, we're like pirates. We're sort of like pirates.”

In a post earlier on TruthSocial, President Donald J. Trump posted a picture of Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holding a baseball bat, with the caption: “Low IQ Democrat Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is nothing but a THUG, and he is a danger to our Country! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

As part of a spree of late night posts Friday on TruthSocial, President Trump posted a badly photoshopped picture of his face next to the four presidents honored on Mount Rushmore.

Well that’s…something…I guess.

After failing to achieve a bailout or any kind of relief agreement with the Trump Administration, Spirit Airlines, one of America’s most well known ultra low-cost airlines which has been operating since 1990, is expected to cease all operations in roughly three hours, as early as 3:00AM ET on Saturday, people familiar with the matter tell CNBC.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced that, at the request of Pakistan and other countries, and because of the military success achieved during the previous strike campaign against Iran, Project Freedom, the recently announced operation by the U.S. Navy to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, will be paused indefinitely to allow for a potential agreement to be finalized and signed by Iran and the United States.

According to Axios, citing officials and others with knowledge on the matter, the U.S. and Iran are close to reaching an agreement centered on a one-page memorandum of understanding. Per the report, the U.S. is waiting on Iranian responses to several points of contention, including a moratorium on enrichment and the freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in the next 48 hours. If Iran were to agree to a moratorium on enrichment, the U.S. is reportedly willing to release some Iranian frozen funds. However, per U.S. officials, U.S. President Donald J. Trump will likely only make a decision to end the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz if talks realize tangible progress.

U.S.-Iran Potential MOU Continued:
In addition to the previously reported points on the potential U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the MOU would reportedly include 14 points, including declaring an end to the conflict in the Middle East, the announcement of a 30-day period to negotiate the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian enrichment, and the gradual lifting of both nations’ restrictions on the strait as talks progress. Sources told Axios that the U.S. is looking to add a provision where an Iranian disregard or violation of agreements on enrichment, which includes a cap at 3.67%, would extend the moratorium. Additionally, on enrichment, sources also told Axios that Iran may be willing to move previously enriched material from the country, with a proposal for the U.S. to take possession of it being discussed.