Ukrainian commander sees imminent 'turning point' in war

Plus, the paper trail linking a US fuel trader to a notorious Mexican cartel.

Go beyond the headlines with Reuters on the stories shaping the day. Subscribe for $1/week. Subscribe now. Daily Briefing Daily Briefing By Claire Beers Hello. A senior Ukrainian commander sees an imminent 'turning point' in war with Russia, Hong Kong overtakes Switzerland as the world's top cross-border wealth hub and the paper trail linking a US fuel trader to a notorious Mexican cartel. Plus, Reuters pictures show the journey to Mecca as millions gather for the annual pilgrimage. Today's Top News   Damage to an oil tank after drones crashed at a storage facility in Rezekne, Latvia. REUTERS/Janis Laizans Ukraine has a six-month window to seize the battlefield initiative from Russia and strengthen its hand for peace talks, a senior commander told Reuters. Iran said the US had violated a ceasefire by striking targets near the Strait of Hormuz, potentially complicating efforts to end the war. Further straining peace efforts, Israel pounded Lebanon with more than 120 air ‌strikes in one of the heaviest days of bombing in weeks. Canada and the Bahamas said they will temporarily ban residents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda ‌and South Sudan from entering their countries amid an Ebola outbreak. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ousted four-term US Senator John Cornyn, riding President Donald Trump's endorsement to a runoff victory for the Republican Senate nomination. Former President Joe Biden sued the US Department of Justice, seeking to bar the release of audio recordings and transcripts of private conversations with ‌his biographer in 2016 and 2017. Unmarked tunnels, missing trackers and fake doors have been uncovered during an initial probe into the deadliest mining tragedy in China in over 15 years, ‌with the government vowing to leave no stone unturned. India's top judge has inadvertently sparked a Gen Z political movement after comparing unemployed young people to cockroaches. Now the Cockroach Janta Party's popularity is soaring. The Reuters World News podcast explains why the movement has struck a nerve. Business & Markets   A general view of Hong Kong's skyline. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland as the top global booking center for cross-border wealth, ‌a first that is unlikely to be reversed as hubs in Asia grow faster than the European safe-haven. The deal Samsung Electronics struck with its union averts a massive strike and gives its memory chip workers eye-popping bonuses. It also opens a Pandora's box for companies in South Korea — a country known for militant wage-bargaining. Within weeks of the US launching its war in Iran, SpaceX executives met with Pentagon officials and argued that the military should be paying more for access to its satellite Wi-Fi network. SK Hynix topped $1 trillion in market value for the first time, joining its memory chip rivals Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology in reaching the milestone ‌on an AI-driven rally. The Reuters Morning Big podcast has more.  Nvidia said the chip company plans to invest around $150 billion a year in Taiwan, terming it the "epicenter" of the AI revolution ‌and predicting it will be the world's tech manufacturing hub. Chinese farm owner Zuo Xiaoyong received over 700 applications after posting two job vacancies for shepherds at his remote farm. The response to Zuo's ad reveals the growing strains in the country's job market. At a sprawling bazaar on the outskirts of Vietnam's capital, the trade in counterfeit goods is bustling despite government crackdowns and the threat of US tariffs over the issue. The paper trail linking a US fuel trader to a notorious Mexican cartel   Houston fuel trader Ikon Midstream is under investigation in Mexico in connection with cartel-linked fuel smuggling. REUTERS A mystery customer. Missing permits. Inaccurate customs declarations. Investigations in the US and Mexico. Reuters follows the paper trail linking a US fuel trader to a notorious Mexican cartel. Export documents filed with US customs for at least four Ikon Midstream shipments show the Houston company traded with Mexican firm Azteca Cone. Reuters could find no physical presence, phone number or website for Azteca Cone, which three Mexican security sources say is a cartel-linked front company. Read our special report And Finally... Pilgrims pray in front of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa The fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj, is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it and is considered one of the largest mass gatherings in the world. Reuters pictures show the journey to Mecca as millions gather for the annual pilgrimage. Read more   Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website   Reuters Daily Briefing is sent 5 days a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here. This email includes limited tracking for Reuters to understand whether you’ve engaged with its contents. For more information on how we process your personal information and your rights, please see our Privacy Statement. Terms & Conditions   © 2026 Thomson Reuters. 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