June 1, 2022

*) US to send Ukraine advanced weapons President Joe Biden has said the United States will send more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to help it fight off Russia's forces. A US official said the weapons being sent are High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which have precision-guided munitions and a longer range than those currently deployed by Ukraine. While some analysts suggest they could be a "game-changer", others say they should not be expected to suddenly turn the tables for Ukrainian forces facing heavy Russian fire in the east. *) Cavusoglu: Lavrov to visit Türkiye for talks on Ukraine exports Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Türkiye for talks on unblocking grain exports from Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said. Cavusoglu said Lavrov — accompanied by a military delegation — will arrive in Türkiye on June 8 "for talks on the issue of opening a security corridor" in the Black Sea. Dozens of ships are blocked in Ukrainian ports that are surrounded by Russian forces, choking off exports of wheat, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs. *) Australia PM Albanese gets a diverse cabinet Australia's new ministry has been sworn into office with a record 13 women. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet also includes religious minorities and Indigenous Aboriginals. Youth Minister Anne Aly is Australia’s first female Muslim minister, while Industry Minister Ed Husic is another Muslim face in the government. Linda Burney became the first Aboriginal woman to hold the Indigenous Australians ministry. *) Hurricane kills 11, leaves 20 missing in south Mexico Hurricane Agatha has caused flooding and mudslides that have killed at least 11 people and left 20 missing in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca. Officials said rivers overflowed their banks and swept away people in homes, while other victims were buried under mud and rocks. Agatha was the strongest hurricane ever recorded to come ashore in May during the eastern Pacific hurricane season. It made landfall on Mond