This week's edition of #Istanbul #culture newsletter is about missing the sun and glorious returns: the illuminious worlds of Claire Arkas and of heart-throbs; @tarkan & #SelahattinPasalı. al-monitor.com/newsletter/20… via @AlMonitor

Yesterday, Russia launched one of the largest attacks of the war, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructure and cultural sites across Ukraine. Alongside apartment buildings, hospitals and museums, Kyiv’s 1,000-year-old Assumption Cathedral was among the sites that Russia sees as ‘legitimate military targets’.

More progress on #EUenlargement. The 🇪🇺 and 🇲🇪 have provisionally closed negotiations on another two chapters covering: 📌 free movement of workers 📌 consumer and health protection Find out more about Montenegro's EU accession path: link.europa.eu/7h88Vx

A plane carrying Turkish President Erdogan made the first official landing at an Ankara airport that was rebuilt to receive Trump and other leaders for an upcoming NATO summit bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan received María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, in Ankara.

The European Parliament 🇪🇺 draft report reportedly calls for sanctions against 🇹🇷 Türkiye's Justice, Minister Akın Gürlek, citing rule-of-law and judicial independence concerns. 🔸️This is NOT an EU decision yet. It is only a draft / recommendation inside the European Parliament report. 🔸️The European Parliament cannot impose sanctions itself. 🔸️Any real sanctions would require action by the EU Council (member states) EU institutions. 🔸️The EP does not require a criminal accusation to include someone in a report proposal.

🇺🇦🇭🇺 Agreement between Ukraine and Hungary on national minority enters into force, - Magyar Magyar stated that Ukraine has committed to a comprehensive settlement of issues related to the educational, linguistic, cultural and political rights of the approximately 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Zakarpattia.

Today, the European Union took a major step forward. All Member States agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova. At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process. It covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built, from the rule of law to strong democratic institutions. This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable. Enlargement is a strategic choice. By bringing our nations closer together, we strengthen peace, security and prosperity across our continent. In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest. Enlargement remains one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future.

EUPM Armenia 🇦🇲: @EUCouncil appoints Cosmin Dinescu as first Head of Mission for the European Union Partnership Mission 🇪🇺 Read more 👇 link.europa.eu/tJRqNt

The HR/VP @kajakallas will travel to Dublin, Ireland, today, 9 June. The HR/VP Kaja Kallas will meet separately with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, Helen McEntee and Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne. Read more: link.europa.eu/p7yHtp

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas unveils fresh sanctions targeting Russian banks, arms manufacturers, oil traders and crypto operators to further weaken Moscow's "war economy" trtworld.com/article/9211c92…

Today, threats can travel faster than armies. Cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and disruptions to energy supplies can impact everyday life across Europe. As threats evolve, so must our response. Explore the latest Strategic Compass progress report: link.europa.eu/PhYkDw

"Europe has lost the luxury of saying 'we are enough on our own,'" says Turkish parliament speaker, adding EU must expand, with Türkiye first in line turkiyetoday.com/nation/euro…

Yurtdışında yaşayan akademisyenimiz İtalya’dan vize reddi yiyor 2400 kişi çalıştıran işadamımız bana “Avrupa ile artık iş yapmıyorum” diyor Vize rezaleti turizmin çok ötesinde bir konu!

RT @gonultol: In a new New York Times @nytimes piece, I argue that the war in Syria forged an unlikely partnership between Turkey and Russi…

This week in AL-MONITOR Istanbul, @Nazlaner recommends Elif Shafak’s “The Island of Missing Trees,” a Cyprus- and London-set novel told partly by a fig tree. al-monitor.com/newsletter/20…

AL-MONITOR Istanbul: Art, animals and the right to shelter in Istanbul al-monitor.com/newsletter/20… via @NazlanEr

Kütahya Adnan Menderes Ortaokulu öğrencilerinin #ABYeşilHaftası mesajı açıktı: AB yalnızca kurumlardan ibaret değil. İnsanlardan, fikirlerden ve daha yeşil bir gelecekten oluşuyor. #EUinTürkiye #JeanMonnet #Gençlik 🇪🇺🇹🇷

Eski gazetelerden takım elbise. Plastik bardaklardan etek. #Kütahya’da bir okul bahçesinde yapılan sürdürülebilirlik festivali.🌿 İki ayrı #JeanMonnet projesi yürüten Kütahya Adnan Menderes Ortaokulu öğrencileri AB Türkiye Delegasyonu'nda Büyükelçi @AivoOrav’ı ziyaret etti. 🇪🇺🇹🇷

A suit made from old newspapers. A skirt made of plastic cups. A sustainability festival in a schoolyard in #Kütahya. 🌿 Students from Adnan Menderes Middle School carrying out two #JeanMonnet projects visited Ambassador @AivoOrav at @EUDelegationTur in Ankara. 🇪🇺🇹🇷

Eski manken Bilun Dohmen, Bodrum Kumbahçe'deki evini satıp Özgür Özel'e seçim otobüsü alacağını açıkladı. (Bodrum Kent TV)