Donald Trump, the president of the United States, claims that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart, and they have discussed a number of issues, including ending Russia’s occupation of Gaza and Syria.
Trump claimed that Erdogan had invited him to Turkiye and that he had also invited the Turkish leader to Washington, DC during the call on Monday. No dates were given.
Erdogan had invited Trump for a visit, according to a read-out of the Turkish presidency’s call.
The Republican president pledged to help put an end to the Ukrainian war by calling his relationship with Erdogan “excellent” during his first year in office.
“I look forward to working with President Erdogan to end the absurd but deadly War between Russia and Ukraine right away”! Trump stated in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO member Turkiye has held two talks aimed at putting an end to the conflict and has tried to maintain good relations with both of its Black Sea neighbors.
President Erdogan expressed appreciation for the efforts being made to maintain the negotiations with Iran and stop the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to Turkiye’s Directorate of Communications in a statement posted on X.
Erdogan also urged a ceasefire in Gaza, citing the country’s “grave level” humanitarian crisis as a warning.
The Turkish president also emphasized the necessity of “the immediate eradication of this tragic situation” and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
Erdogan reiterated Turkiye’s commitment to preserving its territorial integrity and restoring stability to neighboring Syria.
He claimed that the US’s efforts to stifle Syria’s new government would advance the situation and promote regional harmony.
Erdogan stated that Turkey was still committed to expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defense sector.
Alpine are poised to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races of the season.
The Australian’s seat has been at risk since the team signed Colapinto from Williams over the winter.
Alpine refused to comment, but insiders say the switch is close to being finalised before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in Italy on 16-18 May.
The decision to switch the two drivers comes despite Doohan out-qualifying team-mate Pierre Gasly for the first time this season at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
He retired from the race after a collision with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
Doohan has shown strong pace at times but has also had a series of incidents, including two heavy crashes.
He lost control in the wet on the first lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, badly damaging his car, and crashed on his second flying lap of practice at the Japanese event two races later.
The Suzuka crash came after Doohan failed to close the DRS overtaking aid before turning into the high-speed Turn One.
Colapinto’s graduation has been eased by money from Latin American sponsors.
The Argentine raced for Williams in nine grands prix last year after the team dropped American Logan Sargeant after the Dutch Grand Prix.
Colapinto impressed by scoring points in the Azerbaijan and US races but dented his reputation with heavy crashes at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix – in qualifying and race – and in qualifying at the Las Vegas.
He had also crashed in practice in Baku before scoring his breakthrough first points in the race.
Alpine signed Colapinto from Williams over the winter, leading to immediate speculation that he would eventually replace Doohan.
Williams team principal James Vowles has made it clear the team have the option to take him back in the future.
Love Island star Lucie Donlan already looks like a blushing bride ahead of her nuptials to Luke Mabbott as she has began wedding dress shopping, with the couple now having set a date.
Love Island’s Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott have finally set a date for their wedding, over three years since getting engaged
Lucie Donlan has started trying on wedding dresses ahead of marrying fiancé Luke Mabbott, as the couple have exclusively revealed to Mirror that they have set a date for their wedding.
The former Love Island stars have locked in a 2026 wedding, with preparations now in full swing. Beginning wedding dress shopping, Lucie looked stunning this week at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, where she tried on several gowns.
From a floating off-the-shoulder number to a fitted corset dress, Lucie certainly got some ideas for her own big day during the trip.
Joined by her fiancé, Luke was dapper in a pinstripe suit for the occasion as they posed for a number of pictures at the event, which is a trade show and the world’s leading bridal event.
Lucie looked stunning as she tried on bridalwear in Barcelona last week at a wedding event
Luke popped the question to Lucy in December 2021 during a trip to Finland in front of the Northern Lights, revealing the news via Instagram as he wrote: “Mrs Mabbott to be. The northern lights made an appearance for the perfect moment to pop the question. A night we will never forget.”
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Back in 2023, Lucie said she had found a wedding dress during an impromptu shopping spree, which Luke was there for. At the time, she said that despite her partner being in the shop with her, he hadn’t seen the dress itself.
However, with Lucie seemingly dress shopping once again, the star has perhaps had a change of heart on the previous gown.
And after the longer engagement, the couple recently said that after a long engagement, they’re finally feeling ready to get wedding prep underway.
She appeared to be browsing for inspiration, despite having previously shared that she found a wedding dress
The couple told Mirror: “We’ve had a long engagement which has been lovely as it has given us time to really think about our dream day. We now know exactly what and I think going on this trip really sparked some more inspiration for our wedding plans.”
Previously, Lucie and Luke had put wedding plans on the back foot to focus on renovating their Cornwall home – which was originally a 1879 Chapel.
READ MORE: ‘This £15 viral hair oil is actually worth the hype – my hair looks fuller in just a month’
Lucie appeared on Love Island in 2019 alongside stars such as Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury – famously having a romance with the latter in the villa before Molly-Mae entered as a bombshell.
Lucie attempted to rekindle things with the boxer later in the series, but he stayed loyal to Molly-Mae, who he went on to welcome daughter Bambi with in 2023 and propose to in August last year. The couple have since split up and rekindled their romance in recent months.
Meanwhile. Luke was on the show a year later in 2020, and was coupled up with Demi Jones. After both failing to find love in the ITV2 villa, Luke and Lucie began their relationship in July 2020.
Love Island star Lucie Donlan already looks like a blushing bride ahead of her nuptials to Luke Mabbott as she has began wedding dress shopping, with the couple now having set a date.
Love Island’s Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott have finally set a date for their wedding, over three years since getting engaged
Lucie Donlan has started trying on wedding dresses ahead of marrying fiancé Luke Mabbott, as the couple have exclusively revealed to Mirror that they have set a date for their wedding.
The former Love Island stars have locked in a 2026 wedding, with preparations now in full swing. Beginning wedding dress shopping, Lucie looked stunning this week at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, where she tried on several gowns.
From a floating off-the-shoulder number to a fitted corset dress, Lucie certainly got some ideas for her own big day during the trip.
Joined by her fiancé, Luke was dapper in a pinstripe suit for the occasion as they posed for a number of pictures at the event, which is a trade show and the world’s leading bridal event.
Lucie looked stunning as she tried on bridalwear in Barcelona last week at a wedding event
Luke popped the question to Lucy in December 2021 during a trip to Finland in front of the Northern Lights, revealing the news via Instagram as he wrote: “Mrs Mabbott to be. The northern lights made an appearance for the perfect moment to pop the question. A night we will never forget.”
Article continues below
Back in 2023, Lucie said she had found a wedding dress during an impromptu shopping spree, which Luke was there for. At the time, she said that despite her partner being in the shop with her, he hadn’t seen the dress itself.
However, with Lucie seemingly dress shopping once again, the star has perhaps had a change of heart on the previous gown.
And after the longer engagement, the couple recently said that after a long engagement, they’re finally feeling ready to get wedding prep underway.
She appeared to be browsing for inspiration, despite having previously shared that she found a wedding dress
The couple told Mirror: “We’ve had a long engagement which has been lovely as it has given us time to really think about our dream day. We now know exactly what and I think going on this trip really sparked some more inspiration for our wedding plans.”
Previously, Lucie and Luke had put wedding plans on the back foot to focus on renovating their Cornwall home – which was originally a 1879 Chapel.
READ MORE: ‘This £15 viral hair oil is actually worth the hype – my hair looks fuller in just a month’
Lucie appeared on Love Island in 2019 alongside stars such as Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury – famously having a romance with the latter in the villa before Molly-Mae entered as a bombshell.
Lucie attempted to rekindle things with the boxer later in the series, but he stayed loyal to Molly-Mae, who he went on to welcome daughter Bambi with in 2023 and propose to in August last year. The couple have since split up and rekindled their romance in recent months.
Meanwhile. Luke was on the show a year later in 2020, and was coupled up with Demi Jones. After both failing to find love in the ITV2 villa, Luke and Lucie began their relationship in July 2020.
The Met Gala, one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar, has seen its fair share of scandals over the years – from smoking celebs to a man trapped in a box
Celebs sparked up at the Met Gala(Image: Marc Jacobs/ X)
The Met Gala has seen its fair share of eyebrow-raising antics from the glitterati. With incidents ranging from outraged philanthropists blasting celebs for puffing on cigarettes next to invaluable artworks, to a naked party-crasher caged in perspex; from political slogans scribed on haute couture gowns to that nude illusion dress we all can’t forget – it’s no shocker that this night can churn out some wild stories.
The 2025 bash is all set to roll out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a star-studded roster pegged to attend. Brace yourselves for a sizzling scoop of scandal from this year.
To gear up for what’s in store, we’ve looked at a list of the most gasp-worthy Met Gala controversies from yesteryears – just scroll down and take a trip down the memory lane of Met mayhem.
Russian performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich at 2017’s Met Gala(Image: Lavoisier Clemente)
In the naughty noughties, an unruly fad sprouted at the gala as celebs were snapped lighting up in the loo, shots hitting the internet like wildfire. A notorious picture captures ’50 Shades’ sensation Dakota Johnson mid-smoke, while fashion maverick Marc Jacobs, style setter Char DeFrancesco, and rock royalty Frances Bean Cobain joined in with a ciggie-clad group fiesta, reports the Daily Star.
These rebel poses ruffled feathers among the elite as critics reminded that New York has been a no-smoke zone across eateries, bars, and businesses since 2003. Plus, these A-list offenders were blasted as “disrespectful”, merely a stone’s throw away from masterpieces worth millions.
Article continues below
A source vented to Page Six: “As a donor to the Met, I was so insulted to see all these celebrities smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom.
“Mostly it is disrespectful to the art collection, which needs to be kept 100% smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.”
In a bizarre 2017 incident, two suited men arrived at the Met Gala with a clear plastic box containing Russian performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich, stark naked.
The men dumped the box on the red carpet, leaving security scrambling to cover it with a large white sheet. The box was swiftly removed from the red carpet, with reports suggesting firefighters had to use a saw to crack it open.
Another memorable moment came in 2014 when footage surfaced of Solange allegedly assaulting her sister Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Gala.
A security guard reportedly intervened during the incident, which took place at The Standard High Line. The trigger for the alleged altercation remains unconfirmed, though some speculate it was due to “family tensions”.
Cher, fashion designer Bob Mackie and Cher’s friend Paulette Betts attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Exhibition (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Trailblazer Cher turned heads at the 1974 Met Gala when she rocked up in a diamond-studded, see-through dress with a feather trim and long pointed nails. A sheer, flesh-toned outfit might not raise eyebrows today, but back then, the fashion-forward star left spectators gobsmacked.
The Believe singer pushed boundaries with her daring outfit and is often credited with popularising the “illusion dress” in mainstream fashion.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attends The 2021 Met Gala(Image: Getty Images For The Met Museum/)
In 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, made a statement at the Met Gala with a bold message emblazoned on the back of her gown.
Her Brother Vellies dress featured a striking red slogan that read “TAX THE RICH” across the back of the off-the-shoulder, mermaid-style gown, which was paired with a matching white tulle skirt. AOC completed her look with a matching slogan bag.
Article continues below
READ MORE: ‘Comfortable’ linen trousers from GAP are a must-have for easy, breezy summer style
The Met Gala, one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar, has seen its fair share of scandals over the years – from smoking celebs to a man trapped in a box
Celebs sparked up at the Met Gala(Image: Marc Jacobs/ X)
The Met Gala has seen its fair share of eyebrow-raising antics from the glitterati. With incidents ranging from outraged philanthropists blasting celebs for puffing on cigarettes next to invaluable artworks, to a naked party-crasher caged in perspex; from political slogans scribed on haute couture gowns to that nude illusion dress we all can’t forget – it’s no shocker that this night can churn out some wild stories.
The 2025 bash is all set to roll out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a star-studded roster pegged to attend. Brace yourselves for a sizzling scoop of scandal from this year.
To gear up for what’s in store, we’ve looked at a list of the most gasp-worthy Met Gala controversies from yesteryears – just scroll down and take a trip down the memory lane of Met mayhem.
Russian performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich at 2017’s Met Gala(Image: Lavoisier Clemente)
In the naughty noughties, an unruly fad sprouted at the gala as celebs were snapped lighting up in the loo, shots hitting the internet like wildfire. A notorious picture captures ’50 Shades’ sensation Dakota Johnson mid-smoke, while fashion maverick Marc Jacobs, style setter Char DeFrancesco, and rock royalty Frances Bean Cobain joined in with a ciggie-clad group fiesta, reports the Daily Star.
These rebel poses ruffled feathers among the elite as critics reminded that New York has been a no-smoke zone across eateries, bars, and businesses since 2003. Plus, these A-list offenders were blasted as “disrespectful”, merely a stone’s throw away from masterpieces worth millions.
Article continues below
A source vented to Page Six: “As a donor to the Met, I was so insulted to see all these celebrities smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom.
“Mostly it is disrespectful to the art collection, which needs to be kept 100% smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.”
In a bizarre 2017 incident, two suited men arrived at the Met Gala with a clear plastic box containing Russian performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich, stark naked.
The men dumped the box on the red carpet, leaving security scrambling to cover it with a large white sheet. The box was swiftly removed from the red carpet, with reports suggesting firefighters had to use a saw to crack it open.
Another memorable moment came in 2014 when footage surfaced of Solange allegedly assaulting her sister Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Gala.
A security guard reportedly intervened during the incident, which took place at The Standard High Line. The trigger for the alleged altercation remains unconfirmed, though some speculate it was due to “family tensions”.
Cher, fashion designer Bob Mackie and Cher’s friend Paulette Betts attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Exhibition (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Trailblazer Cher turned heads at the 1974 Met Gala when she rocked up in a diamond-studded, see-through dress with a feather trim and long pointed nails. A sheer, flesh-toned outfit might not raise eyebrows today, but back then, the fashion-forward star left spectators gobsmacked.
The Believe singer pushed boundaries with her daring outfit and is often credited with popularising the “illusion dress” in mainstream fashion.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attends The 2021 Met Gala(Image: Getty Images For The Met Museum/)
In 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, made a statement at the Met Gala with a bold message emblazoned on the back of her gown.
Her Brother Vellies dress featured a striking red slogan that read “TAX THE RICH” across the back of the off-the-shoulder, mermaid-style gown, which was paired with a matching white tulle skirt. AOC completed her look with a matching slogan bag.
Article continues below
READ MORE: ‘Comfortable’ linen trousers from GAP are a must-have for easy, breezy summer style
