March was a busy month for officers in the north of the city who carried out searches in over 20 properties

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The PSNI have issued a warning to drug dealers after a proactive month saw officers hit 23 addresses in North Belfast, in targeted efforts against organised crime.

Officers said addresses were searched in the Newlodge, Shankill, Ardoyne, Ballysillan, Antrim Road and Cliftonville areas as part of ongoing efforts to tackle drug dealing across North Belfast.

The force released several images from one of the policing operations carried out in March.

A police spokesperson said, “If you are involved in drug dealing within our communities, be aware that we will take action.

“We remain committed to identifying, disrupting, and arresting those involved in criminal activity.

“If you have concerns about drug-related activity, please contact us on 101, report online here, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

President Trump has unleashed a blistering assault on Pope Leo after the pontiff called for world peace, insisting he must not ‘criticise the President’ and demanding he ‘use common sense’ and ‘stop catering to the radical left’

President Trump has launched an extraordinary attack on the Pope, demanding he must not “criticise the President”.

The outburst was posted on his social media platform, accusing the Pope of being “weak on crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”

The US President has escalated his offensive against the Catholic Church, bringing up the 2020 Covid pandemic during which he claims priests were threatened with arrest for holding church services.

In his continued condemnation, Trump took a personal swipe at Pope Leo, declaring, “I like his brother Louis much better”.

He said: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country.

“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do…

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“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”

The criticism comes after the Pope’s comments during a prayer service in Vatican City on Saturday.

He urged world leaders to end hostilities and appealed for peace. Addressing an evening peace vigil at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, the first US-born pope made a direct appeal to global leaders to restart discussions.

Leading the service, he stated: “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life.”

While the Iran-US conflict was not specifically mentioned, the remarks were delivered as talks between the two nations were taking place in Pakistan.

Leo also warned against what he described as “that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive”.

Chief executive Nicola Frampton said: “We’re seeing that for certain occasions, whether that’s a date night or a relaxed evening in, people are increasingly looking for something that feels a bit more like a restaurant experience at home, and this range allows us to tap into those moments.”

About 100 passengers missed their Manchester flight after facing three-hour border control queues at Milan Linate airport, with many reportedly vomiting and passing out in the heat

easyJet passengers were ‘close to passing out’ after being left in sweltering conditions as their flight departed to Manchester without them amid border control chaos.

Around 100 people have been left stranded in Milan on Sunday, April 12 after enduring queues of up to three hours at Milan’s Linate airport due to new border control checks.

As well as concerns over how to get home, many passengers were left vomiting and passing out due to the heat, according to the BBC.

easyJet said it was working to support passengers but that the situation was “outside of our control”.

Lengthy queues formed at the international airport causing chaos, reports the Mirror.

Pictures and videos shared online showed scenes of chaos as lengthy queues formed at the international airport.

The turmoil follows the UK government updating its guidance to people travelling to the European Schengen area, meaning they may have to register biometric details upon arrival.

The implementation of the EU entry and exit system (EES) is an electronic system that replaces the physical stamping of passports when going through boarding control.

The airline said that it held the aircraft for almost an hour extra, but eventually had to depart due to crew working hours.

Passengers have been left disappointed after arriving at the airport in plenty of time and now facing significant delays to return home.

Emily Benn, from Grimsby, was travelling with five others on the 11am flight. Her rebooked flight will now arrive at Gatwick instead of Manchester, resulting in a £400 taxi fare upon landing.

She told the M.E.N: “We got to the airport at 8am and our flight was due to leave Milan Linate at 11am. As soon as our gate came on the board, we went straight to it and there was already a huge queue.

“The queue was for three separate flights, and there were hundreds of passengers all trying to get through. The new EES wasn’t working, so we all had to be checked by two people on passport control.

“It got to 11:20am and we were told the flight had left without us. They put us all on a shuttle bus and sent us back to the arrivals area, where we had to go back to the easyJet desk.

“We were told to rebook flights, so have booked to Gatwick and will then pay £400 for a taxi back to Manchester as that’s where our car is parked. We are a party of five adults and one child, who is due to have spinal surgery in a few days.”

Fellow passengers described the ordeal as a ‘nightmare’ on social media. One posted: “What a nightmare!

“You abandoned me and 122 other passengers in Milan. You flew to Manchester with 34 onboard.

“We queued for three hours and all the time the flight info remained at ‘boarding’ we were then told the delayed flight had left.” An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are aware that some passengers departing from Milan Linate today experienced longer than usual waiting times at passport control and we advised customers due to fly to allow additional time to make their way through the airport.

“We held flight EJU5420 from Milan to Manchester for nearly an hour to give passengers extra time but it had to then depart due to crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours. Customers who missed the flight have been offered a free flight transfer.

“We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers. While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

About 100 people missed their Manchester flight and were left stranded in the heat at the international airport

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easyJet passengers were ‘close to passing out’ after being left in sweltering conditions as their Manchester-bound flight departed without them amid border control chaos.

Approximately 100 people were left stranded in Milan on Sunday, April 12 following queues of up to three hours at Milan’s Linate airport caused by new border control checks.

Beyond worries about getting home, numerous passengers were reportedly vomiting and fainting due to the heat, according to the BBC.

easyJet stated it was working to assist passengers but that the circumstances were “outside of our control”.

Massive queues developed at the international airport causing chaos, reports the Mirror.

Images and footage posted online captured scenes of chaos as extensive queues built up at the international airport.

The disruption follows the UK government’s updated guidance for travellers to the European Schengen area, meaning they may need to register biometric information upon arrival.

The introduction of the EU entry and exit system (EES) is a digital system that supersedes the physical stamping of passports during boarding control.

The carrier explained that it held the aircraft for nearly an hour beyond schedule, but ultimately had to take off due to crew working time regulations.

Passengers have expressed frustration after arriving at the airport with ample time, only to now face significant delays getting home.

Emily Benn, from Grimsby, was travelling with five others on the 11am flight. Her replacement flight will now land at Gatwick instead of Manchester, leaving her facing a £400 taxi fare upon arrival.

She told the M.E.N: “We got to the airport at 8am and our flight was due to leave Milan Linate at 11am. As soon as our gate came on the board, we went straight to it and there was already a huge queue.

“The queue was for three separate flights, and there were hundreds of passengers all trying to get through. The new EES wasn’t working, so we all had to be checked by two people on passport control.

“It got to 11:20am and we were told the flight had left without us. They put us all on a shuttle bus and sent us back to the arrivals area, where we had to go back to the easyJet desk.

“We were told to rebook flights, so have booked to Gatwick and will then pay £400 for a taxi back to Manchester as that’s where our car is parked. We are a party of five adults and one child, who is due to have spinal surgery in a few days.”

Fellow passengers took to social media to describe the ordeal as a ‘nightmare’. One user posted: “What a nightmare!

“You abandoned me and 122 other passengers in Milan. You flew to Manchester with 34 onboard.

“We queued for three hours and all the time the flight info remained at ‘boarding’ we were then told the delayed flight had left.” An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are aware that some passengers departing from Milan Linate today experienced longer than usual waiting times at passport control and we advised customers due to fly to allow additional time to make their way through the airport.

“We held flight EJU5420 from Milan to Manchester for nearly an hour to give passengers extra time but it had to then depart due to crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours. Customers who missed the flight have been offered a free flight transfer.

“We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers. While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

A range of comments have been made on social media to say the Cottage Inn in Haxby closed last month.

The press phoned the pub at 115 the Village on Friday but received no response.

This follows the Blacksmith Arms in Huntington also closing in recent weeks due to the the retirement of longstanding landlord Don Mattless after 14 years.

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Its operator Stonegate Pub Partners, who also own the Cottage Inn, is also seeking new tenants for the Blacksmith Arms.

The Cottage Inn was built in the 1800s but did not become a pub until 1980.

It gained a good reputation for its food, but in recent months, online reviews appear to have slipped somewhat.

And the pub recently received a one-star rating for food hygiene, from City of York Council, as reported by the Press earlier this year.

Stonegate Group Pub Partners is listing the property, seeking a fixed term tenancy.

The Stonegate website describe the offer as a ‘new deal’, with a guide rent of £1,000 a week and a forecast annual turnover of £627,015.

The company said: “The Cottage is a great opportunity to run a well-established drinking, food, and function venue in Haxby on the outskirts of York.

“The area is very well populated with discerning diners, brand seekers and some older affluent groups.

The Cottage Inn, Haxby (Image: Pic supplied)

“The pub currently benefits from a good level of trade, but there is room to grow food sales still further and we are seeking the right publican who can do this. “

The pubco also commented: “Partnering with Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub company, makes that dream a reality.

“We offer the best of both worlds: self-employment with the unwavering support of a dedicated team, from regional managers to a network of experienced publicans in your region.

“From free BII membership to unlock industry insights, to a diverse portfolio offering the perfect pub for your vision, Stonegate empowers you to maximize endless profit opportunities. Plus, our flexible tenancy agreements ensure you have the control you need to succeed.”

Stonegate currently advertises a range of tenancy opportunities in the York area within its extensive portfolio.

They include Flares York, at 6 Tanner Row; Punchbowl York at 134 Lowther Street; The Beagle Acomb at 169 Foxwood Lane; Red Lion at Upper Poppleton; The Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis, which is ‘new to offer’; The Ship Inn at Strensall, which it says is ‘under offer’; The Oddfellows Arms at Wilberfoss; The Cross Keys Inn at Pocklington; The Bay Horse Hotel at Goldsborough; The Old Royal Oak at Knaresborough, which is ‘under offer’; the Castle Inn at Knaresborough, which has ‘free of tie’ available; the Navigation Inn at Ripon; The Mowbray Arms at Thirsk; and the White Horse at Ripon.

The U.S. military said Sunday that it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of five people and leaving one survivor, as the Trump administration pursues its campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America while preparing a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The attacks on Saturday bring the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 168 since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.

As with most of the military’s statements on the dozens of strikes in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. Videos posted on X showed small boats moving across the water before they each were engulfed in a bright explosion.

U.S. Southern Command stated on X that it notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the search-and-rescue system for the survivor. The Coast Guard confirmed it was coordinating the search and said updates would be provided when available.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and fatal overdoses claiming American lives. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

Critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the U.S. over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

The boat strikes have continued in Latin America even as the U.S. military has focused on operations in the Middle East, where the U.S. was engaged in a war with Iran for several weeks.

Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. Trump wants to weaken Iran’s key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the crucial waterway through which 20% of global oil normally passes. U.S. Central Command said the blockade would involve Iranian ports.

Bethesda has once again failed to send out review copies of Starfield, with the PS5 version coming under fire from fans unhappy with its performance.

As you might have guessed, we were not sent review copies of Starfield on PlayStation 5, when it launched on Tuesday last week. Bethesda – which has never been keen on enabling reviews at the best of times – refused to send out copies of the Xbox and PC versions to certain UK outlets, including Eurogamer and The Guardian, when the game first came out in 2023.

Judging by the lack of reviews on Metacritic at the moment, we weren’t the only ones they left out this time either and, as ever, it’s easy to guess why, especially given Bethesda’s poor track record when it comes to bugs and glitches.

The original versions of Starfield were actually quite good in that respect, with generally decent performance, but fans have found that the PlayStation 5 version is considerably worse, with serious problems with bugs and crashes.

Fans have congregated in a Reddit thread entitled ‘Base PS5 crashing getting out of hand, it’s unplayable’, where the original post from ShogunRaw claims that, ‘I’m getting crashes every two minutes. Tried everything. Delete saves. Tried performance 30 and 60 fps. Delete the game and redownload it. And it’s still happening.’

‘This is not acceptable. They should refund us!’, they add, which seems to be a common sentiment amongst other players.

‘PS5 Pro user. Visuals Mode 60fps. All autosaves off. Tested on vanilla [PlayStation 5] and light LO [sic] nothing of which touches weather, environments or points of interest,’ writes colinrabb.

‘Consistent crashing. Mostly when scanning and exploring. I haven’t even left Kreet yet. When I say crashing it’s more a freeze. It’s not crashing to home screen. The game freezes and forces you to quit game. Hotfix needed ASAP. Incredibly disappointing but sadly totally unsurprising.’

‘Mine crashes straight to dashboard. I’ve turned off all I’ve read to turn off. I’ve started a new save. Don’t it all [sic]. Currently unplayable. Which really sucks,’ says Alpha_Omega_Grave in reply.

The term ‘unplayable’ comes up a lot, with Left_Worldliness6174 claiming that, ‘Playing on PS5 Pro, constant freezing and crashing while building ship. Also, while scanning planets. Since launch had over 20 freezes and crashes. Unplayable.’

‘I must stress, I own multiple PlayStation 4/5 games and have never ever experienced crashes or freezes at all on either of my PlayStation 5 consoles,’ writes Jumpy-Web6641. ‘I agree that this is definitely a bug or optimisation issue. I appreciate this is a big game, but not good practice in my opinion.’

‘I suggest you submit a ticket via Bethesda support,’ they add helpfully.

One reason why the PlayStation 5 version might be faring worse than the originals is that it launched alongside significant new DLC for the game, which combined with the new version may have created a patchwork of unanticipated problems.

The counter to all this is that the PlayStation Store currently has the game on a 4.29/5 score. Although we’ve failed to find any game that has a particularly low score, with even the abominable Code Violet sitting on an above average 2.84.

Whether that means the problems aren’t as widespread as Reddit makes it seem, or PlayStation Store patrons are just naturally generous with their reviews, isn’t clear.

Another point is that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered suffered from similar complaints and while it wasn’t as bad as Starfield seems to be on PlayStation 5, the game still went on to sell millions, with little acknowledgement from Bethesda that there was ever a problem.

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Solicitor Marcus Johnstone says paedophiles are escaping justice

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Britain’s criminal justice system is “largely broken” and serious offences are not being properly punished, a top solicitor has warned. Marcus Johnstone, a defence lawyer who has represented grooming gang members, that the public would be shocked by the lack of consistency in the courts.

“We actually had a case that came to us a while back where asked to advise a family who wanted to appeal their son’s rape conviction,” the managing director at PCD Solicitors said. “He received a two-year prison sentence and they felt it was too harsh. Most people will be staggered that someone can commit the most serious sexual offence and receive a two-year prison sentence [while you] can get two and a half years for writing a naughty tweet.”

“[But] those problems [are] endemic in the system. I think a lot of the institutions in Britain are broken. It’s sad to say, but I think that the criminal justice system is largely broken. The police force, prison, probation, Social services, child services, schools, it’s all largely broken.

“And it’s very difficult to figure out how you solve these problems when all of them are connected together. Kids are growing up through a broken system, and come out broken. Then we want to punish them when they do something wrong. People need to be punished if they’ve done something wrong, but if you don’t fix the broken system it’s going to carry on forever.”

The sex crimes specialist told the Daily Express that he was concerned that one of the consequences of the broken system had been a skyrocketing caseload of people committing vile acts against the most vulnerable.

“What I’m seeing is month on month an ever-increasing number of predominantly men, committing and wanting to commit crimes against children. Why is that? I don’t know. Has that always been there? Possibly. But before the internet, they didn’t have access [to children]. The [technology] now is making it easier and easier, it’s facilitating the crime.”

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The solicitor conceded there was no simple answer for the police to tackle the tidal wave of offenders operating across national borders.

“You could couble the size of [the police units dealing with this but] they would simply catch double the number of criminals. And then what do you do with them? Well, we haven’t got prison places. [A big problem is that] we don’t send them to prison anyway. [Another idea is to] try to work out some system where you infiltrate the system.

“[But again] I know cases of people who have been buying and selling the most severe child abuse material for 20 years, and yet it’s taken 20 years for them to get caught. And you know what happens? That person gets prosecuted and probably won’t go to prison.”

The North Tyneside spot, popular with swimmers, kayakers and padel boarders, was named in a satirical list of brown flag ‘winners’ last year. The so-called awards by travel site Holiday Park Guru were designed to highlight beaches with bad water quality.

The Environment Agency has advised against swimming at Cullercoats Bay since 2017 and has labelled the bathing water classification as “poor”.

North Tyneside Council said efforts to track down the problem have widened over the past year.

Sam Dand, director of environment, said: “Since 2017, we have worked closely with Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency to address water quality issues at Cullercoats.

“The partnership has carried out a considerable amount of work on both public and privately-owned land.

“That work has broadened in the last 12 months as Northumbrian Water seeks to pinpoint the source of the contamination.”

Cullercoats entered the so-called ‘top of the plops’ chart for a second time last year.

Mr Dand said: “We are extremely proud of our internationally recognised coastline and beaches, including Cullercoats, which continues to be a popular destination for residents and visitors.

“Cullercoats remains a vibrant and welcoming beach, and we will continue working with our partners until the water quality matches our aspirations.”

In 2017, North Tyneside Council, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water carried out a joint investigation into the decline and identified sewage as a major contributing factor.

Northumbrian Water said a later bathing water study recommended diverting contaminated groundwater from a disused council culvert into the combined sewer network, with a new drainage pipe planned for John Street.