Trump lambastes pope over Iran war

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday night, saying the first American pope should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”

It was an extraordinary broadside against the global leader of the Catholic Church, exacerbating a feud that began over the war in Iran.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote on social media. He also wrote that “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

A short time later, speaking to reporters after Air Force One landed outside Washington from Florida, Trump said, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”

“He’s a very liberal person,” Trump said of Leo, before adding, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”

Russia, Ukraine accused of violations

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire as Orthodox Christians gathered to celebrate the holiday

. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. on Saturday until the end of Sunday.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations including assaults, shelling and small drone launches. Russia’s Defense Ministry also said Sunday it had recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces.

Fuel-tax cut seeks to ward off protests

LONDON — Irish Prime Minister Michel Martin said his government will offer new fuel tax cuts to address protests over soaring fuel costs.

He criticized the tactics of farmers and truckers who blocked access to the nation’s only oil refinery and several depots. The package, worth nearly $600 million, aims to ease cost-of-living pressures since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran cut off a major route for global oil supplies.

Protests that began on Tuesday have caused chaos, with blockades preventing fuel deliveries. Police began breaking up the protests on Saturday. The relief measure needs parliamentary approval. It’s unclear if the proposal will quell the uprisings.

23-story hotel comes tumbling down

MIAMI — A hotel at one of Miami’s most exclusive locations has been demolished to make way for something even bigger. Demolition experts conducted the controlled implosion Sunday of the former Mandarin Oriental, Miami on Brickell Key. The human-made island is at the mouth of the Miami River, across from downtown. Officials say it was the largest implosion for Miami in more than a decade. The 23-story building opened 25 years ago. It collapsed in less than 20 seconds following the blasts. According to Swire Properties, the demolition will make way for the groundbreaking of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a two-tower hotel and residential community.

The Associated Press