International

An 11th century medieval church was discovered in Naples because it was being looted by a thief

A police operation deployed following the investigation of a businessman who had carried out a series of excavations in the basement of the historic center of Naples to steal archaeological pieces has allowed the discovery of an eleventh century church, of which a semicircular apse with frescoes in good condition can currently be seen.

The Carabineros Cultural Heritage Protection Command (militarized police) reported this Friday that the Neapolitan businessman had dedicated himself to excavating under a premises owned by him in the historic center to steal the archaeological pieces.

During the operation, about 10,000 fragments of ceramics from the Roman and medieval era were seized, and 453 intact archaeological objects from the Roman era, including amphorae, lamps, terracotta pipes and coins from the time.

An “exceptional” discovery

The subsequent inspection of the Carabineros allowed the discovery of the Church, which is located eight meters below the street level.

Currently, from it, you can see a semicircular apse in which you can see the iconography of Christ on the throne and an inscription, as well as the pavement of marble slabs.

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“The exceptional nature of the discovery returns to the public heritage the remains of a rare example of medieval art, whose decoration has similarities with the nearby Sacellum de San Aspreno,” the Carabineros said in a statement.

Likewise, numerous premises owned by the businessman in the historic center of Naples were inspected and other underground tunnels were seized that were also used for clandestine excavations.

They were tunnels belonging to the foundations of an 18th century palace, cataloged as a cultural property of particular historical interest.

International

Iran Reports 201 Dead, 747 Injured After U.S. and Israeli Strikes

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported Sunday night (local time) that at least 201 people were killed and 747 injured following attacks carried out by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic.

A spokesperson for the humanitarian organization said more than 220 rescue teams have been deployed across affected areas and that relief operations are continuing without interruption. The official highlighted the difficulty of treating the large number of wounded and the urgent need for additional resources in impacted provinces.

Out of Iran’s 31 provinces, 24 have reported damage, according to a statement carried by the Isna news agency. This marks the first overall casualty toll released by Iranian state-affiliated media since the launch of the offensive.

Among the dead are 85 schoolgirls from a school in the southern city of Minab, according to the country’s judiciary. “The number of martyrs at the Minab girls’ school has risen to 85,” the local prosecutor’s office said, as quoted by the judiciary’s website, Mizan Online.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian described the attack as a “savagery” that “constitutes a new black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors.”

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Meanwhile, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely amid concerns about possible further reprisals and the broader impact on Middle East stability, energy markets, and global security.

AFP noted that it was unable to independently verify the casualty figures or the circumstances surrounding the events.

International

Pope Leo XIV Urges End to ‘Spiral of Violence’ in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the “spiral of violence” in the Middle East, following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran and subsequent retaliatory bombardments in the region.

“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I urge the parties involved to assume their moral responsibility and stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” the pontiff told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Speaking during the Angelus prayer, the U.S.-born pope said stability and peace cannot be achieved through threats or weapons. “Stability and peace are not built with reciprocal threats or with arms that sow destruction, suffering and death, but only through reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue,” he declared.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics also called for diplomacy to “regain its role” amid escalating tensions.

In addition, the pope urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to urgently resume dialogue after several days of clashes between the two countries.

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International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.