---
title: "Former Pope denies child abuse cover-up, and other stories – our morning round-up"
date: "2013-09-25T10:08:19+01:00"
modified: "2013-09-25T10:08:19+01:00"
url: "https://newhumanist.org.uk/2013/09/25/former-pope-denies-child-abuse-cover-up-and-other-stories-our-morning-round-up/"
post_id: 5938
categories: ["Uncategorised"]
---

# Former Pope denies child abuse cover-up, and other stories – our morning round-up

[Former Pope, Benedict XVI, denies abuse cover-up](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24222951)

In a letter to a prominent Italian atheist, the ex-Pope says he never tried to cover up child sex abuse by priests. (BBC)

[Iran’s new President addresses the UN](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/24/iran-president-hassan-rouhani-un-speech)

Hassan Rouhani says the US and Iran “can arrive at a framework to manage our differences.” However, a meeting between Rouhani and President Obama does not take place. (Guardian)

[New study pushes back timeline for first significant human population expansion](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130924174338.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29)

Researchers find that the first significant expansion of human populations appears to be much older than the emergence of farming and herding, dating back to the Paleolithic (60,000-80,000 years ago) rather than Neolithic age. (ScienceDaily)

[Quarter of young British people ‘do not trust Muslims’](http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/24204742)

Radio 1 Newsbeat poll interviewed 1,000 18-24-year-olds, out of whom 28% said Britain would be better off with fewer Muslims, and 44% said Muslims did not share the same values as the rest of the population. (BBC)

[Russia to charge Greenpeace activists with piracy](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-accuses-greenpeace-activists-on-seized-ship-of-piracy-8836461.html)

Protesters who tried to board a state-owned offshore drilling platform in the Arctic on Tuesday, now face a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. (Independent)