---
title: "Vatican Bank publishes accounts for the first time, and other stories – our morning round-up"
date: "2013-10-02T09:56:23+01:00"
modified: "2013-10-02T09:56:23+01:00"
url: "https://newhumanist.org.uk/2013/10/02/vatican-bank-publishes-accounts-for-the-first-time-and-other-stories-our-morning-round-up/"
post_id: 5956
categories: ["Uncategorised"]
---

# Vatican Bank publishes accounts for the first time, and other stories – our morning round-up

[Vatican bank publishes accounts for the first time in history](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10347938/Vatican-bank-publishes-accounts-for-the-first-time.html)

In the latest attempt of Pope Francis to increase Vatican’s accountability, the Bank revealed that its earnings for 2012 were €86.6m (£72.3m) – more than four times higher than in 2011. (Telegraph)

[Russian authorities charge 2 activists with piracy](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/02/us-russia-greenpeace-idUSBRE99107520131002)

A Brazilian crew member and a British videographer face up to 15 years in prison over a protest against Arctic oil drilling at a platform owned by state-controlled energy company Gazprom, Greenpeace says. 28 activists are still waiting charges in custody. (Reuters)

[Fresh violence in Rakhine state as Burma leader visits](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24354159)

President Thein Sein visits Rakhine state amid a a new outbreak of violence between Buddhists and Muslims. (BBC)

“[Climate refugee” fighting to stay in New Zealand](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11133700)

A man from Kiribati, one of the lowest-lying nations on Earth, is trying to convince New Zealand judges that he’s a refugee suffering not from persecution, but from climate change. (New Zealand Herald)

[New Fossils Push the Origin of Flowering Plants Back by 100 Million Years](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131001191811.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29)

240-million-year-old pollen grains foound in Switzerland are evidence that flowering plants evolved 100 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a new study. (Science Daily)