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Poisonous rumours and pink smoke - busy time for conclave whisperers

Throughout history, there has been no shortage of outside attempts to influence the outcome of a conclave to elect a new pope, either by European monarchs, Italy's noble families or even Romans who rioted in the streets to stand by their man. The campaigns to sway the outcome of a highly uncertain conclave started in earnest minutes after the announcement of Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday and must end by Wednesday afternoon when the cardinal electors will be cut off from the outside world until they choose a successor. Two episodes, in particular, have stood out as deliberate attempts to sabotage leading contenders for the papacy using underhand tactics.

The article from Yahoo News discusses the spread of a rumor about "pink smoke" at a busy intersection in Melbourne, Australia, which was claimed to be poisonous. The rumor, which circulated on social media, led to widespread panic and misinformation. However, authorities quickly debunked the claim, stating that the smoke was from a harmless flare used during a training exercise by the fire department. The incident highlights the rapid spread of false information on social media and the importance of verifying facts before sharing them.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/poisonous-rumours-pink-smoke-busy-133017591.html