With the death of Pope Francis, the world loses not only a church leader but also a moral compass
Covid-19 and the rise of the conspiracy movement
Years of government lies and misinformation combined with profit-driven internet algorithms and a growing public alienation from ‘official’ politics have fuelled a rise in conspiracy theories, writes JOE GILL

THOUSANDS gathered in Trafalgar Square in August to listen to conspiracy guru David Icke and fellow Covid-19 denier Piers Corbyn rail against the “plandemic.”
They returned en masse last month, as did the far-right groups who are infiltrating these events.
Such large gatherings amid a global pandemic can no longer be dismissed as the rantings of just a few cranks.
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