Black smoke emerged from the chimney in the Vatican earlier, indicating no new pope has been elected yet

Many people have cleared out from St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, as there was several hours to wait before the third vote of the day is due.

Before the crowds eased, people were gathered in the hundreds excitedly awaiting the smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney:

We weren’t the only ones with our eyes glued to a feed of the Sistine Chapel chimney [BBC]

It was seemingly a moment of joy and anticipation for many of the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square [BBC]

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to appoint Mrs. A. K. Subhashini Indika Kumari Liyanage, an officer in the special grade in Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service and currently serving in a post of Commissioner in the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka to the  post of Commissioner General of Examinations with immediate effect.

The Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mr. Y. G. Gnanathilake, the special grade officer in Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service to the post of Surveyor General with immediate effect.