East Asia

Users of Sina Weibo, the popular micro-blogging site, speculate about the thousands of dead pigs found floating in the Huangpo River. For one inspired user, the pigs died for "Refusing to be over-fed with antibiotics" or for "Refusing to inhale the polluted air".

Final act before the Conclave this afternoon. In his homily the Cardinal dean, Sodano, said that " each of us must work to build up the unity of the Church, so that “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.' He then recalled the words Benedict XVI: there is no action more beneficial, so charitable towards others who break the bread of the Word of God, make him share the Good News of the Gospel. Prayers that the future Pope will continue the work of his predecessors to tirelessly promote justice and peace.

After entering the Sistine Chapel in procession, the 115 cardinal electors swore an oath on the Gospels before starting to vote. Tomorrow, two ballots are planned in the morning, and two in the afternoon. To be elected, the new pope must get two thirds of the votes, i.e. 77 votes. Fumate are expected around 12 noon and 7 pm. However, if a pope is elected in the first ballot of the morning or the afternoon, the white fumata could be anticipated to 10.30-11 am and 17.30-18 pm.

The authorities claim there is no danger of pollution. The carcasses were recovered in the Huangpu River. Originally from Zhejiang province. Residents complain that the local government is about actual extent of environmental damage.

As planned, joint South Korean-US military exercise began this morning. An angry North cuts hotline and threatens nuclear war.

Xinhua cites study by China's top internet security agency, claims that 2,196 control servers in the United States "controlled" 1.29 million host computers in China. The battle for control of the Internet continues.

Sichuan Province, three monks and two lay people demanded the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Eighteen arrests in Nepal. Yesterday was the 54th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against Chinese rule.

Some 90 members of the support staff were sworn to secrecy this afternoon. Missa pro eligendo pontifice will take place tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, a solemn procession will take the cardinal electors from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel where they will be sworn in. The extra omnes will follow. This morning, during the tenth and last general congregation, cardinals talked about the Vatican bank.

The country aims to rid itself of polluting energy sources, but wind and solar power are not enough to meet needs. And nuclear energy, two years from Fukushima, terrifies the population that wants a referendum to decide on the issue.

The activist Yang Kuang attempted to visit Liu Xia and two cameramen wanted to film the encounter. A group of unidentified men accosted them and savagely beat them, then took the activist away in a police car. The woman is under house arrest since her husband won the Nobel Peace Prize (2010).

The vast majority decided to start Tuesday rejecting conspiracy theories of divisions among the cardinals. Conclave schedule released. Father Lombardi believes the Conclave will not be long.

The regime responds to new United Nations sanctions with a threat of "total war" and warns "If the U.S. and the South Korea do not stop military exercises, as of Monday it will be open conflict." "Emergency hotline" between the two countries also shutdown.