China nominates Dragon Boat Festival as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

China has submitted an application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization to nominate the Dragon Boat Festival as an intangible cultural heritage.

The Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwu, falls on May 5 on the Chinese lunar calendar. This year's Duanwu falls on Thursday.

It is generally believed the day is to remember Qu Yuan, one of the greatest ancient Chinese poets who drowned himself to protest the corrupt court.

The Dragon Boast Festival became a public holiday in 2008, as the government wishes to protect the nation's tradition amid economic modernization.

East Asian economy to be fueled by China's domestic demand recovery: UN report

A United Nations report says China is expected to lead the East Asia region to an economic growth rate of 5.6 percent in 2010.

The report says recovery of domestic demand in China fueled by the massive fiscal stimulus package will aid in the economic growth in East Asia.

The report also notes that China's recovery will further depend on recovery in developed economies such as the U.S.

U.S. committed to defending South Korea, Japan; Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reiterated that the United States will defend South Korea and Japan from threats from North Korea.

"I want to underscore the commitments that the United States has and intends always to honour for the defence of South Korea and Japan. That is part of our alliance obligation which we take very seriously."

Clinton says by conducting another nuclear test, Pyongyang is behaving in a "provocative and belligerent" manner toward its neighbours.

Meanwhile, Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin says the goal of the UN Security Council action on Pyongyang's lastest nuclear test is "to have the eventual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Three arrested for deadly blast in Pakistan

Police in Pakistan have arrested three suspects for the Wednesday morning blast that left 24 dead and another 250 wounded in the eastern city of Lahore.

The government has blamed Taliban fighters for the suicide car bomb attack that occurred near police headquarters and the high court in one of the city's busiest areas.

The blast comes amid a military offensive against the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat valley.

Dengue fever deaths reach 53 in Brazilian state

The death toll from dengue fever has reached 53 in Brazil's northeastern Bahia state this year.

The state's Health Secretariat says it's the highest death toll since it became mandatory to report dengue cases in 1995. Over half of the dead were under the age of 15.

Barcelona win Champions League Final

And finally, Barcelona football fans have flooded the streets to celebrate their team's 2-nil victory over reigning champions Manchester United in the final of the Champions League in Rome.

Samuel Eto'o scored Barcelona's first goal in the 15th minute, and Lionel Messi added the 2nd goal at the 70th minute mark.