Voting in the controversial referendum in Crimea has come to a conclusion.

Exit polling is suggesting that over 95 percent have voted to leave Ukraine and rejoin Russia.

The final results of the vote are expected to come out within the next few hours.

Authorities in Crimea launched the referendum after forces loyal to Russia took control of a number of major institutions in the fallout from the ouster of Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The European Union and the United States have announced they will not accept the outcome of the referendum.

Russia has said it will respect the results of the vote.

 

More countries involved in Malaysia Airlines search

Malaysian authorities now say 25 nations are now involved in the official search for flight MH370.

The involvement in the additional countries over the weekend comes following word from Malaysian authorities the missing plane had its radar and transponder intentionally turned off shortly after taking off 9-days ago.

Over the weekend, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed the plane turned around after the radar and transponder were shut down, then turned west back over Malaysia before disappearing.

As such, authorities have now changed the search grid to either a southwest or northwest track, meaning the search for the missing jetliner is being extended into the southern Indian Ocean and along a track heading into Central Asia.

The Malaysia Airlines flight, with 239 passangers and crew onboard, disappeared around an hour after take-off on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

154 of those on the flight are Chinese.

 

China unveils landmark urbanization plan

The central authorities here in China have unveiled this country's first-ever national-level urbanization roadmap.

The new document has placed a focus on "human-centered and environmentally friendly" development.

The National New-type Urbanization Plan contends urbanization serves as a strong engine for sustainable and healthy economic growth.

The latest government figures show the urbanization ratio in China current sits at 53.7-percent, far lower than the 80-percent average of developed countries.

The new plan has set a target of creating an urbanization ratio of 60 percent by 2020, with 45 percent of the population holding an urban hukou.

 

 7.0-magnitude quake hits 68km west of Iquique, Chile -- USGS

A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of Chile.

The 7.0-magnitude quake hit in the ocean about 70-kilometers to the northwest of the port city of Iquique.

The quake was strong enough to be felt across the city of 180-thousand.

No word yet on damage or injuries.

The city of Iquique was hammered by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in 2005 which injured over a hundred people and left 11-dead.

 

Syria launches missiles into Lebanon's border town

The Syrian air force has launched an air assault into Lebanese territory.

It's being reported Syrian jets have launched several air-to-ground missiles at a mountain pass which is known to be a transit point for smugglers and an escape route for Syrian rebel forces.

The results of the Syrian airforce raid remains unclear.

The area where the assault took place is also home to around 50-thousand Syrian refugees.

Meanwhile, Turkey has scrambled a pair of jets to intercept a pair of Syrian fighter jets near its borders.

No shots were fired, as the Syrian jets turned away just over two miles away from the Turkish border.

 

North Korea launches 25 more short-range missiles

North Korean forces have launched 25 more short-range missiles off the country's east coast.

The launch of the missiles comes 12-days after Pyongyang fired off a number of other projectiles into the open waters off the country's east coast.

South Korean authorities say they believe the missles launched early last night are so-called FROG missiles with a range of around 70-kilometers.

The short-range missiles were introduced to North Korea from the Soviet Union in the 1960's.

The launch of the missiles is thought to be protest against the ongoing joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.

The annual war-games are scheduled to last for another month.

 

Palestinians call on Abbas not to surrender to Obama's pressure

A number of Palestinian factions are calling on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to maintain his resolve in his meeting later on this Monday with US President Barack Obama at the White House.

A number of leading Palestinian groups, including Hamas which controls the West Bank, are pleading with Abbas not to surrender to any pressure Obama may put on him when it comes to any extension of the current peace talks.

The current window for negotiations, established by the US-side in brokering the current round of peace talks, is set to expire at the end of April.

 

Over 100,000 celebrate Irish St Patrick's Day in London

Over 100-thousand people have turned out in London on Sunday for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Organized by the Mayor's office and local Irish businesses, the parade from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square has seen some 90-different groups taking part.

Various other celebrations have also taken place in London to mark the Irish holiday.

March 17th has been officially recognized as the day marking the death of the patron Saint of Ireland, Patrick.

The event is celebrated by the Irish populations around the world.

The Irish embassy here in Beijing holds an annual ball which draws hundreds of revelers every year.