After independence, the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty was gradually reduced, but doubts persisted over whether legal procedures were sufficient to prevent an innocent person from being executed.

NEWYORKER: Trial by Fire

How can Deloitte maintain its independence at JPMorgan Chase given the number of parties suing its former audit client Bear Stearns?

FORBES: New York Attorney General Sues JP Morgan And Raises Question Of What The "Auditor" Knew

The Very Large Array (VLA) is a bank of radio telescopes in New Mexico, US, and has appeared in a number of films including Contact and Independence Day.

BBC: Very Large Array telescope in public call for new name

The third selling point: Hydrogen could, in principle, deliver energy independence to every nation because it can be derived using any number of sources-including oil, natural gas, nuclear fission, coal, hydroelectric power and wind.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

Number one, we are going to have North American energy independence.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

It is also designed to improve women's experiences of maternity services, increase the number of people who can access an NHS dentist and help older people recover independence after illness.

BBC: NHS Outcomes Framework: Goals to focus on patient surveys

Meanwhile there are a number of local battles with smaller parties like the Greens and the anti-EU UK Independence Party fighting hard to capitalise on disillusion with the big three parties.

BBC: Analysis