Polling stations have closed in Ukraine’s self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk after a referendum on independence from the Kiev government. The turnout reached over 70 percent, according to organizers of the poll. The last polling stations in Lugansk and Donetsk regions wrapped up their work at 23:00 local time (20:00 GMT). There is no minimum voter turnout required for... 

People in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have declared independence from Kiev following a same move by pro-Russians in Donetsk. Protesters announced on Monday the formation of the Independent People’s Republic of Kharkiv outside the regional administration building. They also held their own election of what they call national lawmakers. Moreover, the demonstrators clashed with pro-Ukraine groups... 

Thousands of people celebrate with Kosovo and Albanian flags in Pristina on February 17, 2009 (L). Sevastopol residents at a celebratory show held after the referendum on Crimea’s status (R). The West has so far refused to legitimize Crimea’s decision to secede from Ukraine. Yet Kosovo, which was a part of Serbia, also broke away from its parent country, but has been recognized by the US and... 

Crimea has declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to join Russia, following a referendum in which Crimeans overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation. The Crimean Supreme Council passed the decree on Monday after all the 85 lawmakers present in the 100-seat assembly voted in support of seceding from Ukraine. “The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of... 

Russia has defended a decision by Ukraine’s Crimean authorities to hold a referendum as the standoff between Moscow and the West over the crisis-hit Eastern European country continues. Speaking by telephone to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said steps taken by authorities in Crimea were “based on international... 

Spain’s Catalan nationalist party Convergencia I Union (CiU) led by Artur Mas won the elections in the Catalan Parliament on Sunday, but failed to win an absolute majority that it expects to govern alone. CiU secured 50 seats of the 135-seat local parliament in the elections, a setback from its previous 62 seats, which appeared to be a failure of its pro-independence campaign. Another nationalist... 

There is a high level of public support for abandoning the monarchy in some of the nations of the Commonwealth. Along with Britain’s anti-monarchy campaign group Republic that campaigns for a democratic country consisting of an elected head of state, there seems to be a high level of public support for abandoning the monarchy in some of the nations of the Commonwealth. In 16 of the total of 54 Commonwealth... 

Cameron (left) faced Salmond (right) across the negotiating table table, watched by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore (second left) and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Details of Scotland’s ‘most important political decision in 300 years’ to be confirmed in Edinburgh. Scots will on Monday be given 100 weeks to make the “most important political decision in 300 years”... 

Russia to remain independent political power center The West has formed a political-military coalition that does not include Russia; China, a fiercely insular country has a historical wariness of building alliances. This forces Russia into a position of severe self-reliance and pragmatism. Following his trip to Russia at the start of the Cold War, the American poet Robert Frost summed up his visit... 

The US Supreme Court finally ruled on the constitutionality of Arizona’s controversial immigration law Monday, striking down three provisions of the legislation while upholding the scandalous “show me your papers” section. The Court has struck down most of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration legislation, which was enacted two years earlier. The high court ruled that Arizona’s policy of imprisoning... 

David Cameron has said he would consider further powers for Scotland, but only after a referendum. David Cameron made his boldest move yet in the campaign to stop Scotland voting for independence by offering the country more freedom from Westminster if it votes no in the coming referendum. Speaking to business leaders in the capital, Edinburgh, the prime minister said the referendum did not have to... 

The BBC's Will Ross describes the celebrations in the capital Juba. South Sudan has become the world’s newest nation, the climax of a process made possible by the 2005 peace deal that ended a long and bloody civil war. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are among international dignitaries attending celebrations in the capital, Juba. Sudan earlier became... 

South Sudanese celebrate independence-referendum possibility. Official: Southern Sudan parliament may vote to secede if January independence vote is delayed. Southern Sudan’s parliament may vote to secede from the Khartoum-based north if an independence reference scheduled for January is delayed, a former top Southern Sudan official said Thursday. The oil-rich region can take such action under... 

TONY Abbott believes it is “far from certain” Australia will become a republic in his lifetime, after Labor signalled a new push on the issue. Julia Gillard today declared she wants Australia to become a republic when the Queen dies, and plans to lead a national debate on the form the republic would take. The Prime Minister said today that despite being a republican, she understood... 

Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it. – Judge Learned Hand July 4, 1776 was the first year that this great nation celebrated it’s independence of tyranny from England now lets fast forward to July 4, 2009 many cities across the United States won’t be able to keep to the traditions that have been taking place the past 233...