By Joseph Ax North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature on Wednesday approved a new congressional map that should allow the

Thanks to the Barbie Liberation Organization, the congenial doll barked military orders and screamed "vengeance is mine!" during a very weird holiday 1993 toy season.

By James Pomfret and Jessie Pang For Anna Kwok, a Washington-based Hong Kong activist, the imposition of a

Russia’s Investigative Committee has confirmed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash. The committee said in a statement Sunday that after forensic testing, all 10 bodies recovered at the site of the crash were identified, and their identities “conform to the manifest.” Russia’s civil aviation authority earlier this week said Prigozhin, along with some of his top lieutenants, were on the list of those on board the plane that crashed Wednesday. “As part of the investigation of the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular-genetic examinations have been completed,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on its site on the Telegram messaging app. “According to their results, the identities of all 10 dead were established. They correspond to the list stated in the flight sheet,” it said. Prigozhin’s private jet came down north-west of Moscow, killing all those on board. His right-hand man Dmitry Utkin was also on board the Embraer Legacy 600 jet, as well as five other passengers and three crew members, according to the passenger list. The Kremlin has denied speculation it was to blame for the crash. During a conference call with journalists on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC there was “lots of speculation” around the “tragic” deaths. “In the West, of course, this speculation comes from a certain angle. It’s all a complete lie,” Mr Peskov went on. Prigozhin’s plane crash comes just two months after his abortive mutiny on Russia’s top military chiefs, which culminated in a march on Moscow. President Vladimir Putin described that mutiny as a treacherous “stab in the back”, but later met with Prigozhin in the Kremlin and offered his condolences to the families of those that died in the crash. Once a businessman with a catering empire and an ally of Putin since the 1990s, Prigozhin went on to establish the Wagner Group in 2014, the mercenary force that has fought many of the hardest battles in Ukraine. More follows on this breaking news story.... Read More Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Wagner Group chief killed in plane crash Prigozhin's final months were overshadowed by questions about what the Kremlin had in store for him Wagner boss talks about ‘plane falling apart in the air’ in resurfaced clip fuelling conspiracy theories The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

Katie Ledecky will concede that a few things have changed over her long career at the top of swimming

Manchester United have had a second offer of £50 million rejected by Chelsea for midfielder Mason Mount. Erik ten Hag’s second bid, of an initial £45m plus a further £5m in add-ons, followed a first proposal of £40m. Chelsea are holding out for nearer £70m for their double Player of the Year but run the risk of losing Mount on a free transfer when his contract expires in 2024 if they cannot agree a deal with United. The 24-year-old wants to move to Old Trafford but United are reluctant to repeatedly increase their offers for the England international. Chelsea have already accepted an offer of an initial £25m, which could rise to £30m from Manchester City for Mateo Kovacic, who is five years older than Mount but, like him, is about to enter the last year of his current deal and was unlikely to agree a new one. Chelsea also paid City £47m for Raheem Sterling last season when the former Footballer of the Year was in the same situation at City. Ten Hag has targeted Mount as United have made midfield a priority in the transfer window, along with a new striker. Either Scott McTominay or Fred could leave if a new midfielder arrives. Mount came through the ranks at Chelsea, scoring 27 goals and providing 22 assists in 129 Premier League appearances. The 24-year-old – a Champions League winner with the Blues – has won 36 England caps and started the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Read More Man City agree fee with Chelsea for Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic Marcus Rashford’s complicated England relationship could be at turning point Bellingham gone but who’s next? Midfield merry-go-round will define summer

Asian shares have retreated after Wall Street added a bit more to its big rally from a day before

Travis Kelce's response to being labeled as 'Taylor Swift’s boyfriend' was quite memorable

Virginia visits Boston College on Saturday in a matchup of struggling ACC teams

YouTube is great for content creators to show their creativity, and some who have made it big on the platform know how to spend their money wisely

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia launched a wave of air attacks on Ukraine early on Sunday, with air defence systems repelling all

Afghans who worked with the UK are living in fear in Pakistan as it cracks down on migrants without visas.