Serbia Just Got More Russian-Made MiG Fighters as Arms Race With NATO-Member Croatia Escalates

(BELGRADE, Serbia) — Serbia took delivery of four Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets from Belarus on Monday, the defense ministry said, part of an arms purchase that could heighten tensions in the Balkans and increase Moscow’s influence in the region.

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin attended the ceremony at an air force base in Belarus, saying that with the delivery “our air force has never been stronger in decades.”

Serbia has recently received six MiG-29 jets from Russia, which has also promised the delivery of 60 armored vehicles, air defense systems and battle and transport helicopters.

Serbia, a Russian ally, was at war with neighbors Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s during the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Its military, especially the air force, was depleted in 1999 during a NATO air war that stopped a bloody crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which hasn’t been recognized by Belgrade.

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U.K.’s Labour Party Leader Paves Way for Possible Second Brexit Referendum

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has come out in favor of a “public vote” on Brexit, in a shift to the main opposition party’s stance that could make it more likely that Britain holds a second referendum on its divorce. The pound rose.

Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will back a public vote on Brexit — though he doesn’t say exactly how May didn’t secure any concessions from EU at summit in Egypt EU Council President Tusk backs an extension to Brexit day; lawmakers will try to force May into an extension on Wednesday.

Labour Moves to Back ‘Public Vote’ on Brexit

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he’ll put forward or support an amendment that supports a “public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit.”

It’s a major shift for Corbyn and comes after members of his team have been pushing him toward a second referendum. Corbyn is more anti-EU than his party, the membership of which backs a second referendum.

But any amendment will struggle to win support in Parliament, as some Labour MPs from Leave-..

Ariana Grande Is Playing Manchester Arena Show 2 Years After Deadly Bombing

(LONDON) — Ariana Grande is returning to Manchester, two years after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at her concert in the northwest England city.

Organizers say Grande will be a headliner at the Manchester Pride Live event on Aug. 25. Chief executive Mark Fletcher said Monday that “we’re truly honored to be welcoming Ariana back to the city to help us celebrate LGBT+ life.”

Grande and Manchester were bound together in tragedy on May 22, 2017, when a bomber blew himself up at Manchester Arena as fans were leaving her show. The singer returned to the city two weeks later to take part in a memorial concert, which she helped to organize.

Manchester authorities named Grande an honorary citizen of the city for her work in the wake of the attack.