EUROPEAN UNION: The EU today announced a new drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more military equipment in the EU rather than from suppliers across the Atlantic.

The EU’s executive branch unveiled its “Readiness 2030” security strategy, which says 65 per cent of the value of purchases must be in the EU, Norway or Ukraine. Britain and Turkey are excluded.

PAKISTAN: A leading rights group said today that Pakistan’s authorities have intensified pressure on Afghan refugees to go back to neighbouring Afghanistan, where they risk persecution by the Taliban and face dire economic conditions.

“Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and give those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch.

ITALY: The Italian coast guard has recovered six bodies and was searching for up to 40 migrants missing after a rubber dinghy that departed from Tunisia sank in the central Mediterranean, the UN refugee agency in Italy said today.

Another 10 people, including four women, were rescued on Tuesday and brought to Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa, where they were being cared for by the UN refugee agency.

NORTH MACEDONIA: Authorities in North Macedonia said today they have closed dozens of nightclubs and entertainment venues following a fire that killed 59 people at a pop concert.

Government spokesperson Marija Miteva said that out of 50 establishments inspected in several cities, only 22 had valid licences.

The deadly fire that erupted in the eastern town of Kocani on Sunday occurred while pyrotechnics were being used at an indoor venue later found to have multiple safety and licencing violations.