One more tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea: more than 40 people have drowned off Sicily as Italy calls for more help from the EU to handle the surge in migrants crossing the Mediterranean. (BBC)

The Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni (PD, S&D) accused the European Union to be absent in this moment. Italy calls on the other European Union member states to react and express more economic solidarity with it. (AFP)

Rights groups lashed out at the EU for scrapping rescue operations on Wednesday in the Mediterranean, saying it had endangered the lives of thousands of desperate migrants making perilous journeys across the sea. (AFP)