500 asylum seekers missing in distressing Mediterranean boat disappearances.

A boat carrying around 500 asylum seekers, including a newborn baby and pregnant women, has disappeared in the central Mediterranean. Two humanitarian organizations failed to find the vessel after losing contact with those onboard. The Italian coastguard reported the rescue of 423 and 671 people in two separate operations in Italian search and rescue waters, which were unrelated to the missing boat. European governments have taken an increasingly hard line on migration, including in Italy, which is facing a surge in sea arrivals.