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Archives for January 2016

J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed dies aged 79

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mufti-sayeed1

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a crafty politician who took on the powerful Abdullah family and rose to become the country’s first Muslim Home Minister, died today at AIIMS here after his platelets dropped dangerously.

Sayeed, 79, who took charge of the state on March 1 last year heading a PDP-BJP alliance, breathed his last this morning after remaining on ventilator for the past few days.

He was flown from Srinagar in a special plane on December 24 and admitted to the AIIMS where he was diagnosed with sepsis (life threatening complication of an infection) and pneumonia. During hospitalisation his platelets had dropped dangerously, doctors said.

He is the second J and K Chief Minister to die in office, the first one being Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who died on September 8, 1982.

Sayeed’s daughter 56-year-old Mehbooba is expected to take over as the first woman Chief Minister of the state with PDP leaders throwing their weight behind her. But this will require the approval of BJP.

Sayeed is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.

Jammu and Kashmir government has declared a seven-day mourning and holiday today. Flags will be flown at half mast.

The mortal remains of the Chief Minister would be flown to Srinagar where the body will be kept for people to pay homage. He is likely be buried in his ancestral village Bijbehera in South Kashmir, about 48 kms from Srinagar.

Sayeed took over as chief minister of PDP-BJP coalition on March 1 last year. In the 87-member J and K Assembly PDP won 28 seats and BJP 25 while opposition National Conference got 15 and Congress 12.

Condoling the death of Sayeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it left a huge void in the nation and that the leader who provided a healing touch would be missed.

“What stood out about Mufti Sahab was his statesmanship. In his long political journey he won many admirers across the political spectrum,” Modi said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be flying to Srinagar to attend Sayeed’s funeral.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed grief over the demise of Mufti as she communicated her condolences to his wife and Mehbooba.

“In his death, the state of Jammu and Kashmir as indeed the entire nation has lost a great leader,” she said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who expressed his condolences to Sayeed’s family at AIIMS, tweeted, “Just heard the terrible news of Mufti Sahib’s passing away. I’m shocked and deeply saddened. May he rest in peace”.

Former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah also condoled the death of Sayeed.

In a political career spanning nearly six decades, Sayeed carved a niche for himself in national and Jammu and Kashmir politics with the craftiness and unwavering focus of an avid bridge player he was.

He emerged as a rival power centre to the mighty Abdullahs, always playing his cards close to the chest, while making friends with parties following conflicting ideologies to suit his political agenda.

The high-points in the political journey of Sayeed, who would have turned 80 on January 12, was his being catapulted to the chair of free India’s first Muslim Home Minister in 1989 in the V P Singh government and, years later, becoming the Chief Minister of the restive state for a second time in 2015, heading a coalition with BJP, which had its first brush with power in the only Muslim-majority state.

Sayeed’s stint in the Home Ministry, at a time when militancy had begun to rear its ugly head in his home state, would, however, be most remembered for the kidnapping of his third daughter Rubaiya by JKLF. The militants demanded freeing five of their comrades in exchange for Rubaiya’s freedom and let her off only after their demand had been met.

The kidnapping and subsequent release of the militants, according to Sayeed’s rivals, projected India as a “soft state” for the first time.

Born in Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara in Anantnag district on January 12, 1936, Sayeed had his early education at a local school and graduated from S P College, Srinagar. He went on to obtain a law degree and Master’s degree in Arab History from Aligarh Muslim University.

(Agencies)

Temba Bavuma hundred for South Africa transcended cricket

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Temba Bavuma

by Jonathan Agnew, BBC

Temba Bavuma’s magnificent unbeaten century for South Africa against England on day four in Cape Town transcended cricket.

I’ve been very lucky – I have followed South Africa and witnessed their first tour after they came back into world cricket in 1991 following the wilderness years of apartheid.

I watched their first Test match back – their first in the West Indies – which was very significant, but the hundred by 25-year-old Bavuma is absolutely up there.

Unfortunately it’s a reflection of the awful history of this country that you do have to categorise people by race.

They are trying very hard to overcome the legacy of those years so Bavuma, as the first black African to score a century for South Africa, is massively symbolic.

The South African authorities will be hoping his achievement resonates amongst an enormous number of people who might be inspired to take up cricket. It is very, very important.

Bavuma blunts England burst

In only his seventh Test match, Bavuma played superbly well and proved he is worthy as a Test batsman regardless of his skin colour.

He batted absolutely brilliantly and was a breath of fresh air. He attacked when England had taken three wickets in 20 minutes and had a real chance of putting South Africa under pressure.

England led by 180 and only needed four more wickets, but the way Bavuma counter-attacked was inspired.

They bowled too short at him – he is a very short man and is used to playing short-pitched bowling, so that was a mistake from England. His hooking and pulling was outstanding.Captain Hashim Amla batted for more than seven hours for his double century – it may have been rather eclipsed by Bavuma but it was a special innings.

He gave a number of chances – England let eight or nine of varying degrees of difficulty go in total as they showed the effects of more than 15 hours in the field – but what Amla did under the pressure he was under, both as a batsman and captain, was immense.

He’s a very calm, phlegmatic individual who will know if he wants to keep on with the captaincy, but that is not the burning issue any more. He is back in form.

It was a typical Amla innings, with lots of wristy flicks either side of the wicket, and for South Africa to turn the match on its head as they have done is remarkable.

Amla asks England questions

England had been in the field for 211 overs – the longest for them since 1987 – and all those catches had gone down. That’s what made Amla decide to put them in again before stumps rather than wait until the morning.

I think he made the right decision. The last thing England openers Alastair Cook and Alex Hales would have wanted was to bat again.

Amla could have waited to get ahead of England, but two runs behind is neither here nor there. Bavuma had got his hundred and the captain wanted to get six overs at them before the close.

South Africa were not able to knock one of the openers over as England got to stumps 18 runs ahead at 16-0, but at least they gave it a go.

Amla has an inexperienced bowling attack, with Chris Morris making his debut and going for 150 runs in the first innings and Kagiso Rabada playing only his fourth match.

You would fancy England to bat out the final day without much trouble but you just don’t know – and that’s the glorious uncertainty of the game.

Test cricket is alive and well

People write off Test cricket far too early these days – there seems to be an agenda out there saying it has a limited lifespan.

Whenever there is some hard work for the bowlers on unresponsive pitches, people start criticising but Test cricket will endure because it produces climaxes and opportunities for teams to turn a match on its head like they have done here.

This match is a brilliant example of why four-day Test cricket, as advocated by ECB chairman Colin Graves last year, would be a mistake.

Tests are five days for a reason – so you can put pressure on the team batting third.

It is not always going along at five runs an over with the ball disappearing into the stands – that’s not what Test cricket is. It’s a long, evolving game that needs time to develop and that’s what we’ve seen here.

Who on earth would have thought England would be batting to save the game having smashed 629-6 in their first innings? You couldn’t really make it up – but that’s Test cricket.

Fresh abuse allegations against UN peacekeepers in CAR

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Investigation is launched into claims that UN peacekeepers sexually abused four underage girls in capital Bangui.

The UN mission to the Central African Republic is made up of 11,000 peacekeepers [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]

The UN mission to the Central African Republic is made up of 11,000 peacekeepers [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]

by Al Jazeera

The United Nations has launched a fact-finding mission into new allegations that its peacekeepers sexually abused four underage girls in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN mission in CAR, known as MINUSCA, said in a statement on Tuesday that it was “investigating fresh allegations concerning both sexual exploitation and abuse and other misconduct by UN Peacekeepers and international forces in Bangui”.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said that the four victims had been provided with medical and psychosocial care, but did not specify when the alleged abuse took place or how many peacekeepers were involved in the case.

In line with UN policy not to name the countries whose peacekeepers were accused of sexual misconduct, Dujarric did not say where the peacekeepers were from.

He added, however, that the UN had asked the countries to immediately launch their own investigations – nations are responsible for holding their own troops accountable in such cases.

Series of allegations

The new allegations follow a series of sexual abuse claims lodged against UN peacekeepers in CAR in 2015.

In December, an independent panel sharply criticised the UN response to claims of child abuse that allegedly took place in a centre for displaced people near Bangui airport between December 2013 and June 2014.

The panel’s report said that the UN had failed to properly vet peacekeepers for past abuses and needed to do more to protect children.

The latest allegations in CAR have prompted discussions over the establishment of a special police force to help patrol camps and other high-risk areas, the UN said.

Earlier in 2015, the UN released a report documenting allegations of sex abuse in a number of countries in which peacekeepers had operated, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Haiti and South Sudan.
The report said 480 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse had been made between 2008 and 2013, of which a third involved minors.

The UN mission to CAR is made up of 11,000 peacekeepers. There are also some 5,600 African Union (AU) peacekeepers and an additional 2,000 French troops in the country.

North Korea raises alarm with nuclear test announcement

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Opponents rush to condemn statement that, if confirmed, would mark fourth time Pyongyang has exploded a nuclear bomb.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year address [Reuters]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year address [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

 

North Korea said it has conducted a hydrogen bomb test in a surprise announcement that caused regional tension and drew swift condemnation from opponents.

If confirmed, the test would be the fourth time Pyongyang has exploded a nuclear device.

South Korean intelligence officials and several analysts, however, reportedly questioned whether Wednesday’s explosion was indeed a full-fledged test of a hydrogen device.

There was no radiation detected at Japanese monitoring posts.

Still, before the announcement was made on state television, South Korea’s meteorological agency said that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was detected near a known test site in the secretive and isolated state.

South Korea’s presidential office held an emergency meeting and later said that the government would take all possible measures to respond to its neighbour and long-time foe’s actions.

“Our government strongly condemns North Korea ignoring repeated warnings from us and the international community and pushing ahead with the fourth nuclear test, which clearly violated the UN resolutions,” Cho Tae-yong, a senior security official at the South Korean presidential office said.

 

The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Wednesday, diplomats said, as both neighbouring countries and world powers scrambled to issue stern statements.

China’s foreign ministry said that it had no advance knowledge of any test and that it firmly opposed Pyongyang’s action.

Hua Chunying, a ministry spokeswoman, said at a daily news briefing that Beijing – one of North Korea’s only allies – would work with the international community on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The US government said that it could not confirm a nuclear test but that it would respond appropriately to what it called North Korean “provocations” and that it would continue to protect its allies in the region.

“We have consistently made clear that we will not accept [North Korea] as a nuclear state,” a State Department statement said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the announcement a threat to his nation’s safety.

Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.”

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said  any nuclear test would be a “provocation which I condemn without reservation” and a “grave breach” of UN Security Council resolutions.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also detected the quake that South Korea said was 49km (30 miles) from the Punggye-ri site where the North has conducted nuclear tests in the past.

While the USGS put the depth of the earthquake at 10km, the South Korean agency said it was near the surface. The earthquake was detected just after 10am Seoul time (1am GMT).

Al Jazeera’s Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said that North Korea was moving one step nearer to creating a nuclear warhead.

“There will be a good deal of tension once more on the Korean Peninsula today. The big question of course is why North Korea has done this now,” he said.

Brown added the test could partly be seen as a defensive response to US-South Korean military exercises, as well as a reaction to UN sanctions the country is under as a result of for its nuclear and missile programmes.

“When North Korea last tested a nuclear device in 2013, that was as a direct consequence of the sanctions that had been imposed by the United Nations,” Brown said.

North Korea has so far conducted three nuclear tests – in 2006, 2009 and 2013 – all at Punggye-ri.

The 2013 test registered at 5.1 on the USGS scale.

It is not yet known if Pyongyang has successfully made a nuclear device small enough to be used as a warhead on a ballistic missile, but the likelihood of the isolated country successfully doing so increases with each test.

 

Muslim anger after Netanyahu threatens to stop call to prayer

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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu © Sebastian Scheiner / Reuters

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu © Sebastian Scheiner / Reuters

by Middle East Monitor

Arabs and Muslims have reacted with anger following remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a ban on the call to prayer from mosques, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

During the weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that his government decided to enforce a number of laws including those which deal with “noise and incitement made in mosques”, referring to prayer calls.

General Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories and preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Mohamed Hussein said this was a “warning” to mosques.

He stressed that the prayer call is a “subtle supplication addressing the soul, not an incitement call that arouses the interference of the occupation in Muslims’ religious affairs.”

Members of the Arab List warned that the Israeli PM’s remarks “are repeated and dangerous attempts by Netanyahu to get political gains throughout cheap incitement against Arabs.”

Head of the Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi said: “Such remarks feed the atmosphere of racism.”

Aida Touma-Suleiman, another Arab MK, said: “The one who describes the prayer calls as a kind of racism is seeking to divert the eyes from the aggressive policy of the occupation and the ugly discrimination and racist soul being planted among the citizens against Arabs.”

“Netanyahu has to deal with issues as head of a government, not as an autocratic military ruler.”

Consider limiting odd-even formula for a week: HC tells Delhi government

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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Aam Aadmi Party government whether it can limit the restriction on the plying of even- and odd-numbered vehicles in the national capital on alternate days to “a week” instead of the planned 15 days.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath asked the government to submit the data on air pollution it has collected in a week during implementation of the odd-even scheme in the national capital.

“Is it really necessary to have it for two weeks (15 days)? Can’t it be confined to eight days? Can you end it on Friday? People are facing inconvenience. Take instructions,” the bench asked the government posting the matter for Friday.

“It was a pilot project. You must have data (air pollution) with you now. Show us how much the pollution has reduced. The people of Delhi supported you despite inconvenience. There is no adequate public transport,” the bench said.

The court also asked why diesel cabs were still plying on roads despite a ban.

The court was hearing 12 PILs challenging the Delhi government’s decision to only allow even- and odd-numbered vehicles to ply in Delhi on alternate dates from January 1 to 15.

Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi government, defended the decision of continuing the odd-even scheme for 15 days and said the data collected till now shows decrease in the level of air pollution.

In a status report submitted to the court, the AAP government defended its decision to exempt two-wheelers from the scheme. “In case of two-wheelers, pooling would have been a limited option and it was expected that around 60-70 percent of population would have to resort to public transport. The present available public transport infrastructure is not sufficient to cater to such a huge demand,” the report said.

The status report said the reduction in number of four-wheelers helps decrease the congestion on roads “which has a positive effect on vehicular pollution control”.

(IANS)

Pathankot attack: PM Modi has links with terrorists, says TMC leader

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Idris Ali

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali on Wednesday slammed Narendra Modi over the Pathankot attack by accusing the Prime Minister of having links with the terrorists.

“I feel that PM Modi has links with terrorists which is why Pathankot attack took place. Why did the Pathankot attack happen right after PM’s visit to Pakistan? This is my personal opinion,” Idris Ali told media persons.

Idris Ali is a TMC MP from Basirhat, West Bengal. Ali in the video is also seen threatening a Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPIM) leader if he dared to act against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Saradha scam. Idris warned CPIM leader Gautam Deb that he will cut-off his limbs if he tried to touch Mamata Banerjee in the Saradha scam.

“He’ll send her to jail? Who in the world is Gautam Deb to send her to jail? I am warning him, if he tries anything again, I, Idris Ali, will break his limbs and then he will go to jail. That’s where he belongs,” Idris said.

Pulling up the Idris Ali, the TMC condemned the party leader for his controversial comments. “Seen the footage of Idris Ali’s comments. They are crass and unhealthy. The party doesn’t endorse such views. He has been asked to explain in writing,” the TMC said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called up PM Modi on Tuesday to promise a probe into the “specific and actionable” information provided and a “prompt and decisive action” against the terrorists behind it.

Sharif conveyed his “heartfelt sadness and grief” on the loss of lives in the attack and “pointed out to PM Modi that whenever a serious effort for bringing peace between the two countries was underway, terrorists try to derail the process”, said a statement issued by his office.

The telephonic conversation takes place at a time when the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled for this month looks in serious jeopardy with strong indications that the Modi Government may call off the engagement if evidence emerges that Pakistan’s state actors were complicit in the fidayeen raid on the air base.

(Agencies)

Relief for Yeddyurappa as HC quashes 15 land cases against him

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Yeddyurappa

Bengaluru: The High Court on Tuesday quashed all the 15 FIRs filed against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa with the Lokayukta police in connection with denotification of land in and around Bengaluru city.

Allowing the petition filed by Yeddyurappa, Justice Rathnakala in the order stated that FIRs cannot be filed based on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). However, the bench said that the other contentions of the petitioner are kept open.

A private complaint was registered with the Lokayukta police by Jayakumar Hiremath, based on which 15 FIRs were filed against Yeddyurappa. First, three FIRs were filed, saying that land was denotified at survey number 251 in Halagevaderanahalli in Bengaluru South, survey numbers 5/1 and 6/3 in Bilekahalli and survey number 117 in JB Kaval.

The same bench had granted stay on proceedings based on the FIRs. Subsequently, 12 FIRs were filed, saying land was denotified at JP Nagar, HRBR Layout, Jayanagar 8th block, Rachenahalli and surrounding areas.

The CAG report said that denotifying land had caused loss to the State’s exchequer. Questioning the basis and seeking quashing of the FIRs, Yeddyurappa had approached the High Court. Senior counsel C V Nagesh, appearing for Yeddyurappa, had contended that FIRs filed by Lokayukta were based on the CAG report and not on the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) report, which is normally placed before the House to decide on the matter.

In the CAG report, it is said that the land has been denotified, but it is not said that it is illegal. He has contended that the FIR has not been filed as per Section 12 of the Lokayukta Act, which calls for a compliance report to be placed before the competent authority, who is the governor in this case.

Additional Solicitor General Krishna S Dixit, representing CAG, contended that its report was the sole property of parliament and that the sanctity of the report must be maintained and not misused by other organs of the State. The question whether the CAG report must be allowed for publication or not has to be decided in the House.

This report cannot be used as evidence to file criminal complaints as it is used for making public policies.

(Agencies)

An Interactive Session With Creative Director Rajiv Chhilaka

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Rajiv Chilaka

Rajiv Chhilaka is a highly qualified man and also well experienced in the art of filmmaking and has to his credit of being known as the creator of India’s most popular animated character named Chhota Bheem. Besides he has also directed many 2D animated movies which has premiered on Cartoon Network & Pogo Channels.

How about giving us a brief insight into your pre – filmic background?

I hold a Master’s degree in computer Science from the University of Missouri Kansas City, USA & a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Then how come a well – qualified guy like you has jumped on to the bandwagon of creative film making both on the small screen as well as big screen?

In this regard I wish to state that it was my intense passion & profound interest in animation technology that drew me into the arena of creative filmmaking.

How & where did your creative film making begin?

First of all let me inform you that after completing my academic qualification I underwent training in script writing, story boarding, 3D & 2D Animation, Visual Effects and of course I picked up directional skills too.

And then?

To start off with I have been instrumental in shaping the foundation of Green Gold Animation Academy right from its inception. Finally this interest in animation led me to direct theatrical animated movies. So after the success of the 1st ever theatrical movie Chhota Bheem And Curse of Damayan I decided to release one animated movie every year. Actually speaking my vision is to lead Green Gold Animation Academy into becoming another Disney or Pixar of the world.

Can you outline the repertoire of Green Gold Animation Academy?

First of all the Green Gold Animation Academy has to its credit the creation of the 1st ever animated character named Chota Bheem which has already become one of the highest rated Television show of its own genre. That apart Chhota Bheem has a line of merchandise available pan India through Green Gold stores for instance 22 stores & 4 more in the pipeline, and a shop in shop retails outlets, which has more than 4000 outlets. Moreover Green Gold Animation Academy has also come up with 3 theatrical releases namely Chhota Bheem And The Curse of Damayan released in the year 2012, Chhota Bheem And The Throne Of Bali released in the year 2013, Mighty Raju Rio calling released in the year 2014 and now Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure which is releasing next week to be precise on 8th Jan, 2016.

What was the inspiration behind the making of a series of films on Chhota Bheem?

To be very frank the idea of making a series of film based on the character of Chhota Bheem created by me, which had originated when I had gone to Manali with my writer Teja Pratap. It was here after seeing the beautiful landscapes that we got the idea of weaving a series of adventurous anecdotes bordering around the character of Chhota Bheem. Which is nothing but fantasy loved by children and even people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Okay so can we say that the next movie in the series namely Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure is also inspired by the same landscape thought?

Yes! Of course you can say that as it is very much true.

Now can you tell us why so less films are made for children in India?

The simple reason for this is that there is no proper market for children’s film and moreover good contents for children’s film are also not available. What we really need to develop children’s film is good writers and fairly good outlets for marketing & promoting children’s film.

Don’t you think that the children’s Film Festival held in Hyderabad is the right place to showcase children’s film?

Yes! You are right. It is the right platform to showcase Children’s film. But that’s about it. You can only showcase your film and perhaps bag an award for your film but you cannot promote & market your film totally. Maybe luck by chance you may get overseas buyers. Besides this particular children’s festival is held only once in 2 years. Yes even films in Chhota Bheem series were entered in this festival and they bagged awards too. But we had to viciously promote & market our films on our own for its theatrical release. And lastly can you pinpoint any prominent films that were ultimately released due to their participation in this particular film festival.

What more is ailing children’s film?

To be very frank the multiplex scenario and it’s highly priced ticketing system. Now you can’t expect children to go alone to catch these films and most of the parents just can’t afford the multiplex luxuries to enable their children to see these films.

To wrap up this interactive session can you tell us what are your expectations from the release of Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure, releasing this week?

I only want my film Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure to reach each & every children at least on the Indian shores then whatever be the outlets. And moreover I will continue to make children’s film, whether it is a winning or losing proposition, focusing on every genre like comedy, sci – fi, adventure, fantasy et al.

Refugees, including children, drown off coast of Turkey

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At least 27 bodies have washed up on shore on country’s Aegean coast after boats apparently capsized.

About 850,000 migrants and refugees crossed into Greece last year [AP]

About 850,000 migrants and refugees crossed into Greece last year [AP]

by Al Jazeera

At least 27 people, including three children, have drowned off Turkey’s Aegean coast after their boat capsized in rough seas.

Seventeen of the bodies were discovered on the shoreline in the district of Ayvalik, while ten others were found in the district of Dikili, a gendarmerie official in the local headquarters told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

Twelve people were rescued from the sea and the rocks on the Ayvalik coastline. A coastguard official said three boats and a helicopter were searching for any survivors.

There was no immediate information on the nationalities of the dead.

Refugees are known to set off from the resort town of Ayvalik on boats to reach the Greek island of Lesbos.

On Sunday, a two-year-old boy became the first known refugee to drown in 2016 after the dinghy he was travelling in crashed  on to rocks, the Greek coastguard said.

The other 39 passengers onboard were rescued after fishermen alerted the coastguard, but at least 10 were taken to hospital to be treated for hypothermia after the boat got into trouble near the island of Agathonisi.

About 850,000 migrants and refugees crossed into Greece last year, paying smuggling gangs to ferry them over from Turkey in often frail boats.

In a deal struck at the end of November, Turkey promised to help stem the flow of refugees to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU.

Turkey is host to 2.2 million Syrians and has spent around $8.5bn on feeding and housing them since the start of the civil war nearly five years ago.

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