Pakistani 'explosives' Boat Had 'Costly Cargo' to be Moved to India, for Obama's Visit?

Pakistani 'explosives' Boat Had 'Costly Cargo' to be Moved to India, for Obama's Visit? (NDTV)

A suspicious fishing boat carrying explosives from Pakistan was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard in Arabian Sea near Indo-Pak maritime boundary but it sank after the crew on board set it on fire. We bring you 10 interesting points.

1. Intercepts were picked up about "costly cargo" to be shipped to India, say sources. The National Technical Research Organisation picked up a conversation from Karachi. 

2. The intercepts revealed that the boat was carrying arms and explosives to be transferred to another boat. 

3. A second intercept was picked up at around 12 noon on December 31 about a suspicious boat. The inputs were shared with the local marine police and Coast Guard. 

4. The boat was spotted around 365 km west of Porbandar in Gujarat. 

5. Sources say the explosives-laden fishing boat was about 10 to 15 km into Indian waters.  

6. When the Pakistani vessel was intercepted, it was "sitting quietly without lights", said sources. 

7. The Coast Guard reportedly asked the ship to switch on the lights and let it board the ship for verification. But the ship tried to move away, which is when the Coast Guard ship gave chase. 

8. The "hot pursuit" lasted for about an hour. The boat allegedly slowed down because it was low on fuel. 

9. Several loud explosions followed and a massive fire erupted on the boat. Four men were seen on the boat before it sank. 

10. Indian forces and police have been on high alert in preparation for US President Barack Obama's visit later this month for the Republic Day parade.

More on this story here and here.

Video - Mike Jones to President Obama, “don’t touch my girlfriend.”

Video - Mike Jones to President Obama, “don’t touch my girlfriend.” (CNN).

The woman who voted next to President Barack Obama on Monday says she was "embarrassed and just shocked," after her fiancé jokingly told him "Mr. President, don't touch my girlfriend."

Casting his ballot in Chicago on Monday, Obama stood at a voting booth next to Aia Cooper, whose fiancé, Mike Jones, decided to crack wise with the president, which prompted Obama to reply with "I really wasn't planning on it," before adding that Jones was "an example of a brother just embarrassing you for no reason."

In an interview with CNN's Brooke Baldwin Tuesday afternoon, Cooper said she was "embarrassed and just shocked" after hearing her fiancé comments. "I was just shaking," she said.

Obama got back at Jones after voting, with a hug and a kiss for his fiancée.

"On the cheek, just the cheek -- please, Michelle, don't come after me -- just the cheek!" Cooper told CNN affiliate WLS-TV after voting.

"Now, he's really jealous," Obama told Cooper.

Read the full story here.

Video - Pres OBAMA'S speech at the Belgium cemetery for American soldiers killed during World War One

"The staff of the Flanders Field cemetery and the people of Belgium, thank you for your dedication and care to maintain this sacred land", this acknowledgment President Obama opened his speech in Waregem. The president also thanked "brave little Belgium ', the brave little Belgium, for his bravery during World War I and all the countries and all the soldiers who fought for freedom.

President Obama also spoke about the strong ties between the United States and Belgium and Belgium called "one of our best allies." He ended his speech with the famous poem 'In Flanders Fields' by John MacCrae and said that Belgium and the United States will always fight for freedom together.Source: VTM News.