Headlines
Obama leaves for India visit
US President Barack Obama took off Saturday morning
for his three-day historic visit to India to be the chief guest at
India's Republic Day parade, described as a "genuine honour" by the
White House.
Due to inclement weather, Obama and first lady
Michelle Obama arrived at the Andrews joint base by motorcade instead of
Marine One.
Obama's presidential Air Force One plane will have a
refuelling stop at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany before flying to
New Delhi.
Shortly before take-off, White House press secretary
Josh Earnest announced that the Obamas wll not visit the Taj Mahal on
the last day of his India trip.
They will go to Saudi Arabia
instead to pay his respects to the newly appointed monarch, King Salman,
and the family of the late King Abdullah.
Vice President Joe Biden was originally to have led a delegation to Saudi Arabia on Obama's behalf.
However, the schedule for the president's departure from India has