KICKING THE TOOTHLESS DRAGON:

U.S. President Barack Obama joined Indian leaders on the reviewing stand at a military parade here Monday in a display of strengthened ties between the world's largest democracies as an increasingly assertive China shifts Asia's power balance.

The American president's appearance at India's symbolically important Republic Day celebrations came a day after a summit meeting at which the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation on defense and economic-development at a time of mounting global tensions.

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