Region threatened as Gulf leaders hold summit

Riyadh: Solutions will be hard to find on Tuesday when Gulf monarchs hold their annual summit in a region threatened by jihadists and a war in Yemen that has raised tensions with Iran. The six Sunni-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council states will gather in the Saudi capital, still worried that Shia Iran might be able to develop an atomic bomb. Their concerns persist despite assurances from Washington and Paris that an international accord being drafted aims to prevent that. PTI

Dinosaur-killing asteroid created India's Deccan Traps?

Washington: The massive dinosaur-killing asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago likely triggered most of the immense eruptions of lava in India known as the Deccan Traps, according to a new study. The asteroid that slammed into the ocean off Mexico and killed off the dinosaurs probably rang the Earth like a bell, triggering volcanic eruptions around the globe that may have contributed to the devastation, researchers said. PTI

Ecologists calls for halt in dam projects in Tibet

Beijing: Chinese ecologists have called for a halt in construction of dams, including one claimed to be the world's biggest, in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh citing adverse impact of hydropower stations over the potential habitat of newly discovered species of a macaque in the area. "Construction of hydropower stations would result in the destruction and flooding of extensive areas of forest along the rivers," Chinese researchers said.

Britain's smallest dog is just three inches tall

London: The smallest dog in Britain is a tiny Chihuahua, who is just three inches tall, fits in the palm of her owner's hand and is lighter than a bag of sugar. The 14-week-old pup called Disney is too small to hang around with other dogs and now thinks she is a kitten. The pocket-sized pooch, which was a part of a litter of three born in January, has not grown since she was eight-weeks-old. PTI

Saudi-led coalition troops land in Yemen

Aden: The Saudi-led coalition battling rebels in Yemen sent a “limited” force to the city of Aden on Sunday, Yemeni sources said, in what would be its first ground deployment inside the country. A spokesman for the coalition denied that a major ground force has landed, refusing to comment on "ongoing operations". But Yemeni government and militia forces said several dozen troops had landed in the main southern city, with some sources saying they were to assist in fighting for its international airport. PTI