Washington, Nov 7: A new study has linked the rise and fall of China’s ancient dynasties with monsoon cycles, with the weakening of the natural phenomenon proving to be the last straw for the kingdoms.

According to a report in National Geographic News, the study was led by researchers from the University of Minnesota and Lanzhou University in China.

The work rests on a 2,000-year-old record of monsoon activity preserved in the layers of stone in a 118-millimeter-long stalagmite found in Wanxiang Cave in Gansu Province, China.

The climate record was preserved in a stalagmite—a rock formed by mineral-rich waters dripping onto the cave floor year after year.

New Delhi, Nov 7: Eminent Kashmiri poet Rahman Rahi received the Jnanpith award, the country's highest literary award, for his contribution to Indian literature

Rahi was conferred the Jnanpith (pinnacle of knowledge) award by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at a function organised in New Delhi on Thursday.

He became the first person from Jammu and Kashmir to receive the honour.

Miami, Florida  - Tropical Storm Paloma strengthened into a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea as it headed toward the Cayman Islands, the National Hurricane Center in the United States said.

Paloma had maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour by late Thursday, making it a category one hurricane on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale.

The Miami-based centre said it was expected to strengthen further and forecast that it would reach category two status Friday when it was expected to reach the Caymans and possibly hit category three by Saturday.

On Sunday, it was forecast to hit Cuba, which has already been pummeled by two hurricanes this season.

Pune (Maharashtra), Nov 7: Microsoft founder and co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, visited sex workers in Pune.

Gates along with his wife Melinda visited the red light area of Budhwar Peth in Pune to create awareness amongst the sex workers regarding AIDS on Thursday.

The purpose of Bill Gates'' visit to the area was also to review two projects, funded by the foundation, on prevention of sexually transmitted infection.

Indian equities opened negatively for the third straight session on rising global recessionary pressures.

Auto and IT stocks went down, whereas oil & gas and FMCG stocks gained ground.  

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index climbed 0.32% and 0.15% respectively.

Today, the 30-share index, BSE Sensex opened at 9,631.59, down 102.63 points, as against its last closure in which it settled with a loss of 385.79 points.

India’s major exporter of iron ore, Sesa Goa has announced its plans to pump Rs 4 billion in the coming two fiscals, for the construction of mines and infrastructure. The company is also keeping its investment plans intact.

According to the sources, the conglomerate also intends to exploit the fall in prices of mining assets and acquire iron ore mines in India and abroad.

The sources further revealed that the company is also confident about it’s 30 percent growth target for output in the current financial fiscal .year.