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New York, March 24 : We all know that photosynthesis, the process used by plants and other organisms to convert energy derived from light into chemical energy, maintains the oxygen levels in the atmosphere necessary for life on earth.

Cyanobacteria, the blue-green algae, that evolved photosynthesis were thought to have appeared 2.5 billion years ago when the 'Great Oxidation Event' (a spike in oxygen levels) happened.

But a new research suggests that first photosynthetic organisms lived on earth three billion years ago, long before the 'Great Oxidation Event'.

Mumbai, March 24 - A benchmark index of Indian equities markets surged 252.96 points or 1.16 percent during the pre-noon session Monday.

Good buying was observed in the banking, oil and gas and auto sectors, while marginal selling pressure was seen in the healthcare sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 21,827.50 points, was trading at 22,008.28 points in the pre-noon session, up 252.96 points or 1.16 percent from the previous day's close at 21,755.32 points.

Sydney, Mar.

Bangalore, March 24 - The stand-off between Toyota India and its agitating employees continued as they refused to sign an undertaking for joining duty after eight-day lockout was lifted early Monday.

"As we are against giving or signing any undertaking, none of us has entered the factory for the first shift beginning 6 a. m.," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd. union president Prasanna Kumar told IANS here.

A defiant management has been insisting that the workers should be give an undertaking to abide by rules governing their work ethic and conduct.

Washington, March 24 - As the world observes World TB Day Monday, a shocking research reveals that despite improved medication and government as well as aid agencies' efforts, the number of children suffering from tuberculosis (TB) annually has doubled since 2011.

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS) in Boston have estimated that around one million children suffer from TB annually- twice the number previously thought to have tuberculosis and three times the number that are diagnosed every year, the researchers claimed.

Johannesburg, Mar. 24 - India's spinners helped in bagging the team's victory over defending champions West Indies in the World Twenty20 Super-10 group two match in Dhaka.

West Indies managed to score only 129-7 as leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed two for 18 in four overs, while Ravindra Jadeja bagged three wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up one.