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Mumbai, July 11: Rising bank deposits in India indicate stronger capital flows, improved savings, and growing confidence in the country’s economic outlook.

The increase in deposits is expected to strengthen banking sector liquidity and support credit growth during the first quarter. Experts believe the trend reflects positive sentiment among households and businesses.

Higher deposit mobilisation will provide banks with greater capacity to support lending and contribute to overall economic growth.

The banking sector is expected to maintain steady momentum, supported by stable financial conditions, rising credit demand, and improving investment activity.

Darien, Il July 11: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine applauds today’s introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, legislation that would establish permanent standard time nationwide and help protect the health, safety, and well-being of individuals across the country. 

The AASM thanks Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and North Carolina Rep. Pat Harrigan for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation and for recognizing that the nation’s time policy should support healthy sleep, safer mornings, and better learning conditions for students. By prioritizing standard time, the Sunshine for Our Kids Act reflects the scientific consensus that morning light is essential for aligning the body’s internal clock and promoting alertness during the school day. Standard time also has a proven track record of supporting public health, improving student performance, and enhancing economic productivity. 

“Permanent standard time is the healthier choice for all Americans,” said AASM President Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, a board-certified sleep medicine physician in Fort Myers, Florida. “We are grateful to Representatives Scanlon and Harrigan for championing legislation that puts health and safety first and helps ensure that mornings are better aligned with natural light and human circadian rhythms.” 

The AASM has long supported the adoption of permanent standard time because it best aligns with human circadian biology, as noted in its position statement. In contrast, permanent daylight saving time would delay morning light exposure, making it harder for children and adolescents to wake, learn, and travel safely to school during dark winter mornings. 

The Sunshine for Our Kids Act offers Congress a commonsense, science-based path forward: ending the disruptive twice-yearly clock changes while choosing the time standard that best supports public health. The AASM and its partners in the Coalition for Permanent Standard time urge lawmakers to support the bill and work toward national policies that prioritize public health and safety. 

For more information about daylight saving time and to find additional resources from the AASM about sleep disorders, treatments, and sleep health, visit SleepEducation.org.  

For years, scientists studying the human gut have relied on a material that most people would never expect: a jelly made from mouse tumors. Called Matrigel, it is used to grow tiny, patient‑derived versions of the intestine that help researchers understand disease, test new drugs, and explore future therapies. However, since this material comes from animal tissue, it’s unpredictable, difficult to control, and limits medical applications. 

A new study conducted by Georgia Tech researchers and partners from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania offers a promising alternative. 

The work includes contributions from Andrés García, Regents’ Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Executive Director of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, whose research focuses on how engineered materials can guide cell behavior. Instead of relying on a biological mixture with hundreds of variable components, the team created a fully synthetic gel designed to give intestinal stem cells exactly what they need to grow and organize into healthy tissue. 

To build it, the researchers analyzed the genetic signals of human intestinal cells to understand what kind of environment they naturally prefer. They found that these cells latch onto collagen‑like structures and reshape their surroundings as they expand. Using that information, the team engineered a customizable gel that mimics those cues, without using any animal‑derived ingredients. 

The results were striking. Human intestinal cells grown in the synthetic gel formed realistic, well‑organized small-scale digestive tract models that closely match those grown in the traditional animal‑derived material. They maintained the same cell types, developed the same structures, and preserved patient‑specific features. 

The implications reach far beyond the lab bench. 

A fully synthetic, precisely defined gel means researchers can grow small-scale organs more consistently and ethically, reducing reliance on animal tissue and improving reproducibility. It also opens the door to future medical applications, from personalized drug testing to regenerative therapies, where animal‑based materials simply can’t be used. 

“Reproducible, well-defined culture conditions are essential to generating reliable data from patient-derived organoids in human disease research, and we were glad to contribute to work that brings the field a real synthetic alternative to Matrigel,” said Kathryn Hamilton, a co-author of the study. Hamilton is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a primary investigator at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  

By replacing one of the biggest barriers in organoid science, this work moves the field closer to a future where patient‑specific tissues can be grown safely, reliably, and at scale. 

“We are excited about engineering this synthetic matrix as an alternative to natural materials and expect that it will accelerate human organoid research and clinical applications,” García said.

New Delhi, July 11: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting of the National Productivity Council (NPC) to review initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s productivity ecosystem and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/PiyushGoyal

During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the need to foster a culture of productivity, innovation, and efficiency across industries, services, and government institutions. He called for greater adoption of modern technologies, digital transformation, skill development, and best management practices to improve operational efficiency and drive sustainable economic growth.

The discussions focused on expanding the reach of productivity initiatives, promoting capacity building among industries—particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)—and encouraging collaboration between government, academia, and industry to enhance productivity standards.

Goyal underscored the importance of productivity as a key driver of economic development, employment generation, and global competitiveness. He urged the National Productivity Council to intensify awareness programmes, training, consultancy services, and research initiatives that help businesses improve quality, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

The meeting also reviewed the Council’s ongoing programmes and explored strategies to strengthen institutional support for productivity enhancement in line with the government’s vision of building a globally competitive and self-reliant economy.

The National Productivity Council continues to play a pivotal role in promoting productivity-led growth by providing training, consultancy, and capacity-building support across various sectors of the economy.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/PMOIndia

New Delhi, July 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited New Zealand businesses and investors to expand their presence in India, highlighting the country’s vast opportunities across key sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, food processing, innovation, and the digital economy.

The call came as India and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations by accelerating the implementation of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two countries agreed to fast-track negotiations and deepen cooperation to enhance trade in goods and services, promote investments, and facilitate greater economic engagement.

The leaders emphasized that a comprehensive and balanced FTA would unlock new opportunities for businesses in both countries by improving market access, reducing trade barriers, and fostering stronger collaboration across strategic sectors. The agreement is also expected to boost exports, create employment opportunities, and strengthen resilient supply chains.

Prime Minister Modi underscored India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and encouraged New Zealand companies to take advantage of the country’s investor-friendly policies, expanding infrastructure, and robust manufacturing ecosystem. He highlighted the government’s commitment to ease of doing business and its focus on innovation-driven growth.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, dairy, education, tourism, clean energy, digital technologies, and skill development, while encouraging greater collaboration between businesses, startups, and research institutions.

The renewed commitment to advancing the FTA reflects the shared vision of India and New Zealand to elevate their economic partnership, expand bilateral trade, and create new avenues for sustainable growth and investment. Officials from both countries are expected to continue discussions to expedite the agreement and deliver tangible benefits to businesses and consumers alike.

The development marks another significant step in deepening India–New Zealand strategic and economic ties, with both nations expressing confidence that enhanced trade and investment cooperation will contribute to long-term prosperity and mutual growth.