Legal Plunder: Indiana Police Prey On Packages Transiting Huge FedEx HubItaly’s cultural trove has been attracting aesthete and art-curious tourists from across the world since young aristocrats first embarked on their Grand Tours in the 17th century. Rome, Venice and Florence and their respective concentrations of riches have been the particular honeypots swarmed by art enthusiasts and list-tickers alike. The inaugural exhibition at Palazzo Citterio. Credit: Alamy But Milan, the northern capital mostly known for fashion, design and finance, is staking its claim to being a centre of art – with the culmination of a plan 50 years in the making. The Grande Brera project, a strategy to bring together several separate cultural institutions into a conglomerate like the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, has just been completed. The dream was conceived more than half a century ago, but various factors, many of them political, saw it stagnate. The early December launch of Palazzo Citterio as a modern art museum was the final piece of the Grande Brera puzzle to fall into place. The opening of Palazzo Citterio as part of the Grande Brera project. Credit: Alamy The Grande Brera comprises Pinacoteca di Brera being the main gallery, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera or Brera Academy, the botanical garden Orto Botanico di Brera and the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense or Braidense National Library, as well as linking the management of the Basilica delle Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Leonardo da Vinci’s delicate The Last Supper is located. The Pinacoteca di Brera, with its origins dating to Napoleon who wanted to create a “little Louvre” to display all the works seized by the French army (on the footprint of an art institution already established by Maria Teresa of Austria), has long held what is considered one of the world’s most significant collections, with important works by the likes of Raphael, Tintoretto and Caravaggio in its auspices, but has lacked enough space to display it to its full advantage. Palazzo Citterio, is now home to a modern art collection that grew through major donations in the 1970s and 1980s. A journalist gets a first look at the centre. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The wider Brera neighbourhood in which Grande Brera is situated is an artsy enclave at the centre of the city, featuring cobbled streets, upmarket restaurants and shops, and boutique hotels such as Bulgari Hotel Milano, which was the first of the luxury brand’s properties. The Grande Brera is a 15-minute walk from Milan’s famed cathedral, il Duomo di Milano. See pinacotecabrera.org/en/grande-brera/
Meet man, highest paid CEO who leads Rs 665275 crore company, he is...In today's Daily Fix:According to a Bloomberg report, Sony is getting back into the handheld business in a big way. The company is working on a handheld PlayStation to rival the Nintendo Switch, but it's still years away. Based on that loose timeline, it will likely face competition from a possible Xbox handheld, as well. Sony recently released the PlayStation Portal, but that was more of a PS5 accessory than a standalone gaming system, since it requires either a PS5 or a PS Plus subscription and very good wifi. In other news, Troy Baker will have a very big part in Naughty Dog's upcoming game, which shouldn't come as a surprise since he's the co-lead in one of the studio's biggest games (The Last of Us Part 1). And finally, we have a brand new Sonic 3 trailer.
(The Center Square) – After an Iranian national was arrested on Monday in a Boston suburb for his alleged ties to a terrorist attack that killed three U.S. service members, the town's leaders unanimously voted to pass a sanctuary city ordinance. On Monday, Iranian-born Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, a resident of Natick, Mass., was charged in federal court in Boston "with conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws," The Center Square reported. Sadeghi and others allegedly conspired to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring goods, services, and technology from American companies and exporting them to an Iranian-based company that contracts with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization. The company allegedly manufactured the drones used by the IRGC that killed U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan in January. Sadeghi faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy that goes back nearly 10 years , according to the complaint . His arrest occurred after an unprecedented number of Iranian and special interest aliens were apprehended after illegally entering the U.S., The Center Square reported . It also occurred after Islamic terrorist incidents increased under President Joe Biden and after he extended a national emergency regarding Iran last month. The U.S. has been in a perpetual state of national emergency related to Iran since Nov. 14, 1979, The Center Square reported . Forty-eight hours after Sadeghi's arrest , on Wednesday night, Natick's Select Board members unanimously passed a sanctuary city policy, 5-0. It prohibits taxpayer-funded town employees from inquiring about or collecting information about residents' citizenship status, among other provisions. Natick joined Boston, Somerville, Northampton, Amherst Cambridge, Concord, Lawrence and Newton in adopting so-called sanctuary city policies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's stated mass deportation policy. The policy is being implemented in response to more than 14 million illegal border crossers being reported under the Biden administration as crime and national security threat escalated, The Center Square reported. Natick's actions followed the all-Democratic Boston City Council unanimously voting to reaffirm the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits Boston Police Department officers from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with some exceptions. It also comes after Boston's mayor said the city wasn't planning on cooperating with ICE, The Center Square reported. Massachusetts' sanctuary policies work against law enforcement tasked with protecting residents, Todd Lyons, acting assistant director of field operations for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations in New England, argues. Elected officials "preaching their sanctuary city status are making it easier for those who commit sex crimes and fentanyl dealers. We need cities and towns to work with us to keep these criminals out of neighborhoods. "We focus on the worst of the worst and all the political rhetoric is not helping," he told the Boston Herald. Democratic leaders describing Massachusetts "as a sanctuary to the international community and that they won't cooperate with federal authorities, sends a dangerous signal to bad actors around the world," the chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, Amy Carnevale, said , "It tells them that Massachusetts is a safe haven where they can evade prosecution from the United States federal government." Last year, Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll urged residents to house illegal border crossers, saying, " step up if you're willing to have an additional family be part of your family." One year later, the state converted an empty former prison to house them, resulting in local outrage, The Center Square reported . Carnevale said it was time for Driscoll to "stand with the people of Massachusetts and declare that our state will no longer serve as a sanctuary for criminals whether they're here legally or illegally. For the safety and security of our communities, Massachusetts must send a clear message: there is no sanctuary for international criminals in our Commonwealth." ICE agents have been arresting violent criminals in Massachusetts, including men convicted of aggravated rape, assault and battery, and fugitives wanted in their home countries for violent sexual crimes. In many cases, sanctuary jurisdictions refused to cooperate with ICE, and instead released violent offenders into the community who then committed additional crimes, The Center Square reported . New Hampshire's incoming-Gov. Kelly Ayotte has had harsh words for Massachusetts, saying, "Our neighbors to the south seem intent on proving that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. As they struggle with a billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis, they are instead choosing to double down," she told Fox News Digital. Ayotte, who is replacing outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu, ran on a campaign against the "Mass-i-fication" of New Hampshire. "Here in New Hampshire, we are going to ban sanctuary policies and give law enforcement the tools to work together to ensure this crisis never comes to our towns," she said.December 20, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore A global review of advancements in integrating metasurfaces—thin planar arrays of nanostructures—into optoelectronic devices highlights their potential to transform technologies such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, optical modulators, and photodetectors. This progress can pave the way for breakthroughs across industries including augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), optical communication, thermal management, solar energy, and quantum technologies. The review, led by researchers from the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR IMRE) and Stanford University, and in collaboration with the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, was published in Science on 29 November 2024. Metasurfaces are extremely thin, engineered layers made of tiny building blocks (nanostructures) that can bend, reflect, or change light precisely. These advanced materials offer opportunities for enhanced device performance. For instance, metasurface -integrated photodetectors can capture more complex light information, such as spectral and polarization data, driving progress in imaging systems and optical computing. Similarly, in LEDs, metasurfaces improve quantum yields and enable precise directionality and color control in LEDs. By integrating these versatile materials into devices like LEDs, lasers, and photodetectors, researchers have demonstrated significant potential for advances in performance, efficiency, and compactness. AR/VR and Displays: Metasurfaces make high-resolution, ultra-compact optics possible, supporting more immersive and lightweight wearable devices. Renewable Energy: Improved light absorption and power conversion efficiency in solar cells contribute to enhanced sustainability. Optical Communication and Lasers: Enhanced beam quality and polarization control enable faster and more reliable data transmission. Sensing and Imaging: Metasurface-enabled photodetectors capture complex light-field data, advancing health care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and autonomous transport. "Metasurfaces offer a game-changing approach to light manipulation, combining precision, versatility, and compactness," said Dr. Ha Son Tung, Senior Scientist from A*STAR IMRE. "This could reshape how industries like renewable energy, health care, and advanced manufacturing utilize light." Future efforts will center on enhancing the multifunctionality of metasurfaces, enabling them to perform optical, electronic, and thermal functions simultaneously. To facilitate scaling up commercial applications, the team aims to develop scalable manufacturing techniques that align with industry standards and ensure material compatibility for seamless integration. More information: Son Tung Ha et al, Optoelectronic metadevices, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adm7442 Journal information: Science Provided by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), SingaporeNone
Stocks likely to move up as inflation eases KARACHI: Stocks reached the historical milestone of 100,000 points during the outgoing week, and the market is expected to keep the upward momentum amid expectations for a further decline in inflation. “We anticipate the market will sustain its positive momentum in the coming week, driven by expectations of a further decline in inflation. We project November inflation to decline to 4.7 per cent YoY,” said brokerage Arif Habib Ltd. “Furthermore, certain scrips are trading at attractive valuations, which are likely to continue enticing investor interest.” The week commenced on a negative trajectory as heightened political unrest led the market to decline by around 3,500 points. However, with the easing of political uncertainty, the market swiftly recovered the following day and ultimately surpassed the 100,000 points level. Key drivers of this recovery included expectations of further easing in inflation and a strong rally in commercial banks following the removal of minimum deposit rate (MDR). The market concluded the week at 101,357 points, marking a gain of 3,559 points (3.64 per cent week-on-week). Average volumes arrived at 979 million shares (down 1.2 per cent WoW), while the average value traded settled at $133 million (up 7.1 per cent WoW). Foreigner selling continued during this week, clocking in at $15.1 million compared to a net sell of $33 million last week. Major selling was witnessed in banks ($4.7 million) followed by fertiliser ($4.2 million). On the local front, buying was reported by insurance ($10.6 million) followed by individuals ($7.3 million). Sector-wise positive contributions came from commercial banks (1,676 points), technology & communication (349 points), oil & gas exploration companies (284 points), oil & gas marketing companies (260 points) and cement (234 points). Scrip-wise positive contributors were HBL (694 points), BAHL (538 points), PPL (274 points), SYS (255 points), and BAFL (205 points). The sectors that mainly contributed negatively were miscellaneous (52 points), automobile assembler (11 points), and automobile parts and accessories (5 points). Scrip-wise negative contributions came from MEBL (439 points), EFERT (78 points), FABL (57 points), PSEL (56 points), and SAZEW (34 points). Analyst Abdul Basit at JS Research said bullish momentum continued to prevail, with the KSE-100 reaching its historical milestone of 100k levels during the week. He said the week began with an uncertain political environment amid protests, which led to significant selling in the market. However, the decline was limited, followed by a strong recovery after the protest was called off. Developments in the banking sector regarding changes in the minimum deposit rate kept activity, in the sector, high throughout the week. In the recent T-bill auction, the government raised Rs616 billion against a target of Rs800 billion, with yields decreasing by 61-85bps across different tenors. Similarly, the six-month Kibor dropped by 96bps WoW to 12.67 per cent, reaching its lowest level in over 2.5 years. Moreover, auto financing continued to recover for the second consecutive month (3.7 per cent MoM), reaching Rs236 billion in Oct-2024. As per the latest data, SBP reserves increased by $131 million WoW to $11.4 billion. Additionally, Pakistan received $500 million from the ADB under its climate financing programme, which will be reflected in the upcoming week. The PKR marginally depreciated by 0.10 per cent WoW, concluding the week at 278.04 against the greenback. Nabeel Haroon, an analyst at Topline Securities, said the KSE-100 index increased by 3.64 per cent on a WoW basis; this gain was largely led by the heavyweight banking sector on development on the MDR front, where the sector rallied after the SBP removed the MDR requirement for all conventional banks on deposits from financial institutions, public sector enterprises and public limited companies.