Spicy Szechuan Eggplant Stir-Fry

World

• Türkiye and seven nations condemn Israel’s settlement policies Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE jointly denounced Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, specifically rejecting the E1 plan east of East Jerusalem as illegal under international law. Source: Anadolu Agency.
• Trump says Iran is “still not ready” for the “right deal” amid tightening sanctions US President Donald Trump asserted that while Iran might want a deal, it is not prepared to make the correct one, as additional economic pressures are being applied. Source: Anadolu Agency.

United States

• AI agents become active control systems at Cloudflare Cloudflare is integrating AI into its software development lifecycle (SDLC), enforcing internal engineering standards through an AI-based control plane and agent tracing to manage code, configuration, and deployment. Source: The Art of CTO.
• Drone and missile attacks escalate in Ukraine Russian forces conducted a double-tap drone strike on a shopping mall, killing at least 15, and separate missile attacks near Kyiv killed 17. The UN warned that armed drones are escalating battlefield risks, including to aid workers. Source: The Art of CTO.

Technology

• Apple cuts over 200 roles in Siri and Vision Pro teams Bloomberg reports that Apple is reducing staff in immersive video, 3D video, and gaming teams as it shifts resources toward AI and new devices. Source: SpikePanel via Bloomberg.
• NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin systems reach Microsoft data centers Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed arrival of first production Vera Rubin units at Microsoft DCs, signaling accelerated AI infrastructure deployment. Source: SpikePanel via Microsoft/NVIDIA posts.

Science

• Colorado River water cuts announced Federal officials declared sharp water reductions over the next two years for three Western U.S. states, as supplies from the Colorado River continue to dwindle. Source: LA Post.
• Alfalfa sprout outbreak sickens 15 U.S. states Health authorities report a food-poisoning outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has impacted individuals across 15 states. Source: LA Post.
• NASA sidesteps LINK mission extension Due to a commercial spacecraft attitude control issue, NASA and Katalyst Space announced that the LINK spacecraft will not boost or capture the agency’s satellite as originally planned. Source: NASA Science.

Entertainment

• ‘The Odyssey’ becomes highest-grossing R-rated film ever Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster has surpassed $1.35 billion globally, overtaking *Deadpool & Wolverine* as the top-grossing R-rated movie. Source: The Guardian.
• ‘Insidious’ franchise returns with new entry The long-dormant *Insidious* series is back with a new film titled *Insidious: Out of the Further* just three years after its last installment. Source: Us Weekly via News & Observer.
• Austrian film ‘Everytime’ wins top prize at Sarajevo Festival Director Sandra Wollner’s *Everytime*, previously honored at Cannes, earned the Heart of Sarajevo award for best narrative feature. Source: Daily Mail via Variety.

Spicy Szechuan Eggplant Stir-Fry

This Spicy Szechuan Eggplant Stir-Fry is a flavorful and aromatic dish that brings a taste of Sichuan cuisine to your table. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe features tender eggplant cooked in a spicy and savory sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-sized eggplants, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon chili paste
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
2. Add the Szechuan peppercorns and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to sauté for another 30 seconds.
4. Add the eggplant pieces and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are tender and lightly browned.
5. Toss in the red bell pepper and stir-fry for 2 more minutes.
6. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and chili paste.
7. Pour the sauce over the eggplant mixture and toss to coat evenly. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
8. Remove from heat and stir in the sliced green onions.
9. Serve the Szechuan eggplant stir-fry over cooked rice, garnished with sesame seeds.