Lemon Saffron Risotto with Seared Scallops

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.
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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.

Lemon Saffron Risotto with Seared Scallops

This delicious Lemon Saffron Risotto paired with juicy seared scallops is an elegant dish that’s sure to impress. The creamy, citrus-infused risotto beautifully complements the sweet, tender scallops for a delightful dining experience.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pound large scallops
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a small pot, warm the broth and dissolve saffron threads in it. Keep it on a low simmer.
2. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent.
3. Add Arborio rice to the pan and toast it for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Pour in white wine and stir until absorbed.
5. Add a ladleful of warm broth to the rice, stirring constantly until absorbed. Continue adding broth, one ladleful at a time, allowing each to be absorbed before adding the next, until the rice is creamy and cooked al dente, about 18-20 minutes.
6. Stir in lemon zest, juice, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
7. In a separate pan, heat butter over high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
8. Serve the risotto topped with seared scallops. Garnish with fresh parsley.