Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Pasta

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.

Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Pasta

Enjoy a delightful twist on traditional pesto with this vibrant and nutty Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Pasta, perfect for a unique and flavorful meal.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti or your choice of pasta
• 2 large red bell peppers
• 1/2 cup roasted almonds
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Red pepper flakes for heat

Instructions:

1. Roast the Peppers: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place the red bell peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally, until the skins are charred and blistered. Transfer them to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let steam for 10 minutes. Peel off the skins, remove the seeds, and chop.
2. Prepare the Pesto: In a food processor, combine the roasted peppers, almonds, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and basil leaves. Pulse until finely chopped.
3. Add Olive Oil: With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
4. Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
5. Toss with Pesto: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and pesto. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to reach the desired consistency.
6. Serve: Divide the pasta among bowls and garnish with extra Parmesan and basil if desired. Serve immediately.