Persian-Style Pomegranate and Walnut Chicken

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.

Persian-Style Pomegranate and Walnut Chicken

Enjoy a unique culinary journey with this Persian-style dish that combines tender chicken with the rich flavors of pomegranate and walnut. Perfect for a special occasion or a family dinner, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup walnuts, finely ground
• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Fresh pomegranate seeds and parsley for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.
2. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken thighs. Brown them on both sides, then remove from the pan and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the ground walnuts to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously until they release their oils and become fragrant.
4. Add the pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, and pepper to the walnut mixture. Stir well to combine.
5. Return the chicken thighs to the pan, ensuring they are covered with the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
6. Serve the chicken topped with fresh pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley for an extra burst of flavor and color.