Vietnamese Beef Pho with Aromatic Broth

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.

Vietnamese Beef Pho with Aromatic Broth

Experience a savory bowl of Vietnamese Beef Pho, a fragrant noodle soup that combines aromatic spices with rich, savory flavors. Perfect for a cozy meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef bones
• 1 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, halved
• 4-inch piece of ginger, sliced
• 8 cups water
• 2 star anise
• 4 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 8 oz rice noodles
• Fresh herbs: cilantro, basil, mint
• Bean sprouts
• Lime wedges
• Sliced chili peppers
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Broth: In a large pot, combine beef bones, onion, and ginger. Dry roast for 5 minutes over medium heat until fragrant and slightly charred.
2. Add Water and Spices: Add 8 cups of water, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon stick to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours.
3. Season and Strain: Add fish sauce, salt, and pepper to the broth. Strain the broth and discard solids. Return to low heat.
4. Cook the Noodles: Cook rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. Serve the Pho: Divide noodles into bowls. Top with thin slices of beef sirloin. Pour hot broth over the beef to cook it.
6. Garnish and Enjoy: Add fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and sliced chili peppers. Serve hot and enjoy!