Middle Eastern Spiced Lamb Kofta

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.

Middle Eastern Spiced Lamb Kofta

Transport your taste buds to the heart of the Middle East with these deliciously spiced lamb koftas. Perfectly grilled, they're packed with aromatic spices and served with a refreshing yogurt sauce.

Ingredients

• 500g minced lamb
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• Wooden skewers, soaked in water
• Olive oil for grilling
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the minced lamb, chopped onion, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, chili powder, salt, pepper, fresh parsley, and mint. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.
2. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape each portion around a skewer, forming elongated meatballs.
3. Preheat a grill or griddle pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the surface.
4. Grill the koftas, turning occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes or until they are cooked through and nicely browned.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the yogurt sauce by combining the yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
6. Serve the lamb koftas hot, drizzled with the yogurt sauce, and enjoy with warm flatbreads or a fresh salad.