Balsamic Glazed Fig and Ricotta Tart

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.

Balsamic Glazed Fig and Ricotta Tart

This Balsamic Glazed Fig and Ricotta Tart is a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors, perfect for a unique dessert or a sophisticated appetizer.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet of puff pastry (thawed)
• 8 fresh figs, halved
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
• Fresh thyme leaves for garnish
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Score a 1-inch border around the edges.
3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, honey, vanilla extract, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly within the scored border on the puff pastry.
5. Arrange the fig halves cut side up over the ricotta mixture.
6. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the beaten egg to give it a golden color.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed.
8. Remove from the oven and drizzle the balsamic glaze over the tart.
9. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves before serving.

Enjoy your Balsamic Glazed Fig and Ricotta Tart warm or at room temperature, savoring the interplay of flavors and textures.