💻 Linux Kernel 7.0 breathes new life into decade-old AMD GPUs

As the development of Linux Kernel 7.0 moves into its final bug-fixing stage, a significant portion of the latest patches focuses on the AMDGPU driver. The update introduces robust support for “veteran” graphics cards based on the GCN 1.0 and 1.1 architectures, some of which are more than a decade old.

Valve’s engineer Timur Krisztóf made a contribution in improving the AMDGPU driver to a point where it could replace the legacy Radeon DRM driver for older GCN 1.0/1.1 GPUs. The engineer resolved a persistent “black screen” bug that occurred when using analog outputs like D-Sub (VGA) on cards such as the Radeon HD 7790.

Also AMD engineer Alex Deucher contributed crucial patches for graphics cards like the Radeon Pro 560 found in older MacBook Pro models. These fixes address persistent issues such as cursor flickering and driver errors when operating in the GNOME desktop environment on the Wayland protocol.

By ensuring a wider range of GPUs are well-supported, Valve expands the potential user base for Steam on Linux and its SteamOS. The continued development for GCN 1.0/1.1 hardware in Linux Kernel 7.0 demonstrates the power of the open-source model to extend the lifespan of technology. It ensures that users are not forced into unnecessary hardware upgrades.

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⚡ Armed man shot, killed after entering perimeter at Trump's Mar-a-Lago

Authorities fatally shot a man who was carrying a shotgun and a gas cannister as he tried to enter President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida early Sunday morning, the Secret Service said. Trump was at the White House at the time of the incident.

“Two Secret Service agents confronted a white male who was carrying a gas can and a shotgun,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said. “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”

Officials are withholding the man’s name pending identification of his family. The FBI is investigating the incident.

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🔥 XRP supporters say Elon Musk is making a big statement about XRP and XLM

Crypto commentator Wilberforce Theophilus recently noted that members of the XRP community see visual parallels between the logos of XRP and XLM and the branding of X and xAI. Some supporters interpret these similarities as a subtle signal from Elon Musk, although no official statements support that conclusion.

Supporters highlight the curved “X” in XRP’s logo and compare it to the bold, angular “X” that Musk introduced after rebranding Twitter to X. Others point to Stellar’s circular emblem with a diagonal slash and note its resemblance to Grok’s orbital-style mark under xAI. These comparisons circulate widely, often paired with emojis that imply secrecy or undisclosed collaboration.

Musk continues building financial capabilities within X, and blockchain-based rails remain technically plausible for global payments. XRP and XLM both specialize in cross-border value transfer and institutional liquidity solutions. Those characteristics make them logical candidates in theory. 🤔

#Stellar

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🔋China’s water battery breakthrough can last 120,000+ cycles, outlast lithium-ion by decades

Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong have developed a new water-based, eco-friendly battery based on tofu brine. The new battery uses what the team calls “organic” electrodes with neutral, non-toxic electrolytes. According to the team, the new tofu-brine-based battery is capable of 120,000+ charge cycles. This could mean a single water-based battery could last at least a decade or so.

Lithium-ion batteries are notoriously highly flammable if damaged and can experience thermal runaway. By comparison, water-based batteries (or aqueous batteries) are considerably safer. They are, by their very nature, non-flammable and contain few, if any, toxic materials. For applications like grid storage (solar farms, wind balancing), that’s extremely valuable. If it can, then this tofu-brine battery could prove invaluable for renewable grid buffering and rural electrification projects.

#BRICS

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🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran and U.S. to meet on Thursday for talks

Iran and the U.S. will hold a third round of nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict.

"Pleased to confirm U.S.-Iran negotiations are now set for Geneva this Thursday, with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal," said Oman's foreign minister, who acts as a mediator in indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.

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⚡🇪🇺 EU says it will accept no increase in US tariffs after Supreme Court ruling: 'a deal is a deal'

The European Commission demanded on Sunday that the United States stick to the terms of an EU-U.S. trade deal reached last year, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's global tariffs and he responded with new levies across the board. The Commission, which negotiates trade policy on behalf of the 27 EU member states, said Washington must provide "full clarity" on the steps it intends to take following the court ruling.

"The current situation is not conducive to delivering 'fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial' transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides" in the joint statement setting out the terms of last year's trade agreement, the Commission said. "A deal is a deal."

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🇦🇺 Australian police test station-based drones 370 miles away from target site for rapid response

A small outback town roughly 370 miles northwest of Sydney is quietly becoming a proving ground for a new chapter in Australian policing. In Moree, struggled with elevated rates of property crime, theft and break-ins, 2 drones now sit mounted on the roof of the local station, ready to deploy within minutes.

They are flown by certified pilots based nearly 370 miles away in Sydney. The initiative marks the launch of PolAir-rural, a six-month trial aimed at reshaping how law enforcement monitors and responds to incidents across vast rural distances. The force is deploying DJI Matrice 4-TD platforms equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of transmitting clear, stable footage simultaneously to field officers and the control center.

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⚡ President Trump says "Mexico must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities announced late Sunday they had cleared most of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states. The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico's army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries.

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🤖 Nobel laureate invents machine that pulls 1,000 liters of water from air daily

Professor Omar Yaghi, a chemist at the University of California, Berkeley and a 2025 Nobel Prize winner, has invented a machine that can harvest up to 1,000 liters of clean water daily from thin air. Developed by his technology company Atoco, this device operates effectively even in areas with less than 20% humidity, offering a potential lifeline to regions struggling with severe water shortages.

The key to the invention is Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) - synthetic, porous materials that act like advanced sponges. As air passes through the machine, the MOFs trap water molecules in their pores. When heated by ambient sunlight or low-grade thermal energy, the material releases the trapped moisture as vapor, which then condenses into liquid water. This system runs off-grid using only the sun’s heat.

Over 2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water. About the size of a 20-foot shipping container, these units can be deployed to islands hit by hurricanes or to remote desert villages.

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⚡🇺🇸 Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ explores stablecoin for Gaza

The initiative is in the early stages of development and aims to provide digital transactions while limiting the amount of cash that can fall into the hands of Hamas. The project is led by Israeli technology advisor Liran Tankman and involves the new technocratic government of Gaza (NCAG) and the Peace Council itself, which will develop the regulatory framework.

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🇨🇳🧠 China’s brain-computer interface (BCI) industry is racing ahead

A new wave of China’s BCI startups is racing to commercialize both implantable (NeuroXess) and noninvasive (BrainCo) BCIs, backed by stronger policy support, expanding clinical trials, and growing investor interest.

Provinces such as Sichuan, Hubei, and Zhejiang have already set medical service pricing for BCI, speeding its inclusion in the national medical insurance system. Over time, Phoenix Peng, who has founded two BCI startups, foresees the technology extending beyond medicine “treating disease” to “human augmentation,” he said.

Researchers have completed the country’s first fully implanted, wireless BCI trial - allowing a paralyzed patient to control devices without external hardware, per CGTN. The field is now broadening further, with emerging approaches - including ultrasound, magnetoencephalography imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, optical methods, and hybrid BCIs.

China’s BCI startups are ramping up to challenge U.S. leaders like Neuralink, Synchron, and Paradromics. The market of China’s BCI startups is expected to grow over 120 billion yuan by 2040.

#BRICS

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⚡🇺🇸 Rubio travels to meet Caribbean leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with Caribbean leaders on regional security, and efforts to counter migration and drug trafficking in Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday. Discussions would also cover economic growth, health and energy security.

"During his visit, the secretary will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with CARICOM member states to enhance stability and prosperity in our hemisphere," spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement on Monday, referring to the Caribbean Community that comprises 15 member states and five associated members.

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