How to Install and Configure OpenVPN on Ubuntu 24.04

OpenVPN is an open-source VPN solution that uses TLS encryption and supports algorithms like AES-256 to secure data transmission over untrusted networks. A step-by-step guide outlines how to install OpenVPN on Ubuntu 24.04 using the default APT package repositories, which ships version 2.6.12. The setup also requires Easy-RSA, a certificate authority management tool used to generate the server certificates, private keys, and encryption files needed for VPN tunnel connections. Users must initialize a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and build a Certificate Authority to sign client and server certificates. Once configured, the setup produces a working OpenVPN server with a signed client certificate that can be imported into any compatible OpenVPN client.

How to Install WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04 Using the LEMP Stack

WordPress, a free open-source CMS built on PHP and MySQL, powers over 22% of the top one million websites as of December 2024. A technical guide published on DEV Community outlines the step-by-step process of deploying WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04 using the LEMP stack, which comprises Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP. The setup involves installing and configuring Nginx as the web server, securing it with UFW firewall rules to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic, and installing MySQL 8.0 as the database backend. A dedicated MySQL database and user are created specifically for WordPress, with appropriate privileges granted to isolate access. Prerequisites include a running Ubuntu 24.04 instance with sudo access and, optionally, a domain name pointed to the server via a DNS A record.

How to Set Up Nginx Ingress Controller with SSL/TLS on Kubernetes

The Nginx Ingress Controller serves as a single entry point for Kubernetes clusters, handling SSL/TLS termination, load balancing, and path-based routing via Nginx. A technical guide published on DEV Community walks through installing the controller using Helm, deploying two sample applications behind it, and securing them with HTTPS. The setup uses cert-manager alongside Let's Encrypt to automatically issue free SSL certificates, while also covering the option to import commercial certificates. Prerequisites include a Kubernetes cluster with at least two nodes, kubectl, the Helm package manager, and a registered domain name. Once configured, both applications become accessible over HTTPS through a single shared Ingress controller.

How to Install and Configure Argo CD on Kubernetes Using Helm

Argo CD is a Kubernetes-native GitOps tool that syncs application manifests from Git repositories to Kubernetes clusters, supporting YAML, Helm, Kustomize, and Jsonnet. The setup involves creating a dedicated namespace, installing Argo CD via Helm, and verifying pod and service deployment within the cluster. By default, the Argo CD web UI is not externally accessible, so port forwarding is used to reach it locally through a browser. An initial admin password is retrieved from a Kubernetes secret and base64-decoded to enable first-time login. The Argo CD CLI can also be installed separately to manage and deploy applications from the command line.

How to Install and Configure Git on Ubuntu 24.04

Git is an open-source distributed version control system that enables multiple developers to collaborate, track changes, and sync work via platforms like GitHub and GitLab. Ubuntu 24.04 ships with Git by default, but the bundled version may be outdated; users can upgrade to the latest release by adding the official Git PPA and running the APT package manager. Alternatively, a specific Git version can be installed by downloading the source code, compiling it with Make, and installing it to the system directory. After installation, Git must be configured with a global username and email address so that commit messages are properly attributed. These settings are stored in the .gitconfig file in the user's home directory and can be verified using the git config --list command.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9 with HTTPS

Jenkins, a widely used open-source CI/CD automation server, can be installed and secured on Rocky Linux 9 by following a structured setup process. The installation requires OpenJDK 21 as a prerequisite, with Jenkins added via its official stable DNF repository and GPG key. Once running as a systemd service on port 8080, the web interface is secured behind an Nginx reverse proxy using a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate. System resource limits are also tuned to handle heavier workloads, and automated backup configurations are put in place. The final setup delivers a fully functional Jenkins instance accessible over HTTPS, with a test job validated through both the web dashboard and the Jenkins CLI.

China's Kimi K3 debuts with 2.8 trillion parameters and 1 million token context window

Moonshot AI has released Kimi K3, a 2.8 trillion parameter foundation model designed to push the limits of AI performance. The model features a one million token context window, native multimodal support for text, images, and documents, and built-in long-term agent capabilities. Kimi K3 uses a proprietary KDA hybrid linear attention mechanism that replaces traditional quadratic-scaling attention, making large-context processing more computationally efficient. On key benchmarks, the model ranks at the top tier in software engineering and web browsing tasks, including a 91.2 score on BrowseComp and 88.3 on TerminalBench. The model is accessible via Moonshot AI's API and supports complex multi-step workflows suited for enterprise and engineering use cases.

How to Self-Host a Matrix Synapse Chat Server with Element on Ubuntu 22.04

Matrix is an open, decentralized communication protocol that supports messaging, VoIP, and IoT, with Synapse serving as its primary homeserver implementation. A new technical guide details how to deploy a self-hosted Synapse server on Ubuntu 22.04, backed by a PostgreSQL database for production-grade performance. The setup involves configuring Nginx as a reverse proxy for HTTPS traffic, opening necessary firewall ports including the Matrix federation port 8448, and installing Synapse from the official Matrix.org APT repository. A Coturn TURN server is also included to enable reliable voice and video calls, alongside a self-hosted Element web client. The guide requires a server with at least 2 GB of RAM, one vCPU, and properly configured DNS records for the Matrix, Element, and Coturn subdomains.

Apple Delays Camera-Equipped AirPods Pro to 2027, Per Bloomberg Report

At its September event, Apple unveiled the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, AirPods 5 with active noise cancellation, and Siri Recap for the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Notably absent from the announcements were the rumored camera-equipped AirPods Pro. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the camera AirPods Pro have been pushed back to 2027. The delay has drawn a mixed response, with some observers expressing relief over privacy concerns tied to wearable camera technology. The development signals that Apple is still working through the technical and ethical considerations of embedding cameras into ear-worn devices.

Dubai outreach puts Madhya Pradesh on global investment map, gets proposals worth Rs 53,000 crore

High Commissioner Anil Sookal interview: ‘India now has acceptance with the Global North and the Global South’

Solana handles 74% of x402 transactions but data gaps cloud the full picture

An independent analysis of a public x402 service directory, conducted on September 9, 2026, examined all 680 listed services and 90 days of transaction data to map where payments actually settle. Of the 172 services with measurable 30-day volume, Solana recorded 36,320 transactions compared to Base's 27,213, giving it roughly 74% of all counted transactions despite having fewer active services. However, the directory's measurement tools cannot track 148 of the 236 services that declare Solana support, meaning the true transaction share could shift significantly in either direction. The overall x402 economy remains modest, with measured 30-day volume totaling approximately $2,624 across all rails, or around $87 per day. Polygon stood out for higher per-transaction values at roughly $0.72, while Arbitrum had 40 service declarations but zero recorded settlements in the measured period.

Google Launches Lyria 3.5 with Expanded Music Controls Across Gemini App and API

Google has rolled out Lyria 3.5, an upgraded AI music generation model, available through both the Gemini app and Gemini API. The update introduces granular creative controls including tempo, duration, genre, vocals, lyrics, and structured song sections such as verses and choruses. A template gallery is also included to help users start projects more quickly without relying solely on open-ended text prompts. Developers can integrate the model into their own tools via the Gemini API, which also supports image inputs as creative context for music generation. Google has priced API usage at $0.08 per full song and $0.04 for a 30-second clip, with output delivered in 44.1 kHz stereo audio.

Integrated Servomotors Explained: One Unit Replaces the Entire Motor Stack

An integrated servomotor combines a motor, driver, motion controller, and encoder into a single housing, replacing the tangle of separate components typically needed in motion control systems. Unlike open-loop steppers that silently lose position under load, integrated servomotors use a closed feedback loop to continuously measure and correct shaft position. Wiring complexity drops significantly with axis count, as multi-drop bus protocols like RS-485 allow multiple motors to share a single cable daisy-chained across axes. While unit cost appears higher upfront, the savings on separate driver boards, encoders, wiring, and integration time often offset the difference. Key selection criteria include loop rate, encoder resolution, bus topology, software quality, and whether hardware and firmware are openly published.

Apple brings back black to the iPhone Pro lineup after one-year absence

Apple has reintroduced a black color option to its iPhone Pro lineup, ending a one-year gap. The iPhone 17 Pro had dropped black entirely in favor of orange, silver, and dark blue — marking the first time since the Pro line launched in 2019 that no black or dark gray option was available. The iPhone Pro series originally debuted in September 2019 with the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. The return of black has been welcomed by users who prefer understated, neutral-toned devices over bolder color choices.

Thailand Schools Run Shooter Drills Amid Rising Gun Violence Fears

Schools in Thailand have begun conducting active shooter drills in response to growing concern over gun violence targeting educational institutions. The drills are designed to prepare students and staff for potential armed attacks. Thai police are backing the initiative, expressing hope that the training will improve emergency preparedness. The move comes amid a broader trend of increasing school shootings reported across South East Asia.

UK Funds £5.9M Drive to Restore 105,000 Acres of Ancient 'Ghost Woods'

Wild Card's 'Rewild the Ghost Woods' campaign has received £5.9 million in UK government funding to restore ancient woodland hidden beneath conifer plantations. The grant covers the period from 2026 to 2029 and will focus on Forestry England's estate. Nature Minister Mary Creagh confirmed the initiative aims to double the pace at which these historic woodlands are being recovered. The project targets approximately 105,000 acres of sites where native forests once thrived before being replaced by commercial conifer planting.

ChatGPT Surpasses 50 Million Paid Subscribers and 900 Million Weekly Users

OpenAI announced on February 27, 2026, that ChatGPT has exceeded 50 million consumer subscribers and 900 million weekly active users. The subscriber figure spans ChatGPT Plus and related consumer plans priced at $20 per month, and is not limited to Plus-only accounts. Third-party credit card panel data cited by Earnest Analytics suggests roughly 89% of paying users remained after one quarter and 74% after three quarters, though OpenAI has not officially confirmed retention rates. The milestone signals that paid AI has moved well beyond early adopters, reflecting a broad willingness among consumers to pay for ongoing access. Analysts note, however, that subscriber scale alone does not guarantee business value — measurable workflow impact remains the more meaningful benchmark for organizations evaluating AI investment.

NFL Brings First Regular Season Game to Australia: Rams vs 49ers

The Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers in a historic NFL regular season game to be held in Australia. This marks the first time an NFL regular season match will be played on Australian soil. The matchup features two prominent NFC West rivals, adding competitive significance to the occasion. The game is part of the NFL's broader strategy to expand its international footprint beyond Europe and into the Asia-Pacific region.

Jenkins Declarative Pipelines: A Practical Guide for Modern DevOps Teams

Jenkins remains a widely used CI/CD automation tool in enterprise environments, despite growing competition from platforms like GitHub Actions and GitLab CI. Many developers find Jenkins difficult to adopt due to its complex UI, plugin ecosystem, and legacy reputation. The guide advocates moving away from GUI-based Freestyle Projects, which lack version control and are hard to replicate, toward Pipeline-as-Code using Jenkinsfiles stored in source repositories. Jenkins operates on a distributed controller-agent architecture, where the controller orchestrates jobs and agents handle the actual build execution across virtual machines or containers. Declarative Pipelines, written in a structured block syntax, are recommended for most use cases as they are more readable, maintainable, and easier to review than older Scripted Pipelines.