The Fedora RISC-V community has released non-official Beta images for Fedora 45, including Server, Cloud, and Container builds aimed at testing on RISC-V hardware. These images offer two kernel options: a stable "Generic" kernel and a broader "Omni" kernel that supports more hardware but with less stability. While the images are not officially supported by Fedora and are primarily for testing and package building, they represent a significant step towards making Fedora Linux compatible with RISC-V architecture. Users are encouraged to test these images using QEMU before deploying on physical hardware, as the testing phase is still in its early stages and may present challenges

Two new Linux kernels, version 7.2.8 and LTS 6.18.54, have been released, focusing on bug fixes and security updates. Kernel 7.2.8 includes approximately 438 commits, while LTS 6.18.54 has around 397 commits, with significant improvements in SMB/CIFS networking, AMD GPU stability, and wireless functionality. Key fixes include addressing memory leaks in SMB, resolving usability issues with multiuser mounts, and enhancing AMD graphics stability, particularly for users resuming from hibernation. Both kernels continue the project's regular update cadence, with the LTS version supported until December 2028

Mageia 9 has reached its end of support as of September 30, 2026, meaning users will no longer receive security updates or patches, leaving their devices vulnerable. The community is urged to upgrade to Mageia 10, which features significant improvements including a modernized Linux kernel 6.18 and over 20 desktop environments. Users can upgrade through an in-place tool, command line instructions, or by performing a clean install, but must back up their data first to avoid loss. Mageia 10 will be supported until approximately March 2028, providing users with continued security and improvements

openSUSE Leap 16.1 has entered the Release Candidate phase with a targeted general availability date in November 2026, although the project is running slightly behind its roadmap. The upcoming release features significant updates, including KDE Plasma 6.6.4, QEMU 11, MariaDB 12, PHP 8.5, and LLVM 21, while it will be launched simultaneously with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 to ensure immediate access to enterprise-grade security patches. The Leap distribution is built on the same foundation as SUSE Linux Enterprise, providing users with reliable software updates and long-term support. Testing during the RC phase is crucial, and users are encouraged to participate by reporting issues, with the added incentive of receiving an openSUSE Kudos badge

KDE has released Plasma 6.8 Beta 2, which includes significant updates such as Union theming for legacy QtWidgets apps and the integration of the Kup backup scheduler into the desktop environment. The Union theming engine aims to provide a consistent look across applications, although it is still buggy and requires user testing for improvements. Additionally, the update removes X11 login support in favor of Wayland, marking a shift in KDE's direction. Other enhancements include improved HDR support, default NVIDIA triple buffering, and various fixes across multiple modules, contributing to a more refined user experience

Debian has launched the Inference Portal, a free AI model access service for its contributors, backed by Scaleway's sponsorship. Only active Debian Developers and Maintainers can access the portal using their Salsa accounts to obtain an OpenAI-compatible API key and utilize two available models: DeepSeek V4 Flash and Zhipu's GLM-5.2. The initiative followed a narrow vote allowing AI-assisted contributions, enforcing fair-use budgets of $25 per week for developers and $10 for maintainers, while ensuring prompt data privacy under Scaleway's zero-retention policy. This portal represents a compromise within the Debian community, providing structured AI access while maintaining accountability and addressing the ongoing debate about the role of AI in project contributions

SparkyLinux 2026.09 "Tiamat" has been released, introducing its first official Wayland edition based on the lightweight Labwc compositor. This semi-rolling Debian testing release includes updated packages, such as Linux kernel 7.2.6, GCC 16, and various desktop environments like KDE Plasma and MATE. The Labwc edition is designed as a MinimalGUI build for power users, allowing them to customize their installations without pre-installed admin tools. The release is a significant milestone for Wayland adoption among lightweight window managers, as Labwc reuses Openbox configurations for familiarity

KDE's draft policy titled "Don't be lazy," proposed by Nate Graham, has sparked significant debate within the community regarding AI-assisted contributions, leading to a split among developers over quality, ethical, and environmental concerns. A grassroots group, KDE for People, has called for a complete ban on generative AI, arguing the draft lacks ethical considerations and fails to involve the broader community in decision-making. The discussion has revealed tensions about responsibility, with some contributors advocating for a nuanced approach that balances quality and ethical usage, while others argue for strict bans on AI-generated outputs. As of September 23, KDE has not adopted either the draft or the ban, leaving the community awaiting a revised policy amidst ongoing scrutiny and debate

Liquorix has released kernel version 7.2-12, which merges upstream Linux 7.2.7 and updates the Debian ABI from 6-1 to 7-1, restoring a clean release cadence after the previous version skipped a release. The key developments are primarily related to a rebuilt Arch Linux CI pipeline, which includes enhancements like a new Jenkinsfile and improved package integrity checks. Notably, three commits in this release involved AI assistance, showcasing the integration of AI tools in kernel packaging efforts. Overall, while the kernel update itself may seem routine, the significant improvements in the CI infrastructure emphasize the importance of reliability and integrity for users, particularly those in gaming and desktop environments

Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray" has entered Beta Freeze, with Beta images scheduled for release on September 24 and the final version set for October 15. This interim release features significant changes, including the replacement of the 22-year default dbus-daemon with dbus-broker, the inclusion of the Linux kernel 7.3, and a transition to 100% Rust-based coreutils. Additional updates include GNOME 51 and a local-first AI speech tool called Myna, although the redesigned installer and App Center will not be fully implemented until the next LTS version in April 2024. While the changes are notable, some features remain unconfirmed, and testers are advised to approach the interim release with caution, especially regarding the kernel's stability and potential experimental features

Greg Kroah-Hartman has released two significant long-term support (LTS) Linux kernels, 6.18.53 and 6.12.111, both carrying a "must upgrade" warning due to critical security and bug fixes. The 6.18.53 branch includes around 1,250 patches, while 6.12.111 contains about 1,102, focusing on various areas such as virtualization, cryptography, filesystems, and networking. Both kernels are now available and have extended support through December 2028, making them important for enterprise deployments. The updates address various security vulnerabilities and performance issues, reinforcing the necessity for users to upgrade

Linux Kernel 7.2.7 has been released, featuring 737 bug-fix commits and essential security patches, particularly for vulnerabilities related to SMB heap overflows and IPv6 routing. Approximately one-third of the updates focus on networking improvements, while the release also highlights the kernel's increasing dependence on AI tools, with about 20% of commits acknowledging AI assistance. Notable security fixes address serious issues such as heap overflows and use-after-free bugs, ensuring that sysadmins on the 7.2 series are advised to update promptly. Additionally, the release is supported by a community of stable testers, which helps maintain the reliability of the kernel updates

Garuda Linux has announced the release of Garuda Nix, a standalone NixOS distribution that evolved from its previous Nix subsystem. Initially launched as a dual-boot add-on in May 2023, Garuda Nix now offers full installations via a Calamares GUI installer and a command-line tool, with two desktop editions: Dr460nized and Mokka. The new system retains the option to run NixOS as a subvolume within an existing Garuda setup while introducing a dedicated standalone installer for a fully configured NixOS experience. Additionally, Garuda Nix integrates features like impermanence, allowing users to create an effectively immutable system, and comes with daily ISO builds and a binary cache for easy installation of bleeding-edge software

Bazzite Linux 44.20260921 has been released as a rolling incremental update, addressing issues with Intel AX200/AX210 WiFi glitches on handheld devices and restoring the previously missing Broadcom wl kernel module. This update includes twelve commits that improve core graphics drivers, the gaming stack, and desktop environments, while also implementing community-sourced hardware fixes. Notable changes involve disabling the D3cold low-power state for WiFi cards to prevent instability and addressing hardware hangs on Intel and AMD systems. Users can easily upgrade using the bazzite-rollback-helper command, making it a practical update that focuses on resolving hardware issues without major feature changes

MX Linux 25.3 "Infinity," released on September 20, 2026, serves as the third point release of its Debian 13.7-based series, following previous updates 25.1 and 25.2. This release includes the Debian 6.12.107 LTS kernel and introduces MX-specific tools such as Verify-iso-sig for ISO signature checks and MX-Theme-Colors for customizing GTK themes. Users can easily access the latest updates through an apt full-upgrade without needing to reinstall the system. The update enhances various editions, including Xfce, KDE Plasma, and Fluxbox, while offering improvements to existing tools and kernel support for newer hardware

The Linux Kernel 7.3-rc4 has been released, featuring 449 commits from approximately 239 contributors, with a notable focus on filesystems and Wi-Fi improvements. The release emphasizes hardening and error path cleanup rather than new features, as the development cycle aims to address memory-safety issues and enhance network-facing security. Significant contributions include enhancements to SMB/CIFS and NTFS filesystems, as well as wireless stability improvements led by Johannes Berg. The release highlights the collaborative effort of many contributors across various subsystems, demonstrating the maturity and ongoing commitment to maintaining the Linux kernel's reliability and security

Bazzite Linux 44.20260919 has been released as a maintenance update, featuring a significant change in the audio stack by replacing its own WirePlumber fork with an upstream "terra" build, which reduces internal duplication. The update also includes a fix for SELinux label restoration during installation and an upgrade of Gamescope to version 3.16.29. Firmware remains unchanged to ensure stability for handheld devices, following a previous decision to prioritize compatibility over the latest vendor updates. Existing users can easily upgrade without reinstalling, and the release emphasizes the importance of maintaining a reliable and well-managed distribution

Tiling Shell v18.0 Second Release Candidate has been released, featuring support for GNOME 51, which expands compatibility from GNOME 42. A significant update includes a fix for fractional scaling that addresses oversized UI elements in GNOME 49 and later versions running on Wayland. The release process has shifted, with candidate versions now debuting on GitHub for testing before moving to the official extensions directory, reflecting the need for thorough testing due to the extension's complexity and popularity. While the official version is still listed as 17.3 on extensions.gnome.org, users can manually test the candidate version by downloading it from GitHub

Qubes OS 4.3.2-rc1 has been released for testing, featuring an upgrade to the default Fedora template to version 44 and a kernel update to Linux 7.2, with a stable release expected by the end of September. This release is primarily aimed at testers and includes two significant security fixes addressing vulnerabilities in qvm-open-in-vm and qvm-copy-to-vm. Users are advised to back up their systems before testing, as the release is not intended for production environments. The testing process will help validate the changes and ensure stability before the final version is launched

KDE Plasma 6.8 has entered its bug-fixing and polishing phase, with only four open regression reports, while development for 6.9 has just begun. The major update in 6.8 is the implementation of the Union theming system for QtWidgets applications, allowing apps like Dolphin and Kate to adopt a unified look. The team is managing four concurrent release tracks (6.6, 6.7, 6.8, and 6.9) while also addressing various bug fixes and improvements across all versions. Plasma 6.9 remains unscoped, but initial work is underway, with aspirations to use Union's CSS for theming the desktop environment in future releases