Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

Trip planning usually means a dozen browser tabs, three airline apps, and a spreadsheet nobody asked for. Google wants to collapse all of that into one conversation. The company just added three travel features to AI Mode that let you watch flight prices, weigh your rewards points against cash, and book a hotel room without ever switching windows. Flight alerts and rewards, sorted in one chat Google Flights has offered price alerts for quite some time, but now that same tracking lives inside AI Mode itself. If you tell Google where you’re headed and when, it scans over 300 airlines…

Previous VW GTI Clubsport cars have shed up to 45kg of weight in the name of performance. However, while we’ve been told to expect typical Clubsport tweaks for the new car, nothing as drastic as, for example, ditching the back seats – as was the case on the Mk7 Golf GTI Clubsport – has been hinted at.  The ID. Polo GTI’s 52kWh battery will surely be retained for the Clubsport, meaning that with the additional power we’re likely to see a drop off in range from the GTI’s 264-mile maximum.  We’ve already tested the ID. Polo GTI in prototype form…

The Nio Firefly Club Spiaggia special edition features exclusive blue paint, striped decals and white multi-spoke wheels. Credit: Firefly. The new special edition is priced at 135,800 yuan ($20,030), with differentiation mainly coming from exclusive paint, decals and interior details. This is Firefly’s sixth special edition, extending its strategy of using small-batch design variants to sustain market interest while it has only 1 model. Nio Inc’s (NYSE: NIO) Firefly brand launched the new Club Spiaggia special edition on Friday in China, limiting it to 666 units. The vehicle is priced at 135,800 yuan ($20,030) and is now available for purchase.…

On Thursday, a judge ruled that the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic earlier this year was unconstitutional, delivering the AI lab a win in a monthslong rollercoaster of a battle with the Trump administration.The lawsuit, filed in March in a California district court, accused the Trump administration of unlawfully retaliating against Anthropic for setting “red lines,” or unacceptable military use cases of its AI technology.“The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics,” Judge Rita F. Lin, a district judge in the northern district of California, wrote in the ruling.She also wrote…

The new Kia EV3 is essentially an upgraded version of the now-retired Niro EV, and it’s about $10,000 cheaper. Kia EV3 undercuts Niro EV on price and adds style After proving to be a hit in Europe, the UK, and other overseas markets, Kia’s compact electric SUV is finally on sale in the US. The 2027 EV3 starts at $29,890, making it not only Kia’s most affordable EV, but one of America’s most affordable electric vehicles. Kia announced on Thursday that the refreshed 2027 Niro has the same starting price of $29,890. Although the 2026 model is available in fully…

The judge barred certain federal agencies from enforcing Trump’s order to stop using Anthropic’s tools. jackpress/Shutterstock A US federal court has ruled that the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk was illegal, CNBC reported. US District judge Rita Lin found that the US Department of Defense’s restrictions placed on the AI company and its Claude model were “illegal and baseless.” As part of the ruling, the judge barred certain federal agencies from enforcing President Trump’s order to stop using Anthropic’s tools.  “The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against…

Electric cars are no longer just expensive luxury vehicles designed for wealthy early adopters. Over the past few years, the EV market has slowly started becoming more accessible, with several manufacturers finally focusing on smaller, more affordable EVs aimed at ordinary commuters rather than six-figure status symbols. That shift matters because city driving may actually be where electric cars make the most sense. Urban commutes are usually shorter, traffic-heavy environments that naturally benefit from regenerative braking, and many city drivers simply do not need massive driving ranges or oversized electric SUVs. Instead, buyers gravitate toward compact EVs that are easy…

Pictures from our ride in a Bentley Torcal prototype

IndyCar racing gives engineers access to extremely strenuous operating conditions that far exceed what is seen in conventional automotive use. During a race weekend, lubricants experience sustained high temperatures, elevated engine speeds and constant friction between moving parts. Those stresses allow engineers to observe how an oil behaves when pushed to its limits. Pennzoil is the official supplier of lubricants for the team, supporting its IndyCar program and working alongside race engineers to study how the oil responds to heat, load and wear. The company is also a primary sponsor of Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Chevrolet and acts as the…

A CCTV video screenshot shows muddy floodwater and debris sweeping through a mountain valley near Gyirong Port in Xizang after the August 26, 2026 mudslide. Credit: CCTV The 3 companies have committed a combined 22 million yuan ($3.24 million) for emergency relief, temporary resettlement and post-disaster reconstruction. As of 8:00 am on August 27, the disaster had killed 3 people and left 558 missing, with rescue efforts continuing. Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO), BYD (HKEX: 1211) and Xiaomi (HKEX: 1810) have committed a combined 22 million yuan ($3.24 million) in aid through charitable foundations and other channels for areas affected by…