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Austin Russell, the billionaire founder of Luminar, has made a bid to acquire the lidar maker five months after he was replaced as CEO following an ethics inquiry. The takeover effort was disclosed in an SEC filing by Russell early Friday morning. It would involve his new company, Russell AI Labs, purchasing 100% of the outstanding shares of Luminar’s Class A Common Stock for an undisclosed price. If it happens, Luminar would remain publicly traded, and Russell AI Labs may “acquire a different, larger global automotive technology company” and merge it with Luminar “to create a unified technology platform business…

METEPEC, Mexico (AP) — The first time he met a pope, Mexican craftsman Hilario Hernández could not believe his luck. He did not travel to the Vatican as a guest, but as the guardian of the fragile ceramic piece he had created as a gift for Benedict XVI.“No one really planned to take me along,” Hernández said. “But a Tree of Life can easily break, so I got the chance to bring it myself.”The work he was commissioned to create for the pope in 2008 is a celebrated expression of Mexican craftsmanship. Known as a Tree of Life, it belongs…

Apple announced on Friday that it has secured exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights to Formula 1. The new five-year agreement between the tech giant and Formula 1 will make Apple TV the exclusive streaming home for all Formula 1 races starting in the 2026 season, taking over from current broadcaster ESPN. All practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grand Prix races will be available to Apple TV subscribers. Select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the season, Apple says. Apple reportedly bid $140 million to $150 million annually for the rights,…

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer. Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali’s date is based on Hindu lunar calendarThe dates of the festival are…

Today is your last chance to save! Register for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 before 11:59 p.m. PT tonight and save up to $624 on your pass. This is the lowest rate available before Disrupt 2025 hits San Francisco’s Moscone West on October 27-29. After today, prices rise and will increase at the door. Reasons to attend Disrupt Connect with 10,000 founders, VCs, operators, and innovators  TechCrunch Disrupt is known as a launchpad for scaling and innovation. Connections are how that happens. You can make a year’s worth of connections in just three days with the brightest minds in tech.  20,000+ curated and impromptu meetings …

WhatsApp is attempting to solve its spam problem by curbing how many messages individual users and businesses can send to unknown people without getting a response. While the app started as an easy way to send messages to personal contacts, over time, it has become more complex with groups, communities, and business messaging. With those changes, people are getting more messages than ever, and it is hard to catch up with all of them. All messages users and businesses send to others will count against this new per-month limit, unless they get a response. For instance, if you meet someone…

You’re looking for big ways to grow your startup, whether that means securing investors, landing enterprise deals, or generating a nonstop pipeline of leads. This is your final moment.  You have less than 24 hours — and only a couple of tables left — to lock in the most valuable growth opportunity of the year at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.  Picture this: More than 10,000 tech leaders, investors, decision-makers, and innovators walking through the Expo Hall. They stop at your table. They see your brand across the venue. They connect with you in multiple ways. Book now before a competitor takes the final tables. Exhibit tables close tonight…

Solana Labs CEO and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko takes the Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27–29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, to chart where crypto goes next — from the meme coin frenzy to real-world finance and everything in between. This is one fintech conversation you will not want to miss. Save up to $624 on your pass before the sale ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT. Groups save up to 30% on passes. Sharing lessons on scaling blockchain and crypto adoption at Disrupt Yakovenko will unpack Solana’s breakout year, the growing demand for scalable, low-cost blockchain…

Automaker Stellantis and Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai have signed a nonbinding agreement to build robotaxis for deployment in Europe.   The collaboration will integrate Pony’s self-driving software into Stellantis’ electric medium-size van platform, which is built with advanced sensors to support autonomous vehicles. The companies plan to first deploy test vehicles based on the Peugeot e-Traveller model. Testing will begin in Luxembourg, Pony’s European headquarters, in the coming months, with plans to roll out more vehicles across European cities starting in 2026.   The tie-up comes a few months after Pony announced a partnership with Uber to deploy in…

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 wouldn’t be what it is without the incredible companies that power the innovation behind the scenes. From headline partners to emerging collaborators, our sponsors help make Disrupt the ultimate destination for founders, investors, and visionaries shaping the future of tech. Their insights, technologies, and support bring each stage, session, and startup moment to life — turning bold ideas into real-world impact. Spotlight sessions you won’t want to miss Our sponsors are shaping the future of industries — and you can catch them live at Disrupt: Tuesday October 28 AI Stage AI Isn’t Failing. You’re Just Solving the Wrong Problems 2:35 p.m.…