The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously barred the state’s new Republican-backed congressional districts from being used in November and ordered a statewide referendum on the map. Districts adopted after the 2020 census will remain in effect unless voters approve the replacement.
Associated Press [1]
Tesla began carrying passengers in dozens of purpose-built, self-driving Cybercabs in Austin. Unlike the vehicles in its existing robotaxi service, the new cars have no steering wheels or brake pedals. The limited rollout puts vehicles designed solely for autonomous operation into passenger service rather than adapting conventional cars.
Associated Press [1]
The World Meteorological Organization said El Niño is firmly established and likely to intensify to very strong levels. Its forecasting centers put the chance that it will persist through February 2027 at nearly 100 percent. A stronger El Niño raises the risks of floods, drought and extreme heat, though the forecast does not predict where individual events will occur.
UNICEF estimated that about 20 million internet-using children ages 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse during a single year. Nearly 60 percent of the reported experiences occurred on mainstream social-media platforms. Fewer than 1 percent were reported to authorities.