พรรคประชาชน

This issue is taking you to Brazil and Thailand. In the former, they announced that they've been making some progress on the whole forest-cutting-business that heats up our entire planet, and in the latter, the country's highest court is fighting for power because it fears that democracy has gotten too much into people's heads (and they might be right). Plus, I'm introducing you to some badass female rappers from the Arab world, a very hot take on yoga and Modi's relationship (it's toxic), and the African continent's top scientists and researchers in the field of AI. Plus, so much more!

Thailand's highest court dissolved the country's most popular political party

What happened:
So, here's the scoop. On Wednesday, Thailand's Constitutional Court decided to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and slapped a 10-year political ban on 11 of its leaders, including former leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Why? Because they proposed tweaking the lèse-majesté law, which is a big no-no in Thailand since it criminalizes any critique of the monarchy. This move has sparked a lot of backlash from Thai democratic activists and even got foreign governments talking.

Why this matters:
The MFP isn't just any party---they actually won the most seats and votes in last year's election. But this court ruling is seen as yet another attempt by conservative forces to keep a tight grip on power. In Thailand, the courts, especially the Constitutional Court, are often seen as tools for the royalist establishment to shut down any real political competition. This latest action fits into a pattern of using the judiciary to protect the status quo.

Tell me more:
MFP, which had topped the polls, couldn't form a government because the Senate---appointed by the military---refused to back Pita for prime minister. The party's stance on reforming the lèse-majesté law has been a major sticking point, with senators arguing that it threatens the monarchy. However, the MFP isn't going down without a fight. The MFP (most likely) saw this coming and had a backup plan, and launched a new party two days later, called the People's Party, aiming for a win in the 2027 election. The new party's logo and vibe are very similar to the MFP, keeping the reformist spirit alive. They've even got a new leadership team, and they're already gaining support online with hashtags (#พรรคประชาชน) trending on X. Their mission? According to Bloomberg, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, 37, a former IT executive and two-time MP who was named the party's leader, said "to create a government of change in 2027." The People's Party is sticking to its guns on pushing for reforms, including amending the lèse-majesté law to stop it from being used as a political weapon. They're all about putting the power in the hands of the people, as their slogan suggests: "by the people, for the people, building a Thailand where the highest power belongs to the people."

Fun fact:
The MFP teamed up with a tiny party, Thinkakhao Chaovilai, which didn't have any elected reps. They basically rebranded it as the People's Party, and now all 143 of the MFP's elected lawmakers are jumping ship to the new party. This is how they were able to do this -- new party, who dis? -- so quickly.

Did you know?
This has happened before, writes Jintamas Saksornchai for AP. MFP's predecessor, the Future Forward Party, was also dissolved in 2020, which led to a wave of youth-led protests.

Btw, as the political observer Ken Mathis Lohatepanont noted on X, the name "People's Party" isn't just any name; it's got some serious historical baggage. It's the same name that was used by the group that led the 1932 revolution, which ended nearly 700 years of absolute monarchy in Thailand. This connection isn't lost on anyone, and it's already stirring up controversy.

What now?
Recent polls suggest the MFP---or its new incarnation---still has strong support. In fact, more people might be rallying behind them now. The June numbers showed that the MFP was the top choice for nearly half of the respondents, with Pita being the favorite for prime minister. Even after the court's ruling, there's optimism that the new party could come out on top in the next general election. As one MP put it, "In 2027, the whole country will be orange."

Deforestation rates in the Amazon have almost halved

What happened:
Big news from Brazil: Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has slowed down by almost half compared to last year, according to some fresh satellite data from the government, reports Fabiano Maisonnave for AP.

Why this matters:
Brazil's a heavy hitter in the greenhouse gas game, ranking fifth globally. And nearly half of its emissions come from chopping down trees in the Amazon.

Refresher:
About two-thirds of the Amazon sits in Brazil, making it the biggest rainforest on the planet---seriously, it's twice the size of India. This place is like the Earth's air filter, soaking up tons of carbon dioxide and keeping global warming in check. Plus, it's got about 20% of the world's fresh water and a mind-blowing variety of life, with over 16,000 tree species and who knows how many other species we haven't even discovered yet. If you (still) need Gisele Bündchen and one of Brazil's top climate scientists, Dr. Antonio Nobre, to explain why deforestation in the Amazon s*cks, come over here.

Tell me more:
The Amazon lost 4,300 square kilometers of forest from August 2023 to July 2024---that's about the size of Rhode Island. But here's the "good news" part of it: that's a 46% decrease from the previous year. Still (yes, this bit is an emotional rollercoaster), July 2024 saw a 33% spike in tree-cutting, partly because of an ongoing strike by environmental workers. The strike, a drought, and local elections all played a role, according to Vice Minister Joao Capobianco. And, most importantly, even though deforestation rates have been slashed, the Amazon is still losing more than 5,000 square kilometers every year---that's three times the size of Greater London. Another good-news-in-an-overall-bad-situation:Deforestation in the Cerrado (a vast tropical savanna, covering around 21%...