Hello and welcome to the intelligence from the economist. I'm Orr Eugenby.

And I'm Jason Palmer. Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

America hands out eye-watering amounts of money for international development each year.

But quite a bit of it doesn't look like money well spent.

We look into suggestions that the country's main aid agency is inefficient and high-dbound.

And scientists reckon that there are more than 2 million species of animals in the oceans.

So far they've catalogued only a tenth that amount.

Our correspondent reveals a new mission to spot 100,000 more species in the next decade.

But first.

Over the weekend a historic number of Thai citizens voted in a highly anticipated general election.

For decades politics in Thailand has been two-sided, a battle between the zealous royalists on one hand and on the other supporters of tax in Chinawatt, a populist tycoon-turned political leader.

But the election results suggest that this struggle may now be dramatically reshaped.

A stunning unexpected election result in Thailand led by 42-year-old Peter Lynch and Renrat.

A reformist party known as Move Forward won the most seats as young liberal tides showed up in their droves to vote against the establishment.

Yesterday its leader, Peter Lim Jaranrat, said that he should now take charge of the country.

I am ready to be the Prime Minister for all whether you agree with me or you disagree with me.

The incumbent Prime Minister, riot Chan Ho Chi, who seized power in a military coup nine years ago, came third in the vote.

Trailing per Thai, the country's main opposition party.

Transformative change is within sight. But actually forming a new government is the hard part.

Even Move Forward seems to be shocked by how well they've done. They did not expect to win the number of seats that they have won.

Su Lin Wong is the economist's southeast Asia correspondent.

But they also were very quick to adapt to the good news from their perspective.

...