Good morning,

More than one thousand new species have been found in the Mekong region by scientists of the WWF’s Greater Mekong Programme. They include the world’s biggest huntsman spider, with legspan ‘as big as a dinner plate,’ a bright pink millipede full of cyanide and a rat thought to have been extinct for 11 million years before being discovered on a Laotian barbecue (technically, of course, the grilled rats were also dead rather than pining for the river but there must be others). Of course, no sooner have they been found than there are fears that they will be driven to extinction by continued development in the region.

The first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals is due to take place tonight with Indonesia hosting Thailand. Boss Peter Reid is talking a good game, predicting the home team will face most pressure and that he hopes for a win. A win would be no surprise as the Indonesians are not very good and Thailand improved to some extent under Reid, so far as it has been possible to tell so far. This will be a good chance for the Thai team to show their willingness to press the ball higher up the park (as the numerous clichés have it – it means working harder when you don’t have the ball by chasing the opposition players about). We’ll see how they get on.

A decision is due concerning the ruining of land on the River Lampaniang after a disastrous dredging project some years ago. Villagers have been forced to move off the land since it can no longer be used for agriculture and have had to work as migrants in Bangkok. The decision will determine whether villagers will receive compensation for their plight.

Back tomorrow.