Stephen Wright

1 week ago | rfa.org | Stephen Wright

BANGKOK – Vietnam’s economic growth will halve if sharply higher U.S. tariffs are implemented, an expert warned, highlighting the precarious situation for Southeast Asian countries despite a surprise 90-day reprieve from President Donald Trump’s tariff sledgehammer. Southeast Asian nations face some of the highest tariffs threatened by Trump, which would burden even the region’s relatively wealthier countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.

2 weeks ago | rfa.org | Stephen Wright |Ginny Stein

New mega-dam takes shape on the Mekong River in Laos Rare footage shows massive construction near the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Luang Prabang. By Stephen Wright and Ginny Stein for RFA2025.04.08

2 weeks ago | rfa.org | Stephen Wright

BANGKOK – China is imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods a day after President Donald Trump announced sweeping taxes on trade with most countries - the latest escalation of a trade war that could stunt economic growth worldwide. China’s State Council Tariff Commission said an additional 34% tariff on imports from the U.S. will be imposed from April 10.

3 weeks ago | benarnews.org | Stephen Wright

Genetic analysis of the dung of endangered Asian elephants has revealed a larger population in Cambodia’s northern plains than previously believed and insights into their range – information that could help prevent extinction. The study by conservation group Fauna & Flora and researchers from Cambodia and Scotland estimated there are 51 Asian elephants in the adjacent wildlife sanctuaries of Prey Lang, Preah Roka and Chhaeb – about one-tenth of the wild population in Cambodia.

1 month ago | rfa.org | Stephen Wright

BANGKOK – Genetic analysis of the dung of endangered Asian elephants has revealed a larger population in Cambodia’s northern plains than previously believed and insights into their range – information that could help prevent extinction. The study by conservation group Fauna & Flora and researchers from Cambodia and Scotland estimated there are 51 Asian elephants in the adjacent wildlife sanctuaries of Prey Lang, Preah Roka and Chhaeb – about one-tenth of the wild population in Cambodia.