All children to have free healthcare in next three months
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that children will receive free healthcare at government hospitals within the next three months. The initiative is aimed at encouraging more parents to take their sick children to hospital and reduce the high rate of mortality among children under five.
– Vientiane Times
Germany to provide over 61 billion kip for education development
The German government will provide grant aid of over 61 billion kip (EUR 6.8 million) to contribute to educational development in Laos, with a focus on vocational training.
– Vientiane Times
Plans gather steam for railway linking Vientiane to Vietnamese seaport
Work is gearing up for the planned building of a railway to connect Vientiane to the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam after the two countries agreed to move forward with the project.
– Vientiane Times
Vientiane expressway route under scrutiny
Ministries are examining the route of the planned Vientiane expressway to ensure that it avoids densely populated communities after the government recently approved construction of the 14-km expressway in the city centre.
– Vientiane Times
Amendments Made to Draft Law on Criminal Code
Lawmakers at their ongoing 3rd Ordinary Session on Tuesday debated and considered amendments to the Draft Law on Criminal Code.
– Lao News Agency
Feature photo Mario Micklisch
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John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020