Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, May 28

Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis thought people could read his mind, the continuing inquest into the December drama he staged in Sydney has heard.

The inquest is examining a range of issues in relation to Monis, who took 18 people hostage at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place on Dec. 15. (Australia-Sydney Siege-Inquest)

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VIENTIANE -- Search parties in Laos have located the remains of six of the 10 school children that had gone missing and been presumed drowned after a vessel ferrying students and teachers across a major Mekong tributary capsized Tuesday morning, local police have confirmed.

Speaking to Xinhua, a police spokesman said the bodies of five girls and one boy were located by search parties operating some 2- 3 kilometers downstream from where the incident took place at Pak- Ngum district 60 kilometers from Vientiane's central business district. (Laos-Ferry Disaster)

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HANOI -- Defense ministers of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea agreed to further strengthen defense cooperation during talks held Thursday in Vietnam's capital Hanoi.

The talks were held between Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh and his South Korean counterpart Han Min-koo's visit to Vietnam from Wednesday to Friday. (Vietnam-South Korea-Defense)

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WELLINGTON -- FIFA officials on Thursday moved to shut down questions about the corruption scandal surrounding the international soccer body ahead of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The head of the tournament's organizing committee, Jeffrey Webb, was reportedly one of seven senior FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland and charged with racketeering, fraud and money- laundering. (New Zealand-FIFA-Sports) Endi