Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, May 30

VIENTIANE -- The Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport and China's Yunnan Sunny Road and Bridge Company (YSRBC) have signed a memorandum of understanding on a feasibility study of constructing a section of the expressway linking capital Vientiane and southern Laos' hub Pakxe.

The document was signed on Tuesday by the Lao ministry's Road Department Director General Pheng Douangngeun and YSRBC's Deputy General Manager Liu Faliang. (Laos-China-Expressway)

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KABUL -- Militants armed with guns and rockets attacked the building of the Afghan Interior Ministry on Wednesday with casualties feared, sources and witnesses said.

"We heard a huge blast at the first gate of the ministry which is located near Charahi Shaheed Square. The blast occurred at midday. The whole place has now been sealed off," eyewitness Farhad Mohammadi told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Militant-Attack)

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PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday that the time has come for Malaysia to stop the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, after a three-month search carried out by an America-based firm officially ended on Tuesday without making major progress.

"We have not found any evidence yet, so we have to come to a stage where we cannot keep searching for something we really cannot find," Mahathir said at a press conference held after the weekly cabinet meeting. (Malaysia-MH370-Search)

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CANBERRA -- The Turnbull government will undertake the most significant review of security and intelligence legislation in more than 40 years, Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter said.

The landmark inquiry will examine the legal framework underpinning Australia's intelligence community and capability, amid growing concerns that threats to national security are not appropriately handled. (Australia-Security Laws) Enditem