WORLD BRIEFS

VIETNAM: Panetta at Cam Ranh Bay

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta traveled to Cam Ranh Bay on Sunday, a symbolic return to what was a vital naval base for the United States during the Vietnam War. The first visit to the bay by a U.S. secretary of defense in more than three decades was intended to highlight a deepening partnership with a former foe as both seek to counter the growing military assertiveness of China. Despite long-standing efforts by China to forge ties with Vietnam's communist government, leaders in Hanoi are increasingly turning elsewhere for new partnerships.

PAKISTAN: Drones kill 10 militants

A U.S. drone strike killed 10 suspected militants Sunday, Pakistani officials said. It was the sixth such strike in two weeks as the drone campaign pushes ahead in the face of Pakistani demands to stop. Four missiles were fired at targets in the village of Mana Raghzai in South Waziristan, where suspected militants were gathered to offer condolences to the brother of a militant commander killed during another unmanned drone attack on Saturday. The brother was one of those who died Sunday.

EGYPT: Appeal of Mubarak verdicts

Egypt's top prosecutor is appealing the verdicts in the trial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, acquitting him and his two sons on corruption charges and clearing senior police officers of complicity in killing protesters, an official said Sunday. Under Egyptian law, the prosecutor must appeal the entire verdict, which included life sentences for Mubarak and his former security chief for failing to stop the killing of protesters last year.

SERBIA: Grenade smashes nightclub

A man blew up the entrance to a packed nightclub with a hand grenade after he was refused admission early Sunday, killing himself, a friend and a bystander, police said. The explosion ripped through the entrance to the club in Idvor, north of Belgrade. Three of the injured were in a serious condition.