WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pakistan must provide written security assurances as part of a deal for $5.1 billion in American-made F-16 fighter jets and no equipment will be transferred until anti-diversion protections are in place, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has promised Congress.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Kaemi have killed at least 18 people and left more than 60 missing in southern China, state media said on Thursday.

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s air force bombed Tamil Tiger rebel territory in the island’s east for a second day on Thursday amid a spat over water supplies, a military source said, but there were no details on casualties.