In brief: Nations promise aid for Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS – Nations and groups supporting Pakistan’s democratic advances promised Sunday to give the country millions of dollars more in flood aid, but some insisted that Pakistan itself must lead the way on recovery and account publicly for all funds.

The new pledges came two days after the U.N. made its largest disaster appeal ever, asking the world’s governments to raise a total of $2 billion for Pakistani flood victims.

Shooting raises security fears

NEW DELHI – Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at tourists near one of India’s biggest mosques, wounding two Taiwanese and raising concerns about security less than two weeks before an international sporting event in the Indian capital.

The gunmen shot randomly at the tourists as they were about to board a bus parked near the Jama Masjid mosque, police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

Hours later, the BBC’s Hindi language service said it received an e-mail purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen, an Islamic militant group, threatening to attack the upcoming Commonwealth Games, set for Oct. 3-14.

Typhoon brings flooding, winds

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A powerful typhoon made landfall in eastern China today after ripping into Taiwan, flooding the southern part of the island, crippling transportation and shutting off power as thousands of residents fled mountainous areas prone to landslides.

Typhoon Fanapi was the first major storm to strike the island this year and was the 11th typhoon to hit China. It landed in Fujian province at 7 a.m., according to Fujian provincial flood control headquarters, after crossing Taiwan on Sunday with peak winds of 102 mph.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said as much as 24 inches of rain had been dumped in southern Taiwan by late Sunday with much more to come.

Officials had evacuated 6,000 residents from remote areas vulnerable to landslides.