FUZHOU, China (Reuters) –
A flood-battered dyke in China suffered a fresh breach on Wednesday as heavy flooding that has killed nearly 200 people in the past week intensified and about 100,000 residents fled after an earlier break in its wall.

The Fu River in Jiangxi province first burst through the protective Changkai Dyke late on Monday after days of torrential rain, threatening areas near the small city of Fuzhou.

The river punched through the embankment again early on Wednesday, said the official Xinhua news agency. Residents whose homes were threatened had already been evacuated at night, it said.

Troops in orange vests used boats to search for stranded residents and take them to safety.

“Our homes were not flooded, but at 2 a.m. the waters began to rise quite fast, so we hurried to pack our things and leave,” said one resident, who only gave his last name, Wu.

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) –
Argentina cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday but former winners France ended their nightmarish campaign meekly and South Africa became the first host nation to fall at the opening stage.

Uruguay beat Mexico 1-0 in their final game in Group A but both countries qualified for the knockout round after the French lost 2-1 to South Africa, who failed to score enough goals to overhaul second-placed Mexico on goal difference.

Argentina dominated Group B by brushing aside a stubborn Greece 2-0 in Polokwane, and South Korea reached the last 16 for only the second time after finishing runners-up despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Nigeria in Durban.

As the competition moves into the knockout round, the South Koreans will take on Uruguay on Saturday, while on Sunday Diego Maradona‘s dazzling Argentina face Mexico in the last 16 for the second time in successive World Cups.

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KABUL, Afghanistan – Three NATO service members were killed in attacks and the head of a provincial health department died after a bomb planted in his private clinic exploded in northern Afghanistan.

The international coalition reported the three deaths Tuesday, bringing to at least 67 the number of its troops killed in the Afghan war so far this month.

NATO said a U.S. troop died Tuesday following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan, but did not disclose further details.

British defense officials said a member of the 40 Commando Royal Marines was shot Tuesday during fighting in the Sangin district of southern Helmand province. Another member of the same unit died Monday in a blast in Sangin, officials said.

Dr. Azizullah Safari was walking up to his second-floor clinic when a bomb exploded under the stairwell on Tuesday, said Muhbobullah Sayedi, a spokesman for the governor of Kunduz province.

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