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06. 02. 13. - 16:00

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06. 02. 13. - 16:00

Isle Not Budge

Kathryn Quinn

Floody heck. Here's one way to shift protesters from a building site.

Developers in Yangji, Guangdong province, got fed up with negotiating with local home owners to make way for a new office block complex.

So they used bulldozers to divert a local river so it virtually encircles the householders holding out for better financial compensation for losing their homes.

"The ditch is as deep as a man and twice that wide. They've made it clear that if we want to leave we have to get out before they complete the circle," said one resident.

"They've already cut off most of the electricity and the fresh water and we're struggling to survive.

"But we won't give in. If they can build rivers, we can build bridges," he added.

Developers claim the handful of hold-outs are delaying a 200 million GBP plan to redevelop the site, close to the booming Guangzou city.

"They have been offered new homes so what more can we give them?

"Everyone else has gone and these people are standing in the way of progress," said a spokesman.

Now local officials have pledged to negotiate between the two sides.

"Both sides are taking extreme measures. We have to find another way," said one.

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).