ICJ awards Pedra Branca's sovereignty to Singapore

THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in the Netherlands has awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca island to Singapore, while Middle Rocks' sovereignty has been awarded to Malaysia.

The world court delivered the judgment on Friday, after several rounds of written and oral pleadings by disputing countries Singapore and Malaysia. The ICJ last heard arguments from both sides in November 2007.

The verdict brings to a close a 28-year row between the two neighbours. The dispute arose in 1980 when Singapore protested against a new Malaysian map of its maritime boundaries, which claimed the islet for itself.

Years of bilateral talks failed to resolve the matter and the parties agreed to seek the intervention of the UN court.

Pedra Branca, which Malaysia calls Pulau Batu Puteh, is located some 24 nautical miles to the east of Singapore and it commands the entire eastern approach to the Singapore Strait, through which almost 900 ships pass daily.

Pedra Branca also houses the Horsburgh Lighthouse, the oldest feature on the island which was built by the British between 1847 and 1851.

Leaders from both Singapore and Malaysia had said they would accept the ICJ's decision and stressed that whichever way it went, it would not affect bilateral ties.

YES ... WE WON!

Kiddy Rides

玩人丧德 玩物丧志

玩物丧志”大家都很熟悉，“玩人丧德”也许就比较生疏了。这两句话实际上是连在一起的，它们出自于古代的经典著作《尚书》。

大约在三千多年前，周武王消灭了商纣王之后，威德广播四海。当时有人进贡了一头犬，威猛善斗，与当时中原的犬大不相同。武王很喜好它。这件事被太保召公奭看在眼里，记在心中。

退朝以后，他写了一篇《旅獒》呈给周武王，文中说：“德盛不狎侮；狎侮君子，罔以盡人心；狎侮小人，罔以盡其力。……玩人丧德，玩物丧志。” 德行高尚的君王是不会轻视侮慢官员的，不然的话就没有人替他竭心尽忠了；轻视侮慢百姓，人民就不会拥戴他。只要不沉湎于声色，朝政事务就能处理得井然有序，如果迷恋于宠爱的女色，就败坏了高尚的德行；迷恋于自己所喜爱的物品，就会丧失进取的方向。

武王读了《旅獒》，想到商朝灭亡的教训，觉得召公奭的劝告是对的，于是把收到的贡品分赐给诸侯和有功之臣，自己则兢兢业业地致力于国家的治理和建设。

我们现在使用这句话的时候，一般只用后半句了。“玩物丧志”常用来指如果醉心于玩赏某些事物或迷恋于一些有害的事情，就会丧失积极进取的志气。 这也是语言发展变化的一种形式。

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