PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is awaiting a reply from Singapore on its application to review the Inter­national Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on Pulau Batu Puteh.

"They (Singapore officials) are supposed to reply on June 14. When they reply, we will respond accordingly," said Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apan­di Ali after launching the 17th ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (Aslom).

Apandi, who is heading a team of legal experts in representing Malaysia in the case, expressed his satisfaction over the case's progress.

"It is going well. I have five researchers currently in London and they are doing work every day.

"There are thousands of documents that they need to go through," he said.

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KL hopes to find documents backing its Pedra Branca claim

This year, Malaysia applied to revise the ICJ's ruling that granted Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore following the discovery of "new important facts".

On May 23, 2008, the ICJ ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, which is 7.7 nautical miles from Pantai Tanjung Penyusuh, Johor.

Apandi said Malaysia found evi­­dence among some 3,000 do­cu­­­ments, which were declassified by the British government in 2013, that could help the country's case.

On another matter, he said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mission's (MACC) probe into the money flow of SRC International should be completed in about a month's time.

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Pedra Branca: Singapore confident of its team and case

Apandi said he did not order the investigations into SRC Inter­national, which is a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), to stop.

He clarified that the term "NFA" or "no further action" used on the case did not mean that it had been closed permanently.

"NFA is a normal terminology by the prosecution to show there is no further action at the mate­rial time.

"The files are never closed. If there are new evidences or new developments later on, we can reopen the investigations.

"Not necessarily on 1MDB only, but also on any case," he added.

Big man Lavin Raj admitted he was frustrated after being benched in Singapore's first three games in the 2017 Seaba Championship.

"At first, I was disappointed that I didn't play," said Raj.

But the 16-year-old centre finally got the break he was looking for on Tuesday, taking advantage of the extended garbage minutes in Singapore's 85-32 victory over Myanmar.

Raj tallied 19 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in 21 minutes on the floor as the Singaporeans nabbed their first win in four games.

"It feels good," he said. "I've been training hard for this, and now after playing, I feel more confident."

Playing with experienced teammates, the 6-foot-7 Raj shared he's trying to perform at his best even during practices as he goes toe-to-toe with his older teammates.

Fortunately for him, he showed his coach Frank Arsego some flashes of his potential in the rout.

"I've been trying to adapt. The older guys are much quicker, much stronger, and jump higher, but I'm just training and training and training," he said.

After his impressive showing, Raj hopes Arsego give him more opportunities in their remaining games against Thailand and Vietnam.

"I'm hoping to play the same way I did today," he said.

Forty flights were affected after Changi Airport's Terminal 2 (T2) was closed with all departing and arriving flights moved to Terminal 3 (T3) following a fire that broke out late afternoon yesterday (May 16).

In a media statement last night, the airport said two persons in T2 were sent to hospital for observation after they approached airport staff for medical assistance. Another four were sent to Terminal 3 clinic.

Passengers were evacuated after the fire broke out in a room storing air-conditioning equipment at T2, triggering the alarm at about 5.40 pm.

The airport statement said: "To minimise inconvenience to passengers, Changi Airport activated additional manpower and resources to facilitate the flights moved to Terminal 3, including for check-in and baggage handling. Airport staff and airline partners were also on-ground to help direct passengers."

Updated flight information was shared across all airport channels including the display screens and on Changi's social media platforms.

Changi Airport also worked with regional airports with planes flying to Singapore to adjust their departure times to help manage the arrival load.

Flight operations at T2 resumed progressively after SCDF gave the all-clear at about 10 pm. Airport staff worked through the night to clear the backlog of delayed flights.

The airport said it would work with authorities to investigate the incident.

Passengers departing or arriving today (May 17) are advised to check the Changi Airport website, app or social media channels for the latest information.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Being undefeated and having an air of invincibility adds a certain allure to a champion, and unbeaten ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion "Unstoppable" Angela Lee has looked just as her nickname implies.

On Friday Night, 26 May, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Lee (7-0) puts her title and unblemished record on the line against Brazilian knockout artist Istela Nunes (5-0 1 NC) in the main event of ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES.

The two fighters are both eager to leave with the belt and the zero in their loss columns, and the 20-year-old Singaporean expects that to be her.

"I am the more complete fighter, and at the end of the day, that is what it comes down to," the title holder says. "I have been doing this my whole life, and when we step into the cage, I know without a doubt I am going to come out victorious."

The statement Lee made in her first title defence at ONE: WARRIOR KINGDOM in March certainly helped to secure her top billing in Singapore, as she obliterated then-unbeaten challenger Jenny Huang with brilliant striking before delivering a TKO in the third round.

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To become world champion, Angela Lee banished teenage distractions through martial arts

Thrilling the crowd with exciting bouts and finishes is a sure-fire way to keep one's headlining status intact. Lee was pleased with the result, as stoppages are her primary aim when the cage door closes.

"I feel like the statement I made with that bout was, 'Look, I am the champion, I am legitimate, and I am a finisher.'" Lee says. "Because I want to finish the fight, that makes me one of the more exciting fighters."

Six of her seven victories have come inside the distance, with the sole decision being the five-round thriller against Mei Yamaguchi that won her the title at Singapore's ONE: ASCENT TO POWER in May 2016.

What primes this next encounter perfectly is that Nunes did the same thing in August, defeating Yamaguchi via split decision at ONE: HEROES OF THE WORLD, and announcing her arrival to ONE Championship fans.

The Brazilian is a feared two-time Muay Thai world champion, and a video of her triple head kick knockout in mixed martial arts competition even went viral. It is important for an athlete to recognise the threats an opponent poses, and Lee accepts Nunes is "explosive" and "a legitimate striker."

However, Lee knows it is more important to hone in on her own game, and make sure that it is the focal point of her strategy.

"I cannot focus too much on what she is going to bring to the table and what her game plan is," she says. "All I can do is focus on myself, my game plan, and make myself as prepared as I can be, so when I step into the cage, I can perform to the best of my abilities."

With her father and lifelong martial arts coach Ken Lee at the helm, and preparation also taking place at Evolve MMA, there is no doubt the 20-year-old will be primed for action. She is already making waves and showing herself to be a superstar in the Asian martial arts scene. Defeating yet another unbeaten challenger would see that prestige skyrocket.

It all boils down to her performance on the night. Lee's confidence grows with every single victory, and that confidence is at an all-time high following the dismantling of Huang in Bangkok. The unbeaten champion expects to see a similar image in Singapore, with her hand raised in victory come Friday, 26 May.

It was supposed to be a fun Saturday night out with an old friend visiting from the UK.

But things turned out quite differently for Ms Uma Mageswari when she caught a man secretly filming her on a North-East Line (NEL) MRT train.

She had boarded the train at Outram MRT station on the evening of May 13 and was heading towards Harbourfront MRT station.

Ms Uma said she noticed a man sitting in front of her but didn't think much of it and continued scrolling through her music playlist on her phone.

She looked up again and saw the same man holding his phone up, and seemed to be pointing the camera at her.

She started to suspect that she was being filmed and while she felt herself turning mad, she said she forced herself to keep calm and did the same thing to him - she whipped out her phone and started filming the man too.

She then posted the video on her Facebook page a few days later with an account of what happened and even some details of the man as well.

It didn't take long before it went viral in Singapore. At the time of publishing, the video has garnered over one million views.

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Caught in the act: Woman exposes man who secretly filmed her on NEL train

In a phone interview with AsiaOne, Ms Uma said she had already been planning on how to confront the guy - while filming him - during the three to four minutes she had before the train reached its final destination at Harbourfront station.

"There was no doubt on my mind that I was going to confront him. No way was I going to let him get away," Ms Uma, 36, said.

"My body that you perceive to be a weakness is going to be my weapon."

The moment the train pulled to a stop, the former volunteer counsellor said she got up and blocked him from exiting the train.

She said she immediately asked him about the recording and demanded that he show her his phone.

According to Ms Uma, the man did not oblige, but she managed to get him to follow her out of the train carriage and to the control station to seek help after an MRT staff advised her to do so.

My body that you perceive to be a weakness is going to be my weapon.

Ms Uma Mageswari

"He didn't try to run away but I was prepared to chase after him if I had to," said Ms Uma.

She said the control station staff rendered help as soon as she told them what happened, and one of them offered to call in the police. By then, Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) officers had also stepped in to help.

According to Ms Uma, the police also arrived "within minutes".

This was when Ms Uma found out more information about the perpetrator and learned that his name was Suraj. According to her, Suraj is married with a son.

Ms Uma said he told the police that he was using "a new phone" and didn't know how to use its buttons properly. He also added that Ms Uma reminded him of his own sister.

"He didn't offer an apology before but suddenly he wants to say 'sorry' to me," she said.

She told AsiaOne that if she was going to be a victim, "I'd rather be someone's last".

"Let my voice be heard each time he attempts to whip out his phone (to film a woman in secret)," said Ms Uma.

The police have since classified the case as intentionally causing alarm under the Protection from Harassment Act. Investigations are currently ongoing.

Staying positive despite everything

Although Ms Uma admitted that the incident was rather embarrassing, she was inspired to talk about it publicly after she related the incident to two of her goddaughters, aged 11 and 12.

"I told them, 'Don't look for people to help you, be your own hero'," Ms Uma shared, adding that thousands have sent her friend requests as well as private messages on Facebook.

She maintains that she is "humbled" and appreciates the words of strength from strangers, especially those who stepped forward to share similar experiences of their own with her.

She also believes that Singaporean women would do the same as she did and take action if they were in a similar situation.

On naysayers who slammed her for speaking up, Ms Uma said: "This is me and the way I look at it - I'd like to take something positive out of this experience."

In fact, she sees it as the "best belated birthday present" she's received this year as she had just celebrated her birthday last week.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

Apple fans, rejoice! Singapore's first Apple store at Orchard Road has announced its official opening date: May 27, 2017. 

Not to be confused with Apple Premium Resellers like Epicentre and iStudio, this will be Apple's first flagship store not just in Singapore, but in South-east Asia.

What can we expect?

Apple stores are well-known for their wide space, high ceilings, and gigantic glass doors like the ones shown below.

 While this store hasn't officially revealed its exterior to the public, it will be sure to impress as well.

And of course, there has to be the iconic Genius Bar in this store. Customers who have problems with their Apple devices will be able to get help by consulting the tech experts in store.

So what else can we expect when the store officialy opens its glass doors? Other than what Apple promises to be an amazing retail experience, Apple will also be including its trademark Today at Apple programme in its Singapore store. 

The programme will include workshops and events where customers can sign up for to learn how to get more out of their Apple products. 

Below are some of the programmes that you can sign up for at their website from today onwards (although most of them are fully booked at the time of writing):

Studio Hours

This programme consists of All Projects, Music Projects and Photo Projects. In each of these 90 minutes session, participants will be able to ask the Creatives on how to produce better content or improve their workflow through their Apple devices, such as sketching with Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro, using Final Cut Pro on Macbooks to edit videos, creating school presentations on Keynote, etc.

Kids Hours

This event is designed to cater to younger audiences. In Kids Hour: Making Movie Together , kids, along with their parents,  will be taught on how to take basic footage with their iPad and use iMovie to create a short trailer. Don't have an iPad? Don't worry as the staffs will provide iPads for loan during the session.

Live Art

Various artists will be invited to tell their stories and provide a deeper insights into what goes into their craft in these sessions.

There will also be an exclusive performance by Sezairi, the winner of Season 3's Singapore Idol.

Photo Walks

Want to learn how to take better pictures with the camera that you always carry with you? This programme will take you to new places, show you how to take better pictures with your iPhone as well as how to edit those pictures right on your iPhone. 

The first session will be conducted by local photographer Aik Beng Chia, where he will show participant how to take incredible street photographs as well as telling a local story with these photos. 

No doubt we can always purchase our Apple products from many other vendors in the past. However, with this new flagship store, Apple is creating not just another shop but rather a uniquely Apple experience that has so far been available only to fans overseas. Now, finally, we can as well.

akosasi@sph.com.sg

The theme of this year's National Day Parade (NDP) will be #OneNationTogether. This is the first time the hash symbol (#) has been incorporated into an NDP theme, enabling Singaporeans to share the rally call through social media.

Sharing the inspiration behind the theme, Chairman of the NDP 2017 Executive Commitee (EXCO) Colonel Ong Yoke Lam Melvin said in a statement on Wednesday (May 17): "This year's NDP celebrates our precious social unity and the racial and religious harmony we enjoy today."

"It is in thus unity that we will continue to rally together as one people and one nation, against all future challenges, striving towards a brave and confident future," he added.

Highlights of NDP 2017 include the dignified Parade & Ceremony featuring the Presidential Gun Salute on the M3G Raft, a Salute to the Nation performed by the five Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG fighter aircraft, and a special tribute to 50 years of National Service.

For the first time, NDP will feature two Dynamic Defence Display segments showcasing our national defence capabilities and Whole-of-Government response against rising security threats.

Singaporeans are also encouraged to join the NDP 2017 conversation by tagging their photos, well-wishes, reflections or stories on their personal social media platforms and/or NDP social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, with the following hashtags: #OneNationTogether, #NDP2017, #NDP17, #SG52. 

The hash-tagged photos, well-wishes, reflections or stories will be compiled and published on the official NDP website.

For more information about NDP 2017, click here.

akosasi@sph.com.sg

Get your body ready for a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course this weekend!

In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of National Service this year, Gillette is presenting to you the Gillette ProShield Challenge - an obstacle course designed to simulate the training our NSmen undergo during their service.

The Gillette ProShield Challenge will be officially unveiled at Plaza Singapura on May 19, 5pm and will last till May 21. A team face-off with local celebrities will start off the challenge.

Participants must race against the clock while scaling a warped wall, swinging from bar to bar and leaping across platforms.

Members of the public are welcomed to join in the fun too, and even grab their own NS50 Limited Edition Gillette Fusion ProShield Razor at a discounted rate.

The first 150 participants on May 20 and 21 will each walk away with a pair of movie ticket vouchers.

The NS50 razors come in 10 different designs, inspired by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence Force and Police Force. 

The razors can also be customised at any of the 10 island-wide roadshows, making a perfect gift for our NSmen, and just in time for Father’s Day too!

Mega Roadshow
Date: May 19 to 21, 2017

Time: 6pm to 9pm on May 19, 11am to 9pm daily from May 20-21

Venue: Level 1, Outdoor Front Plaza, Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd Singapore (238839)

Full roadshow schedule

• 5th – 7th May – NTUC FairPrice Xtra Jurong Point
• 12th – 14th May – NTUC FairPrice Xtra Serangoon Nex
• 19th – 21st May – Cold Storage Great World City
• 19th – 21st May – Cold Storage Plaza Singapura
• 26th – 28th May – NTUC FairPrice East Point
• 3rd – 4th June – Giant Hyper Tampines (WRS)
• 9th – 15th June – Watsons Takashimaya
• 16th – 18th June – Guardian Takashimaya
• 23rd – 25th June – Cold Storage Compass Point
• 7th – 9th July – Guardian Vivo City

ongymm@sph.com.sg

Does your child have what it takes to be a musical star? Here's a chance to kickstart your kid's singing career in a musical - and it's not just any musical.

The Sound of Music is returning to Singapore at The MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands this November. The last time the musical played here was in 2014, but this time round, it is looking at bringing a local touch to the audience.

The production company is looking for 18 Singapore child stars to play the roles of six von Trapp children: Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl. The seventh von Trapp child has already been cast.

The 18 children from Singapore will be cast in three rosters.

Children who wish to audition are expected to have a good level of skill in acting, singing (including part singing with harmonies) and dancing. All nationalities are eligible.

They must also fulfil the following height limits:

Auditions will be held at The MasterCard Theatres from May 26 to 28. Prospective candidates are required to complete an online form at www.soundofmusicsg.com.

Candidates are also required to be physically present at the pre-registration sessions on May 22 and 23 at The MasterCard Theatre foyer.

The Sound of Music, which tells the story of fun-loving governess Maria, who changes the lives of widowed Captain von Trapp and his children, features some unforgettable songs such as "Do-Re-Mi, "Edelweiss", and "My Favourite Things".

It was adapted in 1965 as a film musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

klim@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Police officers swooped in on a hotel at Jalan Besar road on Tuesday (May 17), arresting 24 foreigners - 23 women and a man, for suspected involvement in vice-related activities.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 33 were found to have made use of their stay in Singapore on valid social visit passes to offer sexual services.

According to a statement from the Singapore Police Force, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects have been advertising their sexual services on different online platforms and vice websites.

Potential customers could book their services via mobile phone numbers or email addresses provided on these websites.

During the raid by officers from Central Division and the Criminal Investigation Department, condoms and lubricants were seized as case exhibits.

According to the statement, it is an offence to be the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of a brothel under Section 148 of the Women's Charter.

If convicted, the person may be fined up to $10,000, or be jailed up to five years, or both.

In addition, any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, for example, receiving rental earnings from the prostitutes, faces a jail term ofo up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The police warns that those who engage in such activities will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.

candicec@sph.com.sg