Latest news with #SFA
Straits Times
a day ago
- Health
- Straits Times
SFA lifts suspension of NTU foodcourt nasi lemak stall found with severe cockroach infestation
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has lifted the suspension of the food business operations of Pioneer Nasi Lemak, Mixed Veg Rice, Noodle stall in Nanyang Technological University, said the agency on May 30. The stall is located in Pioneer Hall Food Court at 162 Nanyang Crescent. During an inspection of the premises on May 8, non-compliances such as severe infestation live cockroaches, dirty chillers and exhaust hood were found, leading to the suspension. The food stall is allowed to resume operations as it has rectified the lapses that were identified. Following the lifting of suspension, SFA will continue to place the food stall under close surveillance to ensure they adhere to food safety requirements . SFA said all food operators should ensure that their premises are clean and well-maintained, and staff are adequately trained on proper food safety management. Members of the public who come across poor food safety practices in food establishments are advised not to patronise them and provide feedback via our online feedback form with details for our follow-up investigations. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brian Rice in brutally honest account of gambling hell that took him to the brink as Livingston coach provides counsel
Rice hasn't gambled for five and a half years and insists life has never been better - now he's helping others caught in the same addiction to seek help. Brian Rice has opened his heart on the gambling hell that drove him to the very brink - and how he's helping others try to avoid the same perilous path. The Livingston coach hasn't placed a bet in over five and a half years since being suspended by the SFA while manager of Hamilton for breaching rules. But he insists football still has a massive problem with the addiction he labels an 'illness'. Rice admits the day he heard that he was subject of a Hampden investigation was the best day of his life. It was the moment he knew he'd reached the end of a lonely life of lies and guilt. Years earlier, while coaching 4500 miles from home in Qatar, his addiction took him to the darkest of places. The 61-year-old - whose career took him to the very top of English football with Nottingham Forest - told Mail Sport: 'Football has been my life. 'But I'd choose not to have football if it meant also not having gambling. I'd give it up. 'The day I was told the SFA were investigating me in October 2019 was the best day of my life. Apart from my kids being born. 'I remember Danny Doherty the secretary at Hamilton phoned to inform me the SFA had been in touch. I just said 'thank God'. 'A weight had been lifted. I'd reached the end. I knew the rules. But when you have an addiction there's no rules. 'I got suspended. But the best punishment ever was I had to go to meetings for my addiction. 'I've not gambled since. But I'm not an ex-gambler. It's just a day at a time. Life is much better without it. 'I've seen what it does to your family, to your friends. To other people. I struggled with guilt for a long time. That doesn't do you any good having that guilt. 'The low point? When I was stood on top of a 32-storey building in Qatar….. 'Gambling takes you there. It has no boundaries. It's looking for a weakness like any addiction. Something stopped me taking that step that day, thank God. 'When you are on the pitch during games that's your space because you need to concentrate on what's happening. 'But as soon as the game is over. That's you again. 'You can't think of anything else. You miss so many things in life, going for a coffee, going for a walk, you can't do that. That's your gambling time. Unless you're a compulsive gambler you won't understand. 'I've rebuilt my life around my meetings now. I go to at least two a week, usually three and sometimes four. All over the country. 'Not gambling gives you a simpler life. It's a well known fact: compulsive gambler, compulsive liar. 'I don't have any of that in my life now.' Rice has just helped Livingston secure promotion back to the Premiership after a remarkable season on the park that also saw the Lions win the SPFL Trust Trophy. Off the park he is trying to guide some of those suffering from the addiction that took over his life away from those dangers. He said: 'I've worked with footballers and non-footballers. I want to tell people there's help there, they're not alone. 'You would be amazed with how many players have been in touch with me. 'Football still has a massive problem. It's rife. You're shutting your eyes if you don't realise it. 'There's ways round the rules. It's there, it's available. You don't need to go into the bookies now. It's on your phone, on your tablet, advertised everywhere. 'These players think it's a quick fix. That if they stop gambling for a month it'll be alright. 'It's not about stopping gambling. It's about changing as a person, changing your habits and character. A day at a time. 'I'm one of the lucky ones. I've never thought about going back gambling because I have too much to lose. 'I used to think asking for help was a weakness. Now I know it's a strength. 'Identifying you need help. Back in the day you'd be battered for that. The 'you're only as strong as your weakest link' mentality. 'Society has changed now. Thankfully.' Some blame the betting companies flooding football with advertising. But Rice said: 'There's nothing wrong with betting - as long as you can control it. 'The money it generates for the sport. Football needs their money. Without that I might not be sitting in a job right now. 'It's not the betting company's fault that I'm a compulsive gambler. I'm the problem.'
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Singapore seizes 1.2 tonnes of smuggled Malaysian produce
KUALA LUMPUR: The Singapore Food Agency seized some 1.2 tonnes of fresh and processed produce illegally imported from Malaysia. SFA said the produce was seized in an operation carried out in collaboration with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. It said, on May 28 and 29, SFA and ICA conducted a joint operation on delivery trucks which typically transport produce intended for direct distribution to retailers and customers. "During the operation, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint noticed discrepancies in the consignment transported by two trucks and referred them to SFA for further checks. "SFA found undeclared and under-declared produce such as spring onion, potato, bayam and cut cabbage imported by two importers in the trucks. All illegally imported produce were seized," SFA said in a statement. It said SFA was investigating the incident further and will not hesitate to take enforcement action. "In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA's requirements. Illegally imported produce and food products are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. "Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit. "Offenders who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of S$10,000 (RM32,967) and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years," said the statement. SFA said safeguarding Singapore's borders remains a top priority for ICA and the latter will continue to conduct security checks to detect and deter illegal importation attempts to keep Singapore safe. "SFA will continue to safeguard food safety through our integrated food safety system, which includes strict import regulations and enforcement, and work closely with border control agencies to deter illegal importation across our borders," the statement said.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Collum explains key decision that went Celtic's way vs Rangers
The Irish striker thought he levelled up the match in the second half, only to see the linesman's flag raised as he wheeled away in celebration. After communication with VAR, however, a factual overturn was recommended, and Brendan Rodgers' men equalised. Read more: Initially, an offside was given for Daizen Maeda's run in behind Rangers' backline. The Japanese forward was also subsequently the subject of another check for perhaps obstructing Liam Kelly's view. There was adjudged to have been no wrongdoing, though, and the goal was given. "It's the correct decision for us in the end," said Collum on the SFA's VAR review show. "The first offside is what the assistant referee is punishing. He believes that the Celtic player who is out wide is in an offside position. That is not the case. "There's a correct delay [of the flag] to allow the move to come to a natural conclusion. "A goal is then scored. Then they award the initial offside out wide. The VAR quickly checks that and come to the conclusion it's onside. "I want to mention again we would prefer these decisions are correct on field, but VAR is there for that reason. "Then there is good on-field comms from the referee because he mentions that there is a potential second offside. I think it's the Rangers goalkeeper who also claims for that. The VAR are then allowed the opportunity to check that. "You can see they come to a conclusion, correctly, that there is no impact in any line of vision. "This is a factual overturn, and there is no need for the referee to come to the monitor here. "We're really pleased with that."
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Handling of Corsie retirement doesn't do women's game any favours
When Corsie started playing the idea of women taking their place at the national stadium would still have been fanciful. But while those who have moved the game in Scotland from an amateur sport to a professional entity deserve recognition, there is an accusation that anyone stepping out of lane not to offer pats on the back and big up the efforts is seen somehow as a traitor to the cause. That critical analysis is a personal affront. Read more: There is a perception inside media circles that the women's game in Scotland does not help itself when it comes to amplifying its story. It was difficult to argue this week as Corsie announced her retirement from the game. A press briefing was held with a hand-picked selection of journalists and an embargo agreed as to when the news would be released, with several outlets shunned. The myopia in this is staggering. As women's football stories jostle for column inches in a competitive, congested market where it is all about the clicks, it becomes a particularly difficult sell to editors when there has been a very deliberate choice to overlook them. This observer was not part of the chosen few invited to the briefing. When pressed on the matter Corsie's agent and director of Decibel Sports Management – whose LinkedIn profile speaks of a philosophy of 'focusing entirely on people who work within the women in sport marketplace' and promises 'representation of women within sport' – eventually suggested that there was an accusation of not being 'particularly supportive' to answer for. A – male – journalist was given the nod instead. In any case, it is not the job of journalists to don ra-ra skirts and break out the pom-poms. The role involves asking questions that might not always be comfortable. As Scotland captain, Corsie wrote a column for the Press and Journal on a willingness to play alongside a trans player. This is surely a topic worthy of exploration and debate given the position that she held when it was written. Similarly, Corsie was also the lead claimant in a legal challenge against the SFA over equal pay and treatment. Cue more troublesome questions. Among the multiple ironies here is that as Corsie prepares for a different kind of life away from the day-to-day hurl of professional football, the likelihood is that there will be multiple offers of media work. Corsie was an impressive pundit at the Euros last year and offered a fluent and articulate commentary at Saturday's Scottish Cup final as she performed media duties. Interestingly enough, an offer to perform a similar role at Sunday's Women's Scottish Cup final was not so eagerly embraced. In any case, there is always a wry chuckle allowed when those who seem to have actively tried to censor journalists then look to manoeuvre themselves onto the other side of the fence in a switch of career paths. As Corsie will discover, there will come a point when critical observations have to be made in a punditry role. And they will not always be well received. But, ultimately, the most striking element of this week was the lack of scrutiny around the women's game. When new Scotland manager Melissa Andreatta announced her first squad a few weeks back, the bulk of her press conference was spent talking about the leadership qualities that the returning Corsie offered. She spoke at great lengths of having watched recent games and could see the deficiencies that the defender's return would go some way to correcting. This week, Corsie spoke of the relief she felt that the news was now public around her retirement which would, of course, point to this decision having been made some time ago. Which begs the inevitable question: what is the purpose of being in the squad? This is a manager who is stepping in to pick up the pieces of a team who will spend the summer with their noses pressed against the glass as third successive major tournament takes place without them. Andreatta will have her work cut out in rebuilding a squad capable of competing at elite level given the alacrity of progression that has taken place globally across the last decade in the women's game. Fundamentally there is a question to be asked about the inclusion of a player in a squad for two competitive games who will not be part of the picture going forward. It is impossible to imagine such a bizarre scenario unfolding in the men's game. Corsie is not just stepping down from international football, but stepping away from football altogether. It is unimaginable that Robertson or John McGinn would be called into a squad for two competitive games with time called on their career when the full-time whistle sounded. The noise around such a situation would be deafening. There can be recognition and applause for the exceptional contribution that Corsie has made to Scotland – and a presentation of some kind would have been expected and thoroughly merited – but turning this week into what could be described as an exercise in self-indulgence does no one any favours.
