A woman in Singapore claimed that a bakery staff criticised her parenting skills after two of her children, who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), picked up and ate donuts directly from the display shelf.

The woman recounted the incident in an anonymous post in the Facebook group Complaint Singapore on Jul. 24.

Ate donuts directly from the display

According to the post, the woman had visited Yamazaki Bakery at VivoCity with her two young children and domestic helper.

Her children each picked up a donut from the display and bit into it.

She said she immediately apologised to the staff and assured them that she would pay for the two donuts.

The woman remained in the bakery to buy food, while her domestic helper stayed outside the store with the children.

However, a few moments later, an elderly female staff member standing behind the counter allegedly said loudly in Mandarin:

"We cannot blame the children. We can only blame the parents for their poor upbringing."

The woman said those words hit her harder than she could have ever imagined.

"As a mother, I already carry the daily challenges, worries, and emotional weight of raising two children with ADHD," she wrote.

She explained that she always kept a close eye on her children when they are out, as they can sometimes act impulsively before fully processing the consequences of their actions.

"This is not because they are ill-mannered, spoiled, or intentionally disobedient," she said. "It is part of a neurodevelopmental condition that they never chose to have, and certainly not something I wished upon them."

She added:

"Hearing a stranger publicly judge my parenting, without knowing anything about my children or our circumstances, was incredibly painful and humiliating."

Approached the staff member to clarify

The woman said she subsequently approached the staff member and calmly explained that both her children have ADHD, and that their behaviour was related to their condition rather than "poor parenting".

"I told her that her remark was deeply hurtful," she added.

The mother also wrote about the challenges of raising children with ADHD, including attending therapy appointments, managing emotional meltdowns and helping them navigate situations that others may not understand.

"I don’t expect everyone to understand ADHD, but I do hope people can choose kindness over judgement," she wrote.

She added:

"Before criticising a parent or a child, please remember that you may not know the battles they are fighting behind closed doors. Compassion costs nothing, but it can mean everything to a family trying their very best."

Mixed reactions online

The post drew mixed reactions from commenters.

Some said that while ADHD may explain impulsive behaviour, it did not remove the responsibility of parents to teach and manage their children's behaviour.

The woman's decision to share a photo of the staff online also became a point of contention, with some commenters saying that posting someone's photo without their consent was inappropriate, regardless of whether their alleged remarks were justified.

Others, however, said the circumstances surrounding the incident should be taken into consideration before judging the mother or her children, and expressed support for the woman.

Mothership has reached out to Yamazaki for comment.

Between Jul. 20 and 23, 2026, the Immigration abd Checkpoints Authority (ICA) detected 56 cases of travellers who possess vaporisers.

More than 444 vaporisers and related components were seized, ICA said on Jul. 24.

About 77 per cent of the cases involved short-term visitors and 23 per cent were Singapore residents, which include Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders.

Reminder

Vaping is illegal in Singapore, ICA said.

ICA added: "Foreigners who visit or reside in Singapore must abide by our laws."

Individuals caught possessing, using or purchasing vaporisers will face higher penalties.

Banned from re-entry

Short-term visitors who re-offend will be banned from re-entering Singapore.

Long-term pass holders who re-offend may have their passes revoked on a third offence and be deported and banned from re-entering Singapore.

Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, which came into force on May 1, 2026, those found vaping can be fined up to S$10,000.

Those found vaping etomidate can be fined up to S$20,000, or face up to 10 years’ jail, or both.

Convicted suppliers face a jail sentence of two to 10 years and two to five strokes of the cane.

Importers face between three to 20 years’ imprisonment, and five to 15 strokes of the cane.

Malaysia could host a Formula 1 race on Oct. 2 to 4, 2026, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.

BBC has since reported the news off ESPN.

The Malaysia race is to replace the Bahrain race.

The Bahrain race was initially set to take place in April 2026, but was called off in March along with the race in Saudi Arabia due to the war in Iran.

ESPN also reported that Bahrain had wanted to host its event for Oct. 4, in between the F1 events in Azerbaijan and Singapore.

But hostilities in Iran have escalated.

The Sepang track near Kuala Lumpur is expected to stage the Malaysia race.

Sepang was last on the calendar in 2017.

If the Malaysia race comes to pass, it will take place a week before the Singapore race.

The F1 race in Singapore will take place from Oct. 9 to 11.

ESPN further reported that the Bahrainis are still apparently willing to absorb the cost of the race, which is tentatively called the Bahrain Grand Prix being hosted by Malaysia.

An announcement from Malaysia prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected on Sunday, Jul. 26, The Star reported.

If the Malaysia race is confirmed, there will be races on three consecutive weekends in Azerbaijan, Malaysia and Singapore, BBC noted.

Motorsports portal, The Race, had reported on Thursday, Jul. 23, that Malaysia could be included in the F1 calendar at short notice.

Turkey was also named as the other country likely to host the race as well.

On Jun. 1, Rebecca (not her real name) was heading back to Singapore from Malaysia on a Cityline Bus she had booked.

Passengers, who bought tickets for the ride to take them back to Singapore, were instructed to disembark for immigration clearance at the Second Link.

Rebecca told Mothership this took less than 10 minutes.

In emails seen by Mothership, Cityline claimed the entire "total waiting time at the checkpoint" was approximately 30 minutes, which they claimed was the maximum time they could wait.

By the time she had cleared immigration, the bus that passengers were supposed to board again had departed.

Rebecca told Mothership that she and six other passengers were left behind.

Some of their personal belongings, including jackets, were left on the bus.

According to Rebecca, this all happened without any call or warning from the bus driver.

Emails seen by Mothership appear to back this account of events up.

An email sent to Rebecca by the company said that during peak travel periods, "drivers are unable to monitor the status of individual passengers" inside immigration.

And that the coach, in this case a feeder bus, would depart and continue with the journey after a certain time.

This was purportedly to comply with operational schedules.

Rebecca said that while this was unsettling, the part that made it even worse was that there were no replacement buses at the checkpoint, effectively leaving them stranded and "unsure" how to continue their journey:

"We experienced significant distress, anxiety, and helplessness while trying to find alternative transport arrangements. The incident caused a great deal of emotional stress and disrupted our travel plans completely."

Interview

After multiple emails, the bus operator told Rebecca that their findings revealed that they had operated in accordance with their "standard operating procedures" after investigations.

According to them, they purportedly interviewed the drivers and various passengers, but were unable to disclose who they were to Rebecca.

In their final email, they said that while they apologised for the experience not meeting her expectations, they considered the matter closed.

The two jackets were also not returned, with the company saying in the email that they could not locate it.

They were "unable to determine" whether they were removed by another passenger or disposed of after being left behind.

Based on their investigations, Cityline told Rebecca they were unable to "establish any service failure" on their part.

They told her no refund or compensation for the missing items would be offered.

Rebecca said the jackets were worth about S$200.

Punctuality

A number of Google reviews mentioned the company's issue with punctuality.

Similar issues of checkpoint waiting time were brought up.

Other issues, such as the lack of communication, were also raised.

Mothership has reached out to Cityline for comment.

The boss of a company in China said he had previously fired an employee for allegedly refusing to invite his own mother to his wedding as he felt ashamed of her appearance.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the founder of Henan Mining Crane Co. Ltd, Cui Peijun (transliterated), was said to be an extremely generous boss known for distributing year-end bonuses exceeding 100 million yuan (over S$19 million) for two consecutive years.

Special summer internship training programme

On Jul. 21, the company launched a special summer internship training programme for its employees' children and recruited a total of 331 students, finance.sina.com reported.

At the launch ceremony, Cui told students that giving back to parents and being filial to them was the foundation of being a good person.

A person who cannot even uphold the most basic filial piety does not deserve the respect of a company or others, he said.

Didn't let mother attend wedding, got fired

He then recounted how one of his employees got married, but Cui saw her sitting in the shade next to the factory during the ceremony, Sin Chew reported.

When Cui asked the employee why his mother did not attend the wedding, the employee allegedly responded: "Because my mother's face is not good-looking, I'm afraid she will embarrass me."

According to sohu.com, this made Cui very angry and he told the employee: "You lost your father when you were two years old, and this is how you treat your mother?"

He then fired the employee on the spot.

Gives mother a job

After the employee realised how difficult it was to find a job, and how well he was being paid at the company, he returned to Cui's office.

He then knelt down and begged for another chance.

However, Cui refused, reportedly telling the employee he looked down on him and he had to leave.

Cui then arranged for the employee's mother, who had retired from a workshop, to work in the logistics department.

He matched her past salary.

Debate

Following this, some commenters strongly agreed with the company culture and acknowledged that while skills can be developed in the workplace, character is difficult to change.

However, others pointed out that though companies may promote values, filial piety falls under personal morality.

If an employee has not made mistakes in their work, dismissing them for such reasons could possibly be deemed an infringement of workers' rights.

Aerialist Megan Sophie Lau gave a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare for her performance at the 2026 National Day Parade (NDP).

According to an interview with CNA, Lau began her aerialist journey in 2025, when she was offered a role in the aquatic theatre show House of Dancing Water in Macau.

"Highest I've ever done"

In an Instagram post on Jul. 19, the 25-year-old took viewers behind the scenes of her preparations for NDP 2026, where she will perform 30m above the National Stadium on Aug. 9.

“For the past few Monday nights, I've been sprinting to the National Stadium to get ready for night rehearsals for NDP,” she said.

Her preparations begin with putting on her in-ear monitor (IEM), before climbing into her harness and putting on her helmet and eyewear.

"Safety first," she said. "And no, this isn't overkill. It's because of the drones flying around us while we are in the air."

Lau is one of two professional aerialists who will join local singer Jasmine Sokko during her performance of her single, "You'll Be Okay", where they will be suspended 30m above the National Stadium.

The performance will feature about 300 indoor drones performing a synchronised display around them.

For Lau, nothing beats the feeling of defying gravity.

"Honestly I love every second of it," she said, adding that 30m is the highest she has ever performed at.

The video also features a point-of-view clip of Lau performing a mid-air flip high above the stadium.

"I am so excited. So see you at NDP 2026," she said.

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Singaporean host Diana Ser shared in a July 2026 Instagram post that two of her three children will be heading off to university in 2027.

According to vibes by 8world, Ser and her husband James Lye, who was a former local actor turned banking executive, have been married for 22 years and have three children — Jake, Christy, and Jayme.

As her children "embark on exciting adventures", Ser shared some life advice for them, accompanied by a series of their childhood photos.

Life advice tips

Ser wants her children to remember rules of thumb that she calls "Mama's Mantra".

Firstly, Ser reminded her children to always iron their clothes, noting that this is something her children should always do, except in the event of an emergency evacuation.

"Clean, well-pressed clothes speak volumes about self-respect and discipline," she said.

Secondly, she reminded them that nature calms, refreshes and rejuvenates.

Thirdly, she told them to not just make friends, but cultivate relationships that last.

"These provide emotional and psychological support, and relationships anchor you to a place," she added.

Next, she encouraged them to get enough sleep as it would make them look and think better.

Finally, she advised them to "get perspectives on everything", but ground their decisions to what matters to them — their values, passion and loved ones.

Reactions

Responding to her post, commenters online thanked her for the post and said it was "great advice".

One commenter also said she would use it for her son in the future.

Samuel Seow, a former entertainment lawyer, has died.

He was 53.

A Jul. 26 statement from his family and conveyed by a close business associate, said he died peacefully in his sleep, according to Stomp.

His cause of death was confirmed by a doctor to be a heart attack, it was also reported.

His family, attending to his death in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, has requested for privacy.

Founded talent agency

Seow, a Singaporean, was also the founder of Beam Artistes, which launched in 2010.

At one point it represented about 20 artistes, including Ase Wang, Shane Pow, Jaymee Ong and Paul Foster.

In 2025, he became the founder of two male pageants, Misters of Nusantara and Masters of the World.

Masters of the World 2026 was set to take place in September 2026.

Legal troubles

Seow was struck off the roll in May 2022.

He had admitted before a disciplinary tribunal in 2019 to eight instances of professional misconduct involving three female employees at his office between March and April 2018.

Seow pleaded guilty and was sentenced in October 2022 to four weeks' jail and a S$1,500 fine for assaulting his niece and using criminal force on another female employee.

Tribute

Local filmmaker Kelvin Sng said in a Facebook tribute that he received the "most shocking news last night that my Godfather Samuel Seow has passed on".

Sng, who directed movies including The Fortune Handbook (2017) and King Of Hawkers (2024) added that Seow became his godparent back in 2010 when he was baptised as a Catholic.

"Despite whatever that happened over the years, I choose to remember the good times and his goodness," he said.

"Rest in peace Sam."

The Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, Thailand, and the Italian students involved in an incident where they were rowdy on a train in Bangkok, have apologised to the Thai public.

This was after a group of Italian teenagers were filmed speaking loudly and behaving inappropriately towards a fellow commuter, a Thai local, on the BTS Skytrain.

Train incident

A video of the incident circulated widely online.

Khaosod English reported that it has attracted over 15.4 million views on X alone.

The video, which was posted by a Thai woman on Jul. 23, showed her attempting to ask the teenagers to quieten down.

However, they reacted rudely.

A boy was seen gesturing by raising a middle finger.

One comment caught on video included: "Sorry that we brought money to your country".

Commuters on the BTS Skytrain typically keep their volumes down as a form of respect and mindfulness for others in an enclosed public space.

Apologies

The video triggered widespread anger among Thais, with the woman involved later filing a police report.

In response to the public outcry, the Italian embassy in Bangkok apologised via a trilingual Facebook statement on Jul. 25.

It criticised the behaviour of the underage tourists who were in Thailand participating in a school educational trip.

The statement read: "The Embassy of Italy in Bangkok expresses its deep regret over the incident and strongly condemns the inappropriate behaviour of a group of Italian underage tourists participating in a school educational trip, as shown in a video circulated on social media."

"The embassy extends its sincere apologies to the people of Thailand and to everyone affected by this incident."

"Italians deeply understand and appreciate the values that Thai society places on respect for others, courtesy and harmonious coexistence – values that are equally cherished and upheld by the Italian republic," the statement added.

It also emphasised that their "inappropriate behaviour" did not in any way represent the Italian people, nor did it "reflect the values of mutual respect, friendship, and courtesy that have long formed the foundation of the enduring relationship between the Italian Republic and the Kingdom of Thailand".

The embassy also released a separate video of four representatives apologising directly to the Thai public.

Admitting that they had initially intended to address the situation on Jul. 24, they explained that they postponed it as they were "worried" and "scared".

They also acknowledged that it was a "wrong decision" to delay apologising for the incident and pleaded for forgiveness from the Thai people.

One representative said: "I'm personally extremely sorry for what has happened."

"I perfectly know that money can't buy respect, and I'm really sorry for all the people offended and for having offended Thai culture."

Another representative said they did not condone such behaviour, noting that the teenagers involved in the incident would be sent back to Italy as soon as possible.

The students involved would also undergo further guidance to ensure strict respect for local cultures in the future, a representative added.

Charges, another chance

The Nation Thailand reported that the group of teenagers and their supervisor later met the woman at the station with an interpreter present.

A video posted by "1234aaawry" on TikTok showed them individually apologising for their behaviour.

One woman said: "I apologise to you, to all Thai people and to your family."

Both sides then reportedly agreed to delete photos and videos of the incident.

Police charged five of the six with insulting another person in their presence and fined each 1,000 baht (S$38), The Nation Thailand reported.

The individual seen making the middle-finger gesture in the video faced an additional charge of committing an indecent act in public, and a 2,000 baht (S$76) fine.

Even though the Thai woman felt the amount might not be a severe punishment for the group, she said she respected the officers' decision.

She also recognised the sincerity and remorse behind the apology and believed those who admitted wrongdoing and apologised should be given another chance.

HarbourFront Centre will cease operations on Monday, Jul. 27, 2026.

Sunday, Jul. 26 is its last day.

The mall made the announcement previously on Jun. 19.

Shutters down

Members of the public have been posting photos and their memories of the place.

HarbourFront Centre opened in 1978 as the World Trade Centre.

It was renovated and reopened in 2003, when it became HarbourFront Centre.

Photos shared online showed that many of the tenants have already moved out before the end of July 2026.

The shutters on many shops have come down when Mothership visited the premises on Jul. 20.

A member of the public Heritage SG Memories Facebook group wrote in his accompanying caption of the photos he shared of HarbourFront Centre: "I will remember in my heart."

While most of the shops have closed, Poh Kim Video was still operating on the final day of the mall's operations.

Other businesses that were still open on the final day, included Seoul Garden, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Pastamania, and Song Fa Bak Kut Teh.

To be redeveloped into 33-storey building

The 13-storey HarbourFront Centre will be redeveloped into a 33-storey mixed-use development featuring office and retail spaces and an elevated park that stretches towards the waterfront.

Redevelopment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2031.

The new Singapore Cruise Centre opened on Jul. 7 after moving from HarbourFront Centre to the new HarbourFront passenger terminal.

Located just 70m away from the existing terminal, the new terminal is in a red terracotta building at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, Singapore 099549.