Federal prosecutors announced that Dr. Salvador Plasencia of Santa Monica, California, is set to plead guilty to four charges of illegally distributing ketamine. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison and a fine of US$2 million (S$2.56 million). Actor Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, was discovered dead at age 54 in his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated that Perry died from the “acute effects” of ketamine, followed by drowning.

Dr. Plasencia, 43, submitted his plea agreement on Monday (June 16) and will be the fourth individual to plead guilty in relation to Perry’s death. His trial had been scheduled for August, but authorities now expect him to formally enter his plea in the coming weeks. As outlined in the agreement, Plasencia claims he collaborated with Dr. Mark Chavez — who admitted guilt in October to a conspiracy charge involving ketamine distribution — and provided Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, with "twenty 5ml vials of ketamine, a partial package of lozenges, and syringes" between September 30 and October 12, 2023.

Chavez had previously stated he sold ketamine to Plasencia off the books for Perry’s personal use. Iwamasa pleaded guilty on August 7 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Chavez is due to be sentenced in September, and Iwamasa in November. In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed to E! News that both Plasencia and Chavez had relinquished their authority to prescribe or recommend medical treatments.

Before charges were officially filed, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the doctors' actions, saying: “These individuals prioritized profit over Matthew Perry’s health. His path to tragedy began with unethical physicians who exploited their roles of trust and ended with drug dealers supplying ketamine in unmarked containers.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Instagram/Matthew Perry.

Sunjay Kapur, prominent businessman and chairman of Sona Comstar, passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 53. Known also for his previous marriage to actress Karisma Kapoor, Kapur reportedly suffered a heart attack during a polo match in England. According to business consultant Suhel Seth, who confirmed the news to ANI, Kapur is believed to have accidentally swallowed a bee during the game, which may have triggered the fatal reaction.

At the time of his death, Kapur was married to entrepreneur and former model Priya Sachdev. Mourning the loss, Seth shared a heartfelt message on X, expressing his sorrow and extending condolences to Kapur’s family and colleagues. Kapur, who married Karisma Kapoor in 2003, had a high-profile relationship that eventually ended in a contentious divorce in 2016. The former couple had two children—daughter Samaira and son Kiaan. Sunjay remained a well-known figure in both the business and entertainment spheres.

Just hours before his death, Kapur had shared a social media post expressing grief over the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives. His post extended prayers to the victims’ families. Sona Comstar, the company Kapur led, issued a statement praising his leadership, vision, and the global impact he had—particularly in the electric vehicle industry. Recently appointed chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) northern region, Kapur was actively overseeing industrial development across several states including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

News of his passing prompted a wave of tributes from colleagues and friends. Late Thursday night, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan were seen visiting Karisma Kapoor’s residence, visibly emotional and avoiding media attention. Earlier, Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora also visited to offer condolences.

Kapur and Karisma’s divorce involved a protracted legal battle, with both sides accusing each other of serious misconduct. After an initial attempt to settle in 2014, Karisma later accused Kapur of physical abuse and dowry-related harassment. The couple officially parted ways in 2016. Kapur remarried in 2017, tying the knot with Priya Sachdev, with whom he had a son.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Indian Express.

Acclaimed American filmmaker Alexander Payne will be honored with the prestigious Leopard Award (Pardo d'Onore) at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, scheduled for the night of August 15. As reported by Variety, Payne will also showcase two of his celebrated films — The Descendants (2011) and Nebraska (2013) — and engage in a public discussion with festival attendees.

In their announcement, the Locarno Film Festival praised Payne as “the distinctive voice behind a slate of dryly funny modern classics,” noting his significant impact on 21st-century American cinema. According to the festival’s official website, Payne's films have earned multiple accolades, including three Academy Awards, three BAFTAs, and eight Golden Globes. His filmography includes critically acclaimed works such as Election (1999), About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), Nebraska (2013), and The Holdovers (2023).

Born in Nebraska in 1961, Payne studied filmmaking at UCLA. He gained early recognition with Citizen Ruth (1996), a politically charged comedy starring Laura Dern, which premiered at Sundance. The Leopard Award (Pardo d’Onore), introduced in 2017, honors outstanding contributions to world cinema. The 78th Locarno Film Festival will run from August 6 to August 16.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Locarno Film Festival.

Chris Evans has shared his disappointment about not being included in Avengers: Doomsday. The 43-year-old actor, known for portraying Captain America in eight Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, admitted that while he still keeps in touch with his former co-stars, there's a sense of distance after stepping away from the franchise in Avengers: Endgame.

Speaking to ScreenRant, he said, "Yeah, I talk to them all the time. It’s like where Pedro [Pascal] is now. It’s tough being away. It feels like missing out on being with the band again. I’m sure they’re doing something amazing, and it’ll probably hit even harder once it comes out — that feeling of not being invited to the party.” Evans last appeared in the MCU when his character returned the Infinity Stones and chose to stay in the past with Peggy Carter. In the present, he passed the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie.

Mackie, 46, is set to return in the upcoming film and teased that it will revive “that old Marvel feeling.” In an interview with IGN, he said, “We’re moving full steam ahead, and everyone’s excited to be getting the band back together. With the Russo brothers returning and the script in hand, it’s shaping up to be something really special.” Meanwhile, Alan Cumming has expressed excitement about reprising his role as Nightcrawler for Avengers: Doomsday, currently filming in London. Speaking with Olivia Munn for Collider, he said, “It’s wild! I’m thrilled and amazed. It’s been 23 years since I last played a superhero.”

Cumming also hinted that his character might go up against Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic. In an interview with Buzzfeed UK, he shared, “I was doing stunt training for a fight scene just yesterday. I'm 60 now and it’s funny — I was already on the older side when I first played Nightcrawler. And here I am again, learning fight choreography. At one point, they told me, ‘You’re hitting Pedro Pascal in the head,’ and I just laughed. It’s surreal.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from IMDb/Chris Evans.

New Zealand artist Marlon Williams dedicated five years to creating his latest album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which is sung entirely in the Māori language. Its release comes at a politically charged time, as the current coalition government in New Zealand restricts the use of Māori in public services and recently suspended three MPs for performing a haka in protest of a bill seen as undermining Indigenous rights. Williams discusses with Reged Ahmad the experience of performing in his first language on a global stage and also shares a live performance of a song from the album at the Guardian Australia studio.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.

On ‘Made in SG’, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Georgina Dobson, the winner of Mediacorp’s 987 STAR 2025 competition. A final-year psychology student at Temasek Polytechnic, Dobson reflects on the high-energy journey of the competition, which began in early April. She also shares insights gained from working with the current 987 radio DJs and recounts the memorable ups and downs she experienced alongside the other finalists.
Disclaimer: This Video is taken from CNA.

As US President Donald Trump prepares to visit Gulf nations this week, a major objective will be to attract substantial new investments into the US economy. The region’s economic significance is underscored by the choice of Saudi Arabia as the first destination for his second term’s foreign visit. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Jessica Genauer, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Flinders University, to explore the anticipated business agreements on the agenda.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Douglas Tseng, editor at 8days, collaborates with Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin to discuss and recommend the most exciting movies and TV shows to watch over the weekend, offering insights into what’s worth your time and attention.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.