Neil Young has barred the BBC from airing his headline performance at Glastonbury. The 79-year-old musician is set to perform on the Pyramid Stage with his band, The Chrome Hearts, on Saturday (June 28), but viewers at home will instead see Charli XCX’s show on The Other Stage, scheduled at the same time.

A BBC spokesperson stated: “On Saturday, BBC iPlayer, our Glastonbury Channel, and five stage streams will offer a wide variety of live performances. At the artist’s request, Neil Young’s set won’t be livestreamed. Our coverage plans, including TV highlights and on-demand content, are still being finalized throughout the festival.” Earlier this year, Young had threatened to withdraw from Glastonbury due to the BBC's involvement, criticizing the festival for becoming “corporate.”

In a January open letter on his website, Young wrote: “The Chrome Hearts and I were excited to play Glastonbury, one of my favorite outdoor venues. But we were informed that the BBC had partnered with the festival and wanted us to follow procedures we weren’t comfortable with. Glastonbury doesn’t feel the same anymore—it seems too corporate. We’ve decided not to play the festival this time because it no longer feels right.”

However, just two days later, Young reversed his decision, saying he had been misinformed: “I had initially pulled out due to incorrect information, but I’ve always loved Glastonbury. I’m glad to say it’s back on our schedule, and we’re excited to perform!” Notably, when Young headlined Glastonbury in 2009, he also resisted full BBC coverage. His management had requested that only a limited number of songs be broadcast to maintain the “mystery” of the live experience. In the end, only five songs from his set were televised.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, pilot of Axiom Mission 4, revealed his favorite song ahead of the mission’s launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sharing his launch day playlist, the Indian astronaut expressed his fondness for "Yun Hi Chala Chal", a song from the 2004 film Swades starring Shah Rukh Khan.

Composed by Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, and sung by Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher, and Hariharan, the track is motivational in nature. It plays during a montage where SRK and actor Makrand Deshpande journey through rural India, symbolizing persistence and self-discovery. Swades follows the story of a NASA scientist who returns to India in search of his childhood nanny, intending to take her back to the U.S. However, his visit to the village of Charanpur turns into a journey of introspection, helping him reconnect with his roots.

On social media platform X, Axiom Space posted the crew’s Launch Day Playlist, with Commander Peggy Whitson choosing "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons as her preferred track. Axiom Mission 4 launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at 2:31 am ET (12 noon IST). This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with docking scheduled for 7 am ET (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.

Once docked, the crew will spend up to 14 days on the ISS, engaging in a wide range of scientific, educational, and commercial activities. The mission is led by Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and Axiom’s Director of Human Spaceflight, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla serving as the pilot. The mission specialists include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (ESA project astronaut from Poland) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The astronauts are equipped with the new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), an advanced spacesuit designed for lunar missions and adaptable for various crew members. The suit also contributes to NASA’s Artemis program goals. Ax-4 will be conducting over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, including India, the U.S., Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and several European nations. This marks the most research-focused mission yet by Axiom aboard the ISS. The mission is also part of broader NASA–ISRO collaboration on space-based scientific investigations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Instagram/Axiom Space.

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.

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.