Author: admin@primenews

Red pill or blue pill, anyone? The beloved “Matrix” movie franchise is expanding with an upcoming fifth installment, with the film’s original co-writer and co-director Lana Wachowski leading the charge as executive producer. According to a press release from the film’s studio Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group sent on Wednesday, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Drew Goddard will write and direct the film alongside his producing partner Sarah Esberg. (Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group is a subsidiary of CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.) Jesse Ehrman, Warner Bros. Motion Pictures President of Production, said in a statement on Wednesday that Goddard “came to Warner Bros.…

The US Food and Drug Administration is allowing the use of Rejoyn, the first prescription digital treatment for major depressive disorder. Rejoyn, made by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Click Therapeutics, is a smartphone app intended for use alongside antidepressant medications for people 22 and older who have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. It employs a six-week program that combines a new approach called cognitive-emotional training and cognitive behavioral therapy lessons, according to a news release. Since Rejoyn is classified as a low- to medium-risk medical device, it needed only to prove that it is “substantially equivalent” to another marketed device – meaning it…

The world’s biggest chipmaker is working to resume operations following the massive earthquake that struck Taiwan Wednesday — a welcome sign for makers of products ranging from iPhones and computers to cars and washing machines that rely on advanced semiconductors. A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the island’s east coast Wednesday morning, the strongest in 25 years, killing nine and causing landslides and collapsed structures. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the leading chipmaker also known as TSMC, operates largely on the opposite side of the island, although the company said its facilities did experience some shaking. TSMC temporarily evacuated some manufacturing plants following the quake but said…

The Powerball jackpot has skyrocketed to an estimated $1.23 billion after yet another lottery drawing yielded no grand prize winner Wednesday night. Wednesday’s winning numbers were: 11, 62, 65, 38, 41 and Powerball 15. For the next Powerball drawing on Saturday night, a lucky winner can choose to receive the prize in annuitized payments or take a lump sum estimated at $595.1 million. After no tickets matched all six numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing, the jackpot jumped from $1.09 billion to $1.23 billion – the fourth largest jackpot in the Powerball game. That makes it the eighth largest US lottery jackpots, ranking…

A major Indian airline is scaling back operations this month amid widespread flight cancellations and delays due to unavailability of its pilots. Since 31 March, Vistara has seen nearly 150 flight cancellations and 200 flight delays. Media reports said the disruption was caused by pilots going on mass sick leave to protest against changes post the airline’s merger with Air India. Vistara says it is looking into better work-life balance for its pilots. A Vistara official told the BBC the airline was “scaling back its network temporarily” and that customers would be given refunds for cancelled flights. According to The Hindu…

The opposition in Myanmar says it ordered a mass drone attack on the country’s embattled military in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. The National Unity Government (NUG) said 29 drones armed with explosives targeted the airport, air force base and military headquarters. The military has told BBC Burmese they shot down seven drones, with one exploding on the airport runway. No casualties were reported, officials said. The NUG represents the elected civilian government previously led by Aung San Suu Kyi that was toppled by the coup in 2021. Since then it and other opposition groups have been fighting the junta…

It was only 12 months ago that Ben Loader was chasing the Premiership play-offs with his boyhood club London Irish. The winger was having his best season. A new three-year deal had just been signed and a first England call-up before the World Cup was a realistic goal. But life changed quickly and he now lives in Cape Town with views of the spectacular Table Mountain from his apartment. Looking for a new team following the demise of London Irish at the end of last season, the 25-year-old took up an offer from South African side Stormers. Turning down offers from Premiership…

The Boston Celtics secured the top seed place in the NBA with six games left to play, ensuring home court advantage for the play-offs. The Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday, with Kristaps Porzingis scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. Their record this season, the best in the NBA, is 60 wins and 16 losses. The Eastern Conference Atlantic side are seeking a record 18th title, with their most recent win coming in 2008. Jayson Tatum also added 24 points and Jaylen Brown managed 23, pleasing the Celtics’ home fans after 13 days on the road. For the Thunder,…

Tammy Beaumont scored 81 to set England on their way to a series-clinching 56-run win over New Zealand in the second one-day international at Hamilton’s Seddon Park. The opener played fluently throughout her 96-ball knock and shared a 70-run partnership with captain Heather Knight as England laid the foundations for a big total. But New Zealand hit back and, after losing 6-59, England needed a quick 48 from Amy Jones to get take them up to a competitive 252 all out. It proved to be more than enough as the White Ferns, faced with some disciplined England bowling, quickly fell…

Three former Supreme Court justices have joined more than 600 legal experts in calling for the UK government to end weapons sales to Israel. In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, they say arms exports must end because the UK risks breaching international law. Mr Sunak is already facing growing cross-party pressure after seven aid workers were killed by Israeli forces. On Tuesday, he said the UK has a “very careful” arms licensing regime. British sales are lower than those of other countries, including Germany and Italy, and dwarfed by the billions supplied by its largest arms supplier, the…