Apparently We All Have Valium To Thank For Robert Pattinson's Portrayal Of Edward Cullen In "Twilight"

Reuters
Chinese state-backed company to launch space tourism flights by 2028
Chinese commercial space company CAS Space announced its "space tourism vehicle" will first fly in 2027 and travel to the edge of space in 2028, state media reported on Friday. The announcement comes just days after Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin announced that its New Shepard Rocket, which flies cargo and humans on short trips to the edge of space, would resume flights on Sunday, ending a near two-year pause of crewed operations. CAS Space said that its vehicle will include a tourist cabin that has four panoramic windows and can carry seven passengers per flight.
Reuters
GM, LG agree on $150 million relief fund for Chevy Bolt EV owners over faulty batteries
GM launched the Chevrolet Bolt EV in 2015, using batteries made by LG as part of a strategic partnership between the two companies. GM started issuing recalls in 2020 after it faced numerous complaints regarding fires in certain vehicles. LG and GM did not respond to Reuters request seeking additional comments.
NBC News
Google tests AI to detect scam phone calls. Privacy advocates are terrified.
Some privacy advocates say that they’re terrified by an announcement this week from Google that the company is testing a way to scan people’s phone calls.
AFP
Taiwan president takes office under close scrutiny
Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te, a staunch defender of the island's democracy, will be sworn into office Monday as Beijing ratchets up military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei.Beijing has intensified military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan during Tsai's eight years in power over her Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) rejection of China's claims on the island.
Politico
Aid for Gaza will soon flow from completed pier project, Pentagon says
The U.S. military finished installing a floating pier off the Gaza Strip early Thursday.
AFP
Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court
Israel will on Friday hit back in the United Nations' top court at allegations from South Africa that it has escalated a campaign of "genocide" with its military operation in Rafah.It wants the court to order Israel to "immediately" cease all military operations in Gaza, including in Rafah, enable humanitarian access and report back on its progress on achieving these orders. ric/rlp/lb
CNN
Key House committees vote to advance contempt proceedings against Garland over Biden audio files
The House Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to advance contempt proceedings against Attorney General Merrick Garland for his refusal to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur.
Reuters
Exclusive-Vietnam forfeits billions of dollars in foreign aid amid anti-graft freeze, document says
Vietnam forfeited at least $2.5 billion in foreign aid over the last three years and may lose another $1 billion because of administrative paralysis, the United Nations, the World Bank and Western donors told the government in a letter seen by Reuters. The previously unreported figures from the unpublished document, dated March 6, highlight frustration among foreign investors over regulatory hurdles and lengthy approval procedures that have caused prolonged deadlock as the Communist-ruled country is gripped by an escalating anti-corruption campaign and political turbulence. "Approximately $1 billion in development funding is awaiting approval, with an additional $2.5 billion returned due to funding expirations," said the letter, sent to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh - effectively signalling potential losses worth nearly 1% of the country's gross domestic product.
Reuters
'Massive' French police deployment arrives to secure New Caledonia
SYDNEY/PARIS (Reuters) -French police reinforcements have started arriving in New Caledonia as part of a massive operation to regain control of the capital Noumea, the top French official in the Pacific island territory said on Friday. After rioting that began on Monday resulting in four deaths and hundreds of arrests, Thursday night was relatively calm, France's High Commissioner Louis Le Franc told reporters in a televised press conference. There were still points of confrontation and concern in the city of Noumea, he said.
CNN
Drag queen Nymphia Wind performs at Taiwan’s presidential office
Dressed as a yellow water lily she twirled, sashayed and even did the splits in front of outgoing president Tsai Ing-wen.
AFP
Chinese officials meet to mull support for developers: Bloomberg
Chinese leaders are meeting Friday with top housing officials to discuss a possible plan for the government to buy millions of unsold homes in a bid to support the struggling property sector, Bloomberg reported.Among those plans could be a scheme by Beijing to have local governments purchase millions of unsold homes across the country, Bloomberg said.
AFP
'Hindu nation': Religion trumps caste in India vote
Born at the bottom of the Hindu faith's rigid caste system, voters like Anil Sonkar will determine whether Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power next month.Many in the state accused these parties of directing welfare programmes and other benefits of political power to their own caste groups, a situation they say changed when Modi came to power and made them available for all disadvantaged voters.
AFP
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records
Asian markets diverged Friday as hopes for US interest rate cuts played up against profit-taking from another strong week and warnings from Federal Reserve officials that borrowing costs should be kept elevated for now.The reading boosted hopes the Fed could reduce rates as soon as July, but warnings about the outlook for prices tempered that optimism and saw traders lower their forecasts to one cut this year, from two tipped on Wednesday.
AFP
Taiwan's Lai to bolster 'porcupine' defence against China threat
The incoming Taiwanese president's best strategy to stop China from seizing the self-ruled island will likely be to bolster an agile defensive "porcupine" approach by spending more on missiles and drones.Taiwan is under pressure to increase its own defence spending and adopt a "porcupine" strategy to deter an attack from China, said Richard Hu, a military expert at National Chengchi University.
CNN
Biden signs bipartisan FAA bill into law
President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, enacting a law that aims to improve aviation safety and strengthen protections for passengers and airline workers.
CNN
Columbia University president hit with no-confidence vote from faculty group over handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests
Pro-Palestinian encampments have been cleared from more US college campuses as school officials have called in law enforcement in recent weeks to quell mounting demonstrations over the institutions’ ties to Israel amid its military action in Gaza. Here are the latest developments:
Reuters
Asian stocks ease on uncertainty over timing of U.S. rate cuts
Asian stocks inched lower on Friday as traders pondered the near term U.S. monetary policy path after Federal Reserve officials suggested that interest rates may need to stay higher for longer even as inflation shows early signs of easing. Data on Wednesday showed cooling U.S. consumer price inflation, prompting markets to swiftly price in at least two rate cuts this year but the excitement soon fizzled out as the latest report showed the labour market remains tight, while central bankers were still cautious about inflation. Traders are pricing in 47 basis points of easing this year from the Fed, with a rate cut in November fully priced in.
TODAY
McDonald’s launches a $5 meal as Applebee’s and Chili’s swoop in on fast-food customers
McDonald’s is trying to lure customers back with meal deals while Applebee’s and Chili’s attempt to move in as fast-food prices rise to meet their menus.
CNN
Blinken to meet with Arab and Palestinian Americans amid rising tensions with Biden administration
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to meet with Palestinian and Arab American leaders Friday evening, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.
CNN
New York Times: Upside-down US flag flew at home of Justice Samuel Alito after 2020 election
An upside-down American flag – a symbol used by some supporters of former President Donald Trump who challenged the legitimacy Joe Biden’s 2020 victory – hung outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after the election, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Apparently We All Have Valium To Thank For Robert Pattinson's Portrayal Of Edward Cullen In "Twilight"

Robert Pattinson has been KILLING IT over the past few years with his critically acclaimed works: Good Time, The Lighthouse, Tenet, and, most recently, The Batman.

However, real fans of R. Patz remember him from his younger, humbler days when he starred in this indie franchise called Twilight*.

Well, in an interview with GQ, Robert Pattinson broke down some of his most iconic roles over the years, one of them being Edward Cullen. I personally thought that R. Patz was born to play the dazzling, yet tortured vampire, but little did I know, Rob almost didn't even make it to the audition!

"I'd started to develop this absolute terror of auditions," Pattinson admitted in his interview. "I'd be...so enthusiastic about something and the day of the audition...my confidence would totally collapse."

Rob told his agent — who's couch he was living on at the time — that he was "freaking out" and didn't want to audition anymore, to which she suggested that he take a Valium.

Rob recalls bringing this "spacey and detached" energy into his portrayal of Edward...which ultimately landed him the role!

The more you know, y'all. Hope you enjoyed that lil' tidbit.

Tune into GQ's Character Break Down with Robert Pattinson to hear more fun tidbits about his past roles:

Latest Stories

Chinese state-backed company to launch space tourism flights by 2028

GM, LG agree on $150 million relief fund for Chevy Bolt EV owners over faulty batteries

Google tests AI to detect scam phone calls. Privacy advocates are terrified.

Taiwan president takes office under close scrutiny

Aid for Gaza will soon flow from completed pier project, Pentagon says

Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court

Key House committees vote to advance contempt proceedings against Garland over Biden audio files

Exclusive-Vietnam forfeits billions of dollars in foreign aid amid anti-graft freeze, document says

'Massive' French police deployment arrives to secure New Caledonia

Drag queen Nymphia Wind performs at Taiwan’s presidential office

Chinese officials meet to mull support for developers: Bloomberg

'Hindu nation': Religion trumps caste in India vote

Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records

Taiwan's Lai to bolster 'porcupine' defence against China threat

Biden signs bipartisan FAA bill into law

Columbia University president hit with no-confidence vote from faculty group over handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests

Asian stocks ease on uncertainty over timing of U.S. rate cuts

McDonald’s launches a $5 meal as Applebee’s and Chili’s swoop in on fast-food customers

Blinken to meet with Arab and Palestinian Americans amid rising tensions with Biden administration

New York Times: Upside-down US flag flew at home of Justice Samuel Alito after 2020 election

Robert Pattinson has been KILLING IT over the past few years with his critically acclaimed works: Good Time, The Lighthouse, Tenet, and, most recently, The Batman.

However, real fans of R. Patz remember him from his younger, humbler days when he starred in this indie franchise called Twilight*.

Well, in an interview with GQ, Robert Pattinson broke down some of his most iconic roles over the years, one of them being Edward Cullen. I *personally* thought that R. Patz was born to play the dazzling, yet tortured vampire, but little did I know, Rob almost didn't even make it to the audition!

"I'd started to develop this absolute terror of auditions," Pattinson admitted in his interview. "I'd be...so enthusiastic about something and the day of the audition...my confidence would totally collapse."

Rob told his agent — who's couch he was living on at the time — that he was "freaking out" and didn't want to audition anymore, to which she suggested that he take a Valium.

Rob recalls bringing this "spacey and detached" energy into his portrayal of Edward...which ultimately landed him the role!

The more you know, y'all. Hope you enjoyed that lil' tidbit.

Tune into GQ's Character Break Down with Robert Pattinson to hear more fun tidbits about his past roles:

Latest Stories

Well, in an interview with GQ, Robert Pattinson broke down some of his most iconic roles over the years, one of them being Edward Cullen. I personally thought that R. Patz was born to play the dazzling, yet tortured vampire, but little did I know, Rob almost didn't even make it to the audition!