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Journalism of Courage
Kidman, Kubrick and drugs
Actress Nicole Kidman has admitted using drugs, but told a magazine she was never addicted and now gets her kicks from sport. 8220;I8217;ve done my share of drugs,8221; the 31-year-old actress told the December Australian edition of fashion magazine Marie Claire. 8220;I8217;ve been working in the film industry since I was 14, so I8217;ve been in contact with every drug imaginable. But I never was addicted to them I was lucky. I get a huge depression after taking drugs.8221; The Australian wife of American sex symbol Tom Cruise said she was now addicted to adrenaline and sought her thrills through sports such as skydiving. Kidman, who recently finished work on a film by acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut, said working with the highly secretive Kubrick had been 8220;extraordinary8221;. 8220;People ask me if it was hell. I say, No, it was the complete opposite. It was an honour8217;,8221; she said. 8220;I would do it again in a second. Stanley is extraordinary to be with. I would just go and sit in hisoffice when we weren8217;t shooting, just to be around him. He8217;s a genius and I love him. I miss him now.8221; Kidman said she hadn8217;t seen the film she starred in with Cruise and was unsure if it had the potential to be a great film. 8220;I wasn8217;t allowed on the set when they were shooting scenes I wasn8217;t in. I read the script, but it changed. I know Kubrick has never made an uninteresting film. What8217;s the difference between an interesting film and a great film?8221;
Dr Death II
Australian medical authorities called for a police investigation into the admission by euthanasia activist Philip Nitschke that he had videotaped the deaths of about 15 patients. Nitschke, known as Dr Death8217;, made the admission as he praised American euthenasia guru Jack Kevorkian, who faces murder charges for administering lethal drugs to a terminally ill patient. Kevorkian was charged after a videotaped mercy-killing was aired on television. Australian Medical Association President David Brand said the police should take actionagainst Nitschke for videotaping the deaths of patients. 8220;I think police should be able to investigate anybody that has publicly said they have got video evidence that they have done such a thing,8221; Brand told ABC radio. 8220;So I really think it is something that the police should look at.8221; The police have said they will not investigate Nitschke8217;s actions until they receive a complaint. Nitschke, who plans to open a euthanasia clinic in Melbourne next year, said that he had no plans to air the videotapes and had made them in case he faced legal problems.
Secret affair
A 29-year-old Brazilian model has told her friends she is pregnant with the child of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, the Sun tabloid reported. Luciana Gimenez Morad is said to have told her friends that she has had a secret affair with the 55-year-old star for the past eight months and is now three months pregnant, the British newspaper said, citing one of them. The model denied she was pregnant with Jagger8217;s child or that she wasinvolved with him. 8220;He8217;s a friendly conversational guy, but we are not having an affair and I am not pregnant by him,8221; she told The Sun. But a friend of the London-based model was quoted as saying: 8220;Luciana wants to keep the truth a secret. And the truth is that she has told us all she is pregnant by Mick Jagger.8221; Jagger, whose marriage to his wife top model Jerry Hall is reportedly under strain, met Morad in March at an after-show party following a Rolling Stones8217; concert in Rio de Janeiro.
Mandela and Mickey Mouse
South African President Nelson Mandela lashed out at what he termed Mickey Mouse8217; White parties which he said are opposing transformation in South Africa. 8220;There are traditional white political parties in this country that are blocking our programmes to better the lives of our people,8221; Mandela told foreign correspondents at their annual dinner. 8220;We cannot tolerate that.8221; He said his ruling African National Congress wanted to secure a two-thirds majority in next year8217;s seconddemocratic elections 8220;to ensure that we are not interfered with by Mickey Mouse parties who have no commitment to democracy8221;. Answering questions, he said corruption on the part of former freedom fighters who had come into government was 8220;one of the saddest blows8221;. But he defended his own party8217;s response to corruption. 8220;There is a massive difference between our response and the apartheid government8217;s response,8221; Mandela said. 8220;We are transparent about it.8221; He described Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, who is certain to succeed him when he steps down at next year8217;s elections, as a 8220;hugely talented young person8221;. 8220;I have no doubt that there will be life after the old man is gone,8221; he said.
