Must’ve been something in the water, says Kidman

Must’ve been something in the water, says Kidman

SYDNEY, Australia — Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman said swimming in Australian Outback waterfalls may promote fertility and might have contributed to her unexpected pregnancy over the past year.

The 41-year-old Aussie, who gave birth to daughter Sunday Rose in July, said she and six other women who swam in the waters of a small Outback town during production of the epic romance “Australia” became pregnant.

“I never thought that I would get pregnant and give birth to a child, but it happened on this movie,” Kidman told The Australian Women’s Weekly.

“Seven babies were conceived out of this film and only one was a boy. There is something up there in the Kununurra water because we all went swimming in the waterfalls, so we can call it the fertility waters now.”

“Australia,” directed by Baz Luhrmann, was filmed in Kununurra, a small town in far northern Western Australia state. The film, which follows the story of a noblewoman on a cattle drive in Australia during World War II, is due for release in November.

Kidman is married to country music crooner Keith Urban and has two adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Metropolitan Opera shows available online

NEW YORK — Legendary performances at the Metropolitan Opera of “La Boheme” with Luciano Pavarotti and “Otello” with Placido Domingo will soon be available over the Internet for the first time.

The Met plans to offer online subscriptions to 120 audio recordings and 50 full-length videos of performances through its Met Player service beginning October 22nd.

Users will be able to listen to and watch 170 full-length operas, including recent high-definition broadcasts.

Subscriptions will cost $14.99 a month or $149.99 per year.

McCartney’s message of peace for West Bank

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Paul McCartney visited the West Bank town of Bethlehem Wednesday, a day before his concert in Tel Aviv, saying he’s carrying a message of peace for Israel and the Palestinians.

McCartney toured the Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus. He took pictures with a small camera and lit two candles. He said they were for peace.

Outside the church, the 66-year-old former Beatle was asked to respond to criticism that his visit to Israel supports its occupation of the West Bank.

He said his visit showed that he wasn’t playing favorites.

“I’m here to highlight the situation and to say that what we need is peace in this region, a two-state solution,” McCartney said, referring to Israel and a Palestinian state.

Today’s birthdays

Newswoman Barbara Walters is 79. Actor Michael Douglas is 64. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 61. Actor Anson Williams (“Happy Days”) is 59. Actor Mark Hamill is 57. Polka band leader Jimmy Sturr is 57. Actress Heather Locklear is 47. Actress Aida Turturro (“The Sopranos”) is 46. Actor-singer Will Smith is 40. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 39. Rapper T.I. is 28. Actor Lee Norris (“One Tree Hill”) is 27.