Nanny: TV movie inspired her claim in Smith case

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A nanny whose credibility has come under attack by defense lawyers in the Anna Nicole Smith drug trial testified Wednesday that a movie inspired her previous claim that she saw two defendants melt pills in a spoon and inject the former Playboy model with the liquid.

Nadine Alexie said she did see a spoon being taken into a bathroom with Smith but did not see any drugs being melted or injected by defendants Howard K. Stern or Dr. Khristine Eroshevich.

"Did you tell police you got the idea of melting pills from a movie you'd seen?" Eroshevich's lawyer Brad Brunon asked.

"Yes," Alexie said. "I saw that on TV."

Stern, Eroshevich and Dr. Sandeep …

Iran avalanches kill 8 near mountain resort

Two avalanches have killed at last eight mountain climbers near a ski resort in northern Iran.

State radio says the avalanches hit on Thursday near the mountain resort of Disin, some 44 miles (72 kilometers) north of the capital, Tehran, burying scores of people under the snow.

There has been heavy snowfall in the area since Wednesday.

State TV says four other mountain …

MCI cuts evening rates in long-distance price war

NEW YORK A price battle in long-distance calling heated up todaywhen MCI WorldCom launched a nickel-a-minute plan for weeknights andweekends - similar to a new Sprint promotion.

MCI WorldCom is offering the new consumer rate, which comes with amonthly fee, on state-to-state calls between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. onweekdays and all weekend.

Daytime calling rates on weekdays are 25 cents per minute forcustomers paying a monthly fee of $1.95, or 10 cents per minute witha monthly fee of $4.95.

The promotion, an …

Swiss club Servette averts bankruptcy hearing

GENEVA (AP) — The president of Servette says the Swiss club averted a threatened bankruptcy hearing by paying part of its stadium cleaning bill.

Servette's problems raised fears that the nine-team Swiss Super League could lose another club. Neuchatel Xamax was declared bankrupt last month, becoming the first to leave midseason since Servette went bust in 2005.

Majid Pishyar explains on …

Miller helps 76ers rally past Trail Blazers in OT

Andre Miller had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala scored 25 points each as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied in overtime to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-108 on Monday night.

The Sixers (36-33) scored eight consecutive points in overtime, including a rebound basket by Miller with 1:55 left to give Philadelphia a 104-103 lead.

Young hit 10 of 15 shots and scored 17 of his 25 points during the second half. Philadelphia went 35-of-39 from the free-throw line, and hit 51.4 percent (38-of-74) of its shots.

Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Steve Blake scored 22 points. The Blazers (44-27) …

Hybrid bus hits the road in Bath

The first in a series of hybrid buses to run on diesel andelectric in the South West has been launched in Bath, serving parkand ride passengers throughout the city.

Powered by a small 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine, less than aquarter of the size of those for conventional buses, it is servingall three park and ride sites, switching between diesel and electricas it goes.

The Pounds 270,000 vehicle is being trialled for six months byoperator First in partnership with Bath and North East SomersetCouncil as part of a European initiative which promotesenvironmentally-friendly transport in urban areas.

The Civitas Renaissance project, which operates in …

Hawks Surprise Division-Leading Wizards

ATLANTA - It was an unlikely combination that propelled the Atlanta Hawks to a surprise win Wednesday night over the Washington Wizards.

A newly acquired veteran guard assumed a lead role, while a rookie forward made his first start and a still-young center had the best game of his career.

Zaza Pachulia, the 23-year-old center, scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Hawks overcame the absence of top scorer Joe Johnson for a 100-97 win over the Southeast Division leaders.

"When key guys are out, you have to share the ball," Pachulia said. "With Joe out, I got a lot more touches."

The Hawks, missing three starters, snapped a …