McCaw signs new 4-year contract with NZRU

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks captain Richie McCaw joined star flyhalf Dan Carter in signing a new four-year deal which will see him remain in New Zealand after this year's Rugby World Cup.

McCaw announced his decision at a news conference on Tuesday little more than a week after Carter turned down lucrative overseas offers to sign a complex contract reported to be worth as much as 6 million New Zealand dollars ($4.7 million).

The 30-year-old McCaw signed a similar deal which includes provision for him to take a break from rugby or accept a short-term contract to play overseas.

"I've always said that as long as I am enjoying playing footy in New Zealand then …

N Texas hires Canales as offensive coordinator

North Texas has hired Mike Canales as its offensive coordinator.

Canales was the offensive coordinator at South Florida the past three seasons, and at Arizona three years before that. He also coached receivers for …

Marginal rate is critical in avoiding tax whammy

What tax rate will you pay if you cash in a savings bond or get a$100 bonus in your paycheck?

Most people haven't a clue, and even if you think you know,there's a good chance you're wrong.

A retired couple with $60,000 in income, including $16,000 inSocial Security benefits, would pay $504 in taxes on an extra $1,000in income - a whopping 50 percent tax rate.

But at $61,000, another $1,000 adds only $280 to the tax bill -back to 28 percent.

Tax credits and complicated phaseouts have made it tougher thanever to figure out your true marginal tax rate - the rate at whichyour next dollar of income will be taxed.

This little bit of information is …

Lion movie highlights dangers in SAfrica

BROEDERSTROOM, South Africa (AP) — Each year, lions are raised in captivity in South Africa and then set loose in enclosed areas where hunters, many from the United States, gun them down. The toll in what one filmmaker calls slaughter, not sport: About 1,000 lions each year.

Kevin Richardson hopes a new movie "White Lion," which opens in a few U.S. cities on Friday, will give people second-thoughts about participating in such hunts.

"I just can't understand how anyone would want to shoot a lion that is clearly confined to a finite space with absolutely no hope in hell of ever escaping the so-called hunter," said Richardson, a self-taught "Lion Whisperer" and first-time film …

Russian nuclear group, Toshiba in cooperation deal

Russian state-owned nuclear company Atomenergoprom said Thursday it has signed a deal with Japan's Toshiba Corp. to possibly create joint uranium enrichment plants in Japan and other countries.

Atomenergoprom and Toshiba have agreed to conduct "detailed studies of potential joint construction" of uranium enrichment plants, the statement said. It said they would also consider a joint venture delivering nuclear fuel.

Atomenergoprom, which is part of the state nuclear industry giant Rosatom, was established to hold Russia's civilian nuclear assets and help them compete on the global market.

Russia …

Walk over hot coals for charity

A Glastonbury-based charity is encouraging residents to take partin the shortest sponsored walk ever - across hot coals.

Martha Care is organising a sponsored firewalk to raise funds forfamilies caring for very sick children in hospital.

The Martha Care Trust was launched after seven-year-old MarthaMickshik, a pupil at St John's Infant School, died in May 2006 froma long-term brain tumour.

Since then, her family have been raising money to help otherfamilies in the same situation caring for their very sick childrenon the Barbara Russell Unit in Bristol's Frenchay Hospital, whereMartha was treated, in a bid to help other parents cope with thepressures of having …

McCain Announces He'll Run for President

WASHINGTON - Apparently believing that what's good once is even better twice, Republican Sen. John McCain announced his candidacy for president during a TV appearance, and then announced he will announce his candidacy again next month.

Seeking maximum exposure for his bid, McCain, 70, confirmed in a pre-taped interview on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" aired late Wednesday what has been clear for at least a year or more - that he's running hard for the 2008 Republican nomination.

McCain told Letterman: "The last time we were on this program, I'm sure you remember everything very clearly that we say, but you asked me if I would come back on this show if I was going …