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Former rival Edwards gives nod to Obama

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Making a surprise appearance in Michigan, John Edwards says he has decided to back Senator Barack Obama.

Edwards, who dropped out of the presidential race in January, says "Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I."

He says Obama stands with him in a fight to cut poverty in half within 10 years.

Edwards also praised Clinton, saying Democrats "are a stronger party" because of her.

The endorsement comes a day after Clinton defeated Obama by more than 2-to-1 in the West Virginia primary.

The loss highlighted Obama's challenge in winning over so-called "Hillary Democrats-" white, working-class voters who had supported Edwards in significant numbers before he left the race.

Gun owners get more extensions from Tories

OTTAWA - The Conservative government has officially confirmed that it will keep waiving licence fees for gun owners for a third straight year.

In addition, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day says that an amnesty program - essentially protecting owners of shotguns and hunting rifles from criminal liability for failing to register their firearms - will also be extended for a third year.

Day first introduced the waivers and amnesty in May 2006, as an ostensible prelude to abolition of the long-gun registry often criticized by farmers, hunters and sport shooters.

The Tories have never managed to pass legislation formally dismantling the registry, because all other parties in the minority Parliament favour retention of the system.

Ex-marine to pay $11K to woman in sex case

UKIAH, Calif. - A former U.S. marine has agreed to pay $11,000 to a woman who accused him of coercing sex during an overnight party at a recruiting station.

The settlement concludes the last of three federal lawsuits in connection with misconduct at the recruiting office in the northern California town of Ukiah.

The woman was 17 at the time.

She accused former staff sergeant Joseph Dunzweiler of telling her that she had to have sex with him if she wanted to join the marines.

Giant beetles found in package at post office

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Customs agents seized more than two dozen giant beetles - some the size of a child's hand - from an overseas package after postal workers heard the insects making scratching noises.

The large bugs arrived last week from Taiwan at a post office in Mohnton, about 80 kilometres northwest of Philadelphia, in a box whose contents were labelled as toys, gifts and jellies, officials said Wednesday.

But the postmaster suspected the package contained live organisms and notified authorities, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The package was sent to Philadelphia, where it was X-rayed and then opened.

"The specimens were some of the largest of their kind ... averaging five to six inches (12 to 15 centimetres) in diameter," a specialist said.

Sources: The Associated Press, The Canadian Press