UN climate chief criticizes Japan’s CO2 emissions target, says rich countries short of goal

BONN, Germany — Japan unveiled a new target Wednesday for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by 2020, but the plan was slammed by environmentalists and the U.N. climate chief as leaving the industrial world dangerously short of its pollution goals.

Officials: At least 2 shot inside US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON — Authorities say at least two people have been shot at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Authorities say at least 2 people have been shot at Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington

WASHINGTON — At least two people were shot Wednesday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, authorities said.

Search crews work in unstable Slim Jim plant to recover bodies after NC explosion kills 3

GARNER, N.C. — Recovery teams in bulky hazard suits worked cautiously in the unstable wreckage of a Slim Jim snack factory Wednesday to retrieve two remaining bodies a day after an explosion ripped through the plant.

Geithner says administration will not seek to cap compensation of corporate executives

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, which partly blamed out-of-whack executive pay for the nation’s financial crisis, says it won’t try to directly limit such pay, choosing instead on Wednesday to try to tame compensation through shareholder pressure.

House Republicans unveil bill to boost energy production, counter Democrats’ proposal

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are calling for a hundred new nuclear power plants to be built in the next two decades as part of legislation they say is a better alternative than one championed by Democrats.

Mich police say gas station robber left behind paper with name, address

KENTWOOD, Mich. — Police in Michigan say a man who held up a gas station left behind a major clue — a piece of paper bearing a name and address.

24 people arrested in theft of archaeological artifacts from Four Corners area

SALT LAKE CITY — Federal officials say two dozen people have been arrested in connection with the theft of ancient artifacts taken from public and tribal lands in the Four Corners area.

Nets CEO defends decision to jettison design of architect Frank Gehry

NEW YORK — The chief executive of the Nets defended his team’s decision to jettison architect Frank Gehry’s design for a new arena in Brooklyn and replace it with a more conventional and less costly option.

Sri Lanka denies entry to Canadian lawmaker, a critic of its war conduct

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka denied entry Wednesday to a Canadian lawmaker who was outspoken in his criticism of the military’s war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, an official said.

Top Republican warns of ‘consequences’ if Democrats push too-swift confirmation of Sotomayor

WASHINGTON — Republicans accused Democrats Wednesday of moving too hastily on Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination, warning that the decision could imperil her confirmation as they pressed the judge for more documents from her past.

Judge orders Washington couple held without bond on charges of spying for Cuba

WASHINGTON — A federal judge ordered a former State Department employee and his wife held without bond, saying there appeared to be insurmountable evidence that they spied for Cuba.

Fiat closes deal for bulk of Chrysler assets, clears path for Chrysler to emerge from Chap. 11

DETROIT — Italy’s Fiat is the new owner of most of Chrysler’s assets, closing a deal Wednesday that saves the troubled U.S. automaker from liquidation and places a new company in the hands of Fiat’s CEO.

Trade deficit edges higher for second straight month in April, reflects rising oil prices

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit edged up in April as crude oil prices hit the highest level since December. But the imbalance so far in 2009 remained well below last year’s pace and economists expect that to continue as the global recession dampens demand for automobiles, heavy machinery and other goods.

Ahmadinejad lashes out at opponent during final public campaign rally 2 days before Iran vote

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s hard-line president took a final shot at his rivals Wednesday during his last public pre-election rally, accusing them of resorting to a smear campaign against him similar to the one used by Adolf Hitler’s propaganda minister.

Gunmen assassinate top judge, wound 3 in troubled Russian North Caucasus region

NAZRAN, Russia — Gunmen shot and killed a top judge as she dropped her children off at school in Russia’s violent North Caucasus Wednesday, officials said, the latest episode highlighting spiraling violence in a region plagued by poverty, corruption and the rise of radical Islam.

Report: New York Times Co. hires investment bank to take bids for possible Boston Globe sale

BOSTON — The New York Times Co. appears interested in getting rid of The Boston Globe, hiring investment bank Goldman Sachs to manage a potential sale of a newspaper that has plummeted in value since its purchase in 1993, the Globe said Wednesday.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Nearly one-third of polling places not wheelchair-accessible

WASHINGTON — Despite high-profile promises over the past 25 years, many disabled Americans still are unable to fully participate in their democracy.

Police evacuate US Capitol visitor center after suspicious package discovered near entrance

WASHINGTON — Police have evacuated the massive Capitol Visitor Center after finding a suspicious package at its entrance.

Ky. man pleads guilty in disabled sister’s death; woman’s body was found mummified in car

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — A Kentucky man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his disabled sister, whose mummified remains were found in the trunk of his car last year.

Ala. officials: Tons of TVA coal ash, about 35,000 railcars’ worth, coming to state landfill

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The nation’s largest public utility plans to dispose of millions of tons of coal ash from a massive spill in Tennessee into a giant landfill in one of Alabama’s poorest counties, state environmental officials said Friday.

‘Be Beautiful and Vote’: Women everywhere in Lebanon election, except as candidates

BEIRUT — A seductive woman looks out from the billboards that line Beirut’s highways proclaiming, “Be Beautiful and Vote,” one political party’s appeal to women in this beauty-obsessed nation’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

European markets edge up ahead of rate decisions; Asian stocks down on profit-taking

LONDON — European stock markets edged higher Thursday after two days of losses as investors positioned themselves for key statements on central bank plans and new jobs data.

Bill to regulate tobacco products a sharp departure for industry-friendly Congress

WASHINGTON — In the half-century since the surgeon general issued his culture-changing report linking smoking to lung cancer, the tobacco industry has had little trouble defeating efforts to regulate cigarettes and other products. That could change this year.

World Vision in Liberia officials charged with theft involving more than $1 million in US aid

WASHINGTON — Three former officials with a Christian humanitarian organization have been accused of massive fraud involving more than $1 million worth of U.S. aid to Liberia, stealing food and construction materials meant to help people of the African nation recover from a 14-year civil war.

3 members of US-led coalition killed in Afghanistan

KABUL — Insurgents used a bomb and small-arms fire to attack a vehicle carrying U.S.-led coalition troops, killing three soldiers, the military said.

Cheney’s secret 2005 briefings tried to shore up Capitol Hill support for CIA interrogations

WASHINGTON — Dick Cheney as vice president conducted secret briefings for lawmakers in 2005 aimed at defending harsh interrogations as their methods were coming under congressional scrutiny, according to current and former government officials.

Tanker struck humpback whale, carried it into Valdez; carcass will be towed to sea

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Wildlife officials say an oil tanker struck an endangered humpback whale and carried its carcass on its bow into Alaska’s Port Valdez.

Police: 3 arrested in killing of armored car guard at Wal-Mart in Wash.

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Police near Tacoma, Wash., say three arrests have been made and at least one other person is being sought in the killing of an armored car guard at a Wal-Mart.

Obama praises Saudi king, finalizes speech aimed at an open dialogue with Muslim world

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In his latest push for an open dialogue with the Muslim world, President Barack Obama on Wednesday sought the counsel of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and put the finishing touches on a highly anticipated speech about United States’ relationship with followers of Islam.