The Obama administration yesterday asked California's largest for-profit health insurer to justify plans to increase customers' premiums by as much as 39 percent, a move that could affect about 800,000 people.

Authorities launched a criminal investigation yesterday into the cause of an explosion that killed five people at a Connecticut power plant under construction, saying they could not rule out criminal negligence.

A body found in the landing-gear compartment of a Delta Air Lines Inc. jet that flew to Tokyo's Narita Airport from New York may spur a fresh review of U.S. aviation security.

Survivors of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake have had one saving grace: There's been no significant rain since the disaster. But that won't last.

China recalled more than 170 tons of milk powder after authorities found some batches of tainted dairy products ordered to be destroyed in 2008 had instead been redistributed.

As Iran moved to enrich uranium to a higher level of purity and build new nuclear-fuel plants, U.S. and French defense officials suggested yesterday that sanctions were needed to force Tehran to curb its nuclear program.

The commander of Canada's largest Air Force base, who once flew dignitaries around the country, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of two women.

Michael Jackson's doctor pleaded not guilty yesterday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star at a brief hearing in Los Angeles.

Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq war, died yesterday. He was 77.