Moody’s Investors Service said on Tuesday it would strip the United States of its top-notch rating if a default such as a missed debt payment were to happen and it would not regain the Aaa-status even if the default were resolved. “An upgrade back to Aaa would be unlikely while the...

Russia reserves the right to further reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, adding that Moscow would not do that for now. Reacting to what he called Washington’s “boorish and unprecedented” actions towards Russia’s...

 A Malta-based humanitarian group that has been rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean for three years said on Monday it was suspending operations after months of rising tensions with Italian and Libyan authorities. The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) was instead sending its...

 British shoppers increased their spending in August at the fastest pace so far in 2017, excluding a surge in April caused by the Easter holiday, but there is little sign yet that the squeeze on spending is easing, retailers said on Tuesday. Retail sales grew by an annual 1.3...