UNITED STATES

Concern over Fiat SpA's ballooning debt dragged its stock lower on Tuesday as the Italian carmaker moved a step closer toward a full merger with Chrysler Group LLC by outlining plans for a single management team.

White families? net worth is 20 times greater than that of blacks and 18 times that of Hispanics.

InterDigital Inc has filed a complaint at the U.S. International Trade Commission against Nokia, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp accusing the cellphone makers of infringing seven InterDigital technology patents.

Depression rates are consistently higher in more affluent countries than in low income countries, according to researchers who correlated socioeconomic data with depression levels.

Lawmakers sharply criticized officials in the Department of Alchool, Tobacco and Firearms for a program that intentionally allowed illegal guns to make their way to violent Mexican drug cartels.

Assuming President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans can not resolve the debt deal dispute in eight days, the unfathomable will happen -- a default by the U.S. Government. But that begs the question: what will the U.S. Federal Reserve do, if the U.S. Government defaults?

Consumer confidence edged higher in July as jitters over the outlook eased, though consumers remained gloomy about their current situations, according to a private sector report released on Tuesday.

BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley's pledge of strong long-term growth failed to reassure investors concerned about the company's post-oil spill strategy and second-quarter results well shy of forecasts.

Michael Phelps shook off a rusty 150 meters to storm home in the final lap and qualify for the men's 200 meters butterfly semi-finals at the world swimming championships on Tuesday.

The United States Postal Service on Tuesday published the list of almost 3,700 post offices across the country being considered for closure or downsizing.

Supervalu Inc's (SVU.N) quarterly profit topped Wall Streets expectations despite sagging sales as the third-biggest U.S. supermarket chain trimmed expenses in a drive to catch up to rivals.

President Barack Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals on Tuesday headed for a showdown over competing debt plans one week before a deadline for averting a potentially disastrous U.S. default.

McDonald's has decided to make its popular Happy Meals healthier by adding fruit or veggie to the meal and decrease the portion of French Fries, the company announced today.

Across the street from the U.S. Capitol in the small north lawn of the United Methodist Building, Christians, Muslims and Jews will pray on Tuesday for the country's budget, and hope to teach Republicans and Democrats a lesson in compromise.

The nominee to be the next top U.S. military officer warned on Tuesday that cutting security spending by $800 billion or more as part of deficit reduction measures would be "extraordinarily difficult and very high risk."

The dollar fell on Tuesday as U.S. lawmakers remained deadlocked over raising the nation's debt ceiling to avoid a devastating default, while U.S. and European shares also declined.

McDonald's Corp said on Tuesday it will soon tweak its children's Happy Meals, reducing the french fry portion by more than half and automatically adding apples to the popular meals, after coming under pressure from consumer groups to provide healthier fare.

InterDigital Inc has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Nokia Corp, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp accusing the cellphone makers of infringing seven InterDigital technology patents.

President Barack Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals on Tuesday headed for a showdown over competing debt plans one week before a deadline for averting a potentially disastrous U.S. default.

Here is the situation on Tuesday as lawmakers try to close in on a deal to raise the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt limit by August 2 and avoid a federal credit default:

President Barack Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals on Tuesday headed for a showdown over competing debt plans one week before a deadline for averting a potentially disastrous U.S. default.