Russia makes nuclear weapons threat to NATO over Kaliningrad
www.newsnationnow.com

... NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance had responded to Russia's message by declaring: "We are a defensive alliance. And stop the nuclear threats. This is absolutely not called for and not helpful."

In its written response, seen by Reuters, NATO also said that none of its "exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation". ...

"We call upon the Russian Federation to end its unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We urge the Russian Federation to refrain from increasingly reckless behaviour towards the Allies and to cease its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric," it said.

Asked if the risk of nuclear weapons being used against the Baltics was now real, Rutte told a defense conference in Brussels hosted by broadcaster Euronews: "No, it's not. Putin knows that he can never win (against) NATO, so I don't take this that seriously."

Risk of miscalculation

Nikolai Sokov, a Vienna-based nuclear analyst and former Russian diplomat, said it was becoming increasingly hard for Western countries to keep stepping up their support for Ukraine without tipping into direct confrontation with Moscow.

He said the Russian warning may indicate that hardliners are gaining influence in a debate over how to respond to Western actions that include arms supplies to Kyiv, new sanctions on Moscow, interceptions of Russian ships, frequent military exercises and intelligence flights near Kaliningrad. ...

Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas charged with assaulting an officer
www.theguardian.com

... The accusations against Garces Perez were reminiscent of previous claims made by immigration agents after high-profile shootings, in which officers have similarly accused drivers of weaponizing their vehicles. In a handful of cases, those allegations have been undermined or walked back after the release of body-worn camera footage, and have renewed scrutiny about the DHS's reliance on vehicular stops to execute arrests. ...

US Goods Trade Deficit Unexpectedly Widens
tradingeconomics.com

... The US goods trade deficit widened to $132.6 billion in August 2026 from $118.9 billion in July, according to preliminary data.

It was the largest deficit since March 2025, when the gap reached a record $158.7 billion, and came well above market expectations of a $115 billion shortfall.

Imports rose 5.5% from the prior month to a 17-month high of $336.1 billion, driven by a 16.6% surge if inbound shipments of industrial supplies (16.6%), while capital goods, which include computers, semiconductors and telecommunications equipment, also rose 4%.

Meanwhile, exports increased 1.9% to $203.4 billion, ending three consecutive months of declines, also picking up in outbound shipments of industrial supplies (8.3%) and capital goods (2%).

However, exports of automotive vehicles fell 6.9%. ...