The day began with a shooting near the White House, with injuries reported, shifting focus from previous domestic stories to an international security incident. By mid-morning, a massive fireworks factory explosion killed at least 21 people, dominating headlines. Later, a man died after police intervention during a rescue attempt, raising questions about use of force. In the afternoon, Prime Minister Tusk delivered a blunt rebuke to political opponents, saying they 'can no longer pretend to be stupid.' The Romanian government fell, adding geopolitical instability. A humpback whale named Timmy was presumed dead. In the evening, a firefighting plane crashed during wildfire response, killing the pilot. NATO death rumors were dismissed as exaggerated.
