25 June 1564

Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russian forces captured the city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine, after six weeks of fighting.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the CIA acknowledged the existence of Area 51 (diagram pictured), a secretive U.S. Air Force facility in Nevada and a subject of various UFO, and other, conspiracy theories.

Singer Michael Jackson died as a result of the combination of drugs in his body.

The rainbow flag (original version pictured) representing gay pride was first flown at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade.

More than an estimated 400 million people viewed Our World, the first live international satellite television production.

Two cryptographers working for the U.S. National Security Agency left on vacation to Mexico, and proceeded to defect to the Soviet Union.

The Korean War began with North Korean forces launching a pre-dawn raid over the 38th parallel into South Korea.

The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 82 condemning the North Korean invasion of South Korea.

World War II: U.S. Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg, France, to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg.

Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed.

The United States Congress passed the Mann Act, which prohibited the interstate transport of females for "immoral purposes".

Anglo-Spanish War: The largest battle ever fought on Jamaica, the three-day Battle of Rio Nuevo, began.

Thousands of people storm Kenya's Parliament Buildings protesting the passing of the government's 2024/25 Finance Bill.

The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the longest bridge of Bangladesh, Padma Bridge.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Battle of Sievierodonetsk ends after weeks of heavy fighting with the Russian capture of the city, leading to the Battle of Lysychansk.

Two people are killed and 21 more injured after a gunman opens fire at three sites in Oslo in a suspected Islamist anti-LGBTQ+ attack.

PMTair Flight 241 crashes in the Dâmrei Mountains in Kampot Province, Cambodia, killing all 22 people on board.

An uncrewed Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir.

The National Hockey League approved expansion franchises for Nashville (1998), Atlanta (1999), Columbus (2000), and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (2000).

The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.

American rapper Jay-Z releases his debut album, Reasonable Doubt.

Kim Campbell is sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Canada.

Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-50, the first shuttle mission to carry Extended Duration Orbiter hardware.

The breakup of Yugoslavia begins when Slovenia and Croatia declare their independence from Yugoslavia.