Washington, United States. Several major international political, military and business events took place on June 25 across different years, including the outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula, declarations of independence, and a major corporate accounting disclosure.
Korean War begins
In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, heralding the beginning of the Korean War.
Mozambique independence
In 1975, Mozambique became independent and Samora Machel was sworn in as president after 477 years of Portuguese rule.
Breakup of Yugoslavia
In 1991, Croatia and Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia, plunging the federation into a violent breakup.
Saudi Arabia bombing
In 1996, a bomb blast tore through a Saudi Arabian military complex housing foreigners in the eastern city of al-Khobar, killing 19 Americans and injuring nearly 400.
Death of Jacques-Yves Cousteau
In 1997, French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who popularised underwater exploration with prize-winning films, died at the age of 87.
Windows 98 release
In 1998, the world’s first consumer copy of Microsoft Windows 98 was sold in Sydney.
Indonesia-Australia relations
In 2001, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid started a visit to Australia, the first in 26 years, heralding a new era in relations between the two countries.
Zimbabwe land seizures
In 2002, a 45-day countdown began for 3,000 white Zimbabwean farmers to abandon their land, but many vowed to defy President Robert Mugabe’s “fast-track” land seizure programme.
WorldCom accounting disclosure
Also in 2002, WorldCom Inc, the second biggest U.S. long-distance telecoms group, fired Chief Financial Officer Scott Sullivan and disclosed it had inflated its profits over five years by $3.8 billion.