June 25th

Michael Jackson, lifelong musician, pop singer, and superstar, dies at age 50.

Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau died.

Both Canada and Turkey elect female heads of government for the first time. Kim Campbell became Canada's and Tansu Çiller Turkey's Prime Minister on this day. Worldwide, women in top political positions are still the exception.

Croatia and Slovenia proclaimed their independence from Yugoslavia, beginning the Yugoslavian civil war.

The world's first live global satellite TV program is aired. The BBC program “Our World” featured artists from 19 countries. The Beatles premiered their song “All You Need Is Love” on the show. Some 400 million viewers tuned in.

The first commercial color TV program was transmitted by CBS from New York to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC.

Communist North Korean troops invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War.

The diary of Anne Frank is published. The Jewish girl's account of her life in hiding from the Nazis has become a well-known work of world literature and made Anne one of the most prominent victims of the Nazi regime. She died at age 15 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

President Hoover authorizes building of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam).

Igor Stravinsky's ballet “The Firebird” is premiered. The work was performed by Sergei Diaghilev's legendary ballet company “Ballets Russes”. It was a huge success, catapulting Stravinsky to stardom.

Battle of the Little Bighorn: 7th Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel (sometime Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne, Custer killed.

Virginia became the 10th state in the Union.

Elena Cornaro Piscopia, a Venetian, is awarded a doctorate of philosophy - first woman to receive a university doctoral decree.

1st blood transfusion performed by French Doctor Jean-Baptiste Denys.