Unix Timestamp: 1056499200
Wednesday, June 25. 2003, 12:00:00 AM UTC

The death of American entertainer Michael Jackson triggers an outpouring of worldwide grief. Online, reactions to the event cripple several major websites and services, as the abundance of people accessing the web addresses pushes internet traffic to potentially unprecedented and historic levels.

King of Pop Michael Jackson dies from cardiac arrest at the age of 50 after arrival at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. //latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/pop-star-michael-jackson-was-rushed-to-a-hospital-this-afternoon-by-los-angeles-fire-department-paramedicscapt-steve-ruda.html ("The Los Angeles Times") //www.eonline.com/uberblog/b131173_michael_jackson_pops_thrilling_king.html (EOnline)

Conoco Phillips and ExxonMobil reject a deal with PDVSA, the nationalised oil company of Venezuela, over the future participation in development of reserves in the Orinoco Belt. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6239702.stm (BBC)

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

Junko Tabei scales Puncak Jaya to become the first woman to complete the Seven Summits.

A bodyguard assassinates President Mohamed Boudiaf of Algeria.

United States Secretary of the NavyHenry L. Garrett III resigns in the wake of the Tailhook scandal.

Denmark beats Germany 2–0 to win the 1992 UEFA European Football Chionship at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Estonia holds a referendum on its constitution, that will come into effect on July 3.

Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) founded.

The Supreme Court of the United States upholds the 1973 decision of "Roe v. Wade" in "Planned Parenthood v. Casey", a 5-4 decision.

Collapse of Yugoslavia: Croatia and Slovenia declare their independence from Yugoslavia.

The Netherlands defeats the Soviet Union 2–0 to win Euro 88.

Irish police foil a Provisional Irish Republican Army-sponsored 'mainland bombing caign' which targeted luxury vacationing resorts.

India wins Cricket World Cup by defeating West Indies by 43 runs.

The Institute for Puerto Rican Policy is founded in New York City to research and advocate for Puerto Rican and Latino community issues. In 2006, it changes it name to the National Institute for Latino Policy.

A Muslim Brotherhood assassination attempt against Syrian president Hafez al-Assad fails. Assad retaliates by sending the army against them.

The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan.

Sweden outlaws corporal punishment in the home.

Belgium: NATOSupreme Allied CommanderAlexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization.

Argentina defeats the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time to win the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Strikes start in Poland (Ursus, Radom, Płock) after communists raise food prices they end on June 30.

Madagascar accuses the U.S. of being connected to the plot to oust the current government the U.S. recalls its ambassador.

400 million viewers watch Our World, the first live, international, satellite television production. It features the live debut of The Beatles' song All You Need is Love.

Pope Paul VI ordains 276 new cardinals (one of whom is the future Pope John Paul II).

The Buffalo Race Riot begins, lasting until July 1 leads to 200 arrests.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing C135-A bound for Okinawa crashes just after takeoff at MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, killing all 85 on board.

July ndash Commonwealth secretariat created.

The Catholic Church condemns the female combined oral contraceptive pill.

Iraqi president Abdul Karim Kassem announces he is going to annex Kuwait.

The United Church of Christ is formed in Cleveland, Ohio, by the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Korean War begins: North Korean troops cross the 38th parallel into South Korea.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) (World Bank) begins operations.

Seán T. O'Kelly is elected the second President of Ireland.

Seán T. O'Kelly is elected the second President of Ireland.

WWII: The Battle of Tali-Ihantala (the largest battle ever in the Nordic countries) begins between Finnish and Soviet troops. Finland is able to resist the attack and thus manages to stay as an independent nation.

WWII: Finland attacks the Soviet Union to seek the opportunity of revenge in the Continuation War.

Dr. Douglas Hyde is elected the first President of Ireland.

Wilmersdorfer Tennishallen delegates convene in Berlin to protest against the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany.

Rapid Bucureşti is formed on the initiative of the Griviţa railroad workers (first named CFR Bucureşti).

The ballet "The Firebird" ("L'Oiseau de feu"), the first major work by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, commissioned by Diaghilev'sBallets Russes, is premièred in Paris, bringing the composer international fame.

Three Denver, Colorado newspapers publish a story (later proved to be a fabrication) that the Chinese government under the Guangxu Emperor is going to demolish the Great Wall of China.

Arthur Conan Doyle's detective Sherlock Holmes appears in "The Strand Magazine" for the first time.ref name=Pocket On This Day/

July 30 ndash The Springboks rugby union team of South Africa play their first international test match against the Lions team of the British Isles and win by 4-0.

American Indian Wars ndash Battle of the Little Bighorn: 300 men of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment under Lieutenant ColonelGeorge Armstrong Custer are wiped out by 5,000 Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

June 27 ndash Third Carlist War : Battle of Monte Muro: Carlist forces entrenched around Abárzuza, on the approach to Estella in Navarre, repel an attack by Isabelino/Liberal (supporters of Queen Isabella II) troops led by General Manuel Gutiérrez de la Concha, Marqués del Duero, who is killed on the third day of fighting.

July ndash The Christian Mission, later renamed the Salvation Army, is founded in Whitechapel, London by William and Catherine Booth.

James Hudson Taylor founds the China Inland Mission at Brighton, England.

Abd-ul-Mejid I, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1839–1861) dies and is succeeded by Abd-ul-Aziz (1861–1876).

A large riot breaks out in Copenhagen Prison the army is sent to quell it.

The Virginia Ratifying Convention ratifies the United States Constitution and becomes the tenth U.S. state under the new government.

August ndash James Rumsey tests his first steam boat in the Potomac river at Shepherdstown Virginia (now West Virginia).

Gavriil Pribylov discovers St. George Island of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.

The Marine Society is founded in London, the world's oldest seafarers' charity.

Maria Theresa of Austria is crowned Queen Regnant of Hungary in Bratislava.

Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia becomes the first woman to be awarded a university degree, a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Padua.

June 26 ndash Siege of Malmö.

July ndash The Hanseatic League, after 400 years of operation, holds its last official meeting in Lübeck.

Francis of Vendome, Duke of Beaufort, disappears during a battle in the Siege of Candia in Crete.

27 ndash Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Rio Nuevo: A Spanish invasion force fails to recapture Jamaica from the English.

July ndash Sarhuda's Manchu fleet annihilates Onufriy Stepanov's Russian flotilla on the Amur.

The New Model Army of Thomas Fairfax occupies Oxford.

Susenyos' son, Emperor Fasilides, declares the state religion of Ethiopia to again be Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, confiscates the lands of the Jesuit missionaries, relegating them to Fremona.

June ndash Eighty Years\\\\' War ndash Leading a Dutch army, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange captures in short succession the cities of Venlo, Roermond and Sittard, before besieging the city of Maastricht.

The "Book of Concord", a collection of Lutheran confessional documents, is published.

The Sea Beggars capture the city of Gorkum. Several Roman Catholic priests are imprisoned.

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle, is founded in Lincolnshire, England.

Suleiman the Magnificent leads another invasion of Hungary.

The Augsburg Confession is presented to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

The first hurricane ever observed by Europeans strikes the Spanish settlement of La Isabela on Hispaniola.

Before his coronation, King Edward V of England is deposed by his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who becomes King as Richard III of England.

The Incorporated Guild of Smiths is founded in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Pope Innocent IV succeeds Pope Celestine IV as the 180th pope.

Three-year old Emperor Go-Toba ascends to the throne of Japan after the forced abdication of his brother Emperor Antoku during the Genpei War.

The Peace of Constance is signed between Frederick Barbarossa and the Lombard League.

Byzantine general Constantine Kontomytes defeats the Cretan Saracens near Mount Latros.

Battle of Fontenay: Louis the German and Charles the Bald defeat Lothar.

Battle of Magh-Ochtar (Kildare, Ireland): Feidlimid mac Cremthanin is defeated by the Southern Uí Neill.

In the Chinese capital of Chang\\'an, the West Market and East Market are closed every night 1 hour and three quarters before dusk (by government-ordered curfew), yet night markets thrive in residential areas. The local government attempt to shut the night markets down in this year, but with the decline of the government's authority by the mid 9th century, this edict (like many others) is largely ignored as urban dwellers keep attending the night markets regardless.

The Norse town of "Dyflinn" or Dublin is founded in Ireland.

Boethius, Roman philosopher, is executed without trial, probably at Pavia, after a prison term during which he has written the "Consolation of Philosophy" (approximate date).

Queen Guntheuc, widow of Chlodomer, is forced by marrying with Chlothar I. Her two children are murdered by him, but the eldest son Clodoald survives by escaping to Provence.

Battle of Vézeronce: The Franks under Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I are defeated by the Burgundians and allied Ostrogoths near Isère (France). During the fightings Chlodomer is killed. Later Childebert annexes the cities of Chartres and Orléans.

Lucius is arrested almost immediately following his election and also exiled.

Pope Lucius I succeeds Pope Cornelius as the 22nd pope.