June 25 marks a day of pivotal events in global and American history, from the outbreak of the Korean War to landmark Supreme Court rulings and cultural milestones. Here’s a look back at what happened on this day through the decades.

1950: War Erupts on the Korean Peninsula

On this day in 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea, triggering the Korean War. The conflict would rage for more than three years, draw in both U.S. and Chinese troops, and ultimately result in a devastating toll of over 4 million lives, the majority of them civilians. Though an armistice was signed in 1953, no formal peace treaty was ever concluded, and tensions on the Korean Peninsula persist to this day.

1876: Custer’s Last Stand Begins

The infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn—also known as Custer’s Last Stand—began in Montana Territory. A combined force of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors clashed with the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 268 of his men were killed, along with as many as 100 Native American fighters. Among the fallen was Mark Kellogg, the first Associated Press reporter to die in the line of duty.

1938: Minimum Wage and Labor Protections Become Law

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act into law, establishing key worker protections that are still in place today. The act created a national minimum wage, mandated overtime pay, and banned oppressive child labor, becoming a cornerstone of American labor rights.

1947: Anne Frank’s Diary is Published

“The Diary of a Young Girl”, written by Anne Frank while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam, was published for the first time. The diary has since become one of the most powerful personal accounts of the Holocaust, read by millions around the world.

1973: Watergate Testimony Rocks Washington

In a gripping moment of political drama, John Dean, former White House Counsel, began testifying before the Senate Watergate Committee. His testimony directly implicated top Nixon administration officials—including the president himself—in the infamous break-in and cover-up, leading to a scandal that would ultimately topple a presidency.

1990: Supreme Court Issues First “Right-to-Die” Ruling

In Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states could bar families from withdrawing life support from comatose relatives without clear prior consent. It was the court’s first ruling on the “right to die,” sparking nationwide debate on medical ethics and end-of-life decisions.

1993: Canada’s First Female Prime Minister Takes Office

Kim Campbell broke new ground when she was sworn in as Canada’s 19th prime minister—the first woman to ever hold the country’s highest office.

1996: Deadly Bombing in Saudi Arabia

A truck bomb exploded at a U.S. military housing complex in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 Americans and injuring hundreds more. The attack marked one of the deadliest assaults on U.S. forces overseas in the 1990s.

2015: Supreme Court Preserves Obamacare

In a major legal victory for President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in King v. Burwell that federal health insurance subsidies could continue nationwide. The decision helped preserve coverage for millions of Americans.

2021: Derek Chauvin Sentenced for George Floyd’s Murder

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 ½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd. The sentencing followed a high-profile trial and came after Floyd’s death sparked global protests against racial injustice and police brutality, becoming one of the most defining moments in recent American history.

Final Thought

Whether marking moments of tragedy, justice, or progress, June 25 stands as a powerful reminder of how history shapes—and continues to reflect—the world we live in today.

Source: AP News – Today in History: June 25, the Korean War begins

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NEW YORK — On Friday, rapper and fashion mogul Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — made a headline-grabbing appearance at the New York federal courthouse where his longtime friend, Sean “Diddy” Combs, is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering. But despite his star power, Ye wasn’t allowed inside the main courtroom and left the building shortly after watching proceedings via a closed-circuit video monitor.

The surprise visit highlighted the tight security and national scrutiny surrounding the trial of one of hip-hop’s most powerful and controversial figures — a man who once helped define the genre’s image of luxury, fame, and rebellion. Now, Combs stands accused of using that same image — and the wealth behind it — to control, exploit, and harm others over a span of two decades.

A Show of Support from Ye — but No Courtroom Access

Ye arrived just before noon, wearing white and flanked by a small entourage. Reporters asked if he was there to support Combs. “Yes,” he answered with a nod, before being escorted through security and up to an overflow room. He was not permitted in the 26th-floor courtroom, where access is tightly regulated and mostly reserved for legal teams, media, and those who wait hours in line to witness the trial firsthand.

Instead, Ye sat in a lower-level overflow room with Combs’ son Christian, a bodyguard, and another supporter. The rapper remained for only a short time before abruptly standing up and leaving the courthouse without answering further questions. He exited through a crush of reporters and cameras before slipping into a waiting black Mercedes.

Inside the courtroom, Combs reportedly looked upbeat — aware that his friend had stopped by to support him. It was a rare emotional moment in an otherwise intense and tightly controlled legal proceeding.

The Trial: A Legacy on the Line

Sean “Diddy” Combs, 55, faces serious federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he ran a violent, manipulative operation — using his fame, influence, and wealth to coerce women into sex acts, often in drug-fueled and degrading situations. The alleged crimes span 20 years and include disturbing accusations that threaten to dismantle not just his reputation, but his multimillion-dollar business empire.

Combs has pleaded not guilty and denies all allegations. His lawyers claim federal prosecutors are overreaching — criminalizing what they call consensual sex between adults — and suggest the case is driven more by sensationalism than substance.

The trial has become a cultural flashpoint, raising uncomfortable questions about power, celebrity, and abuse in the music industry. Some compare the case to the reckoning that hit Hollywood during the #MeToo movement, when powerful men were brought down by long-buried stories of coercion and misconduct.

The Alleged Victim Speaks

Much of the trial so far has centered on testimony from a woman referred to only by the pseudonym “Jane.” She recently concluded six harrowing days on the witness stand, detailing what she described as an abusive and deeply exploitative relationship with Combs that began in 2021 and continued up to his arrest in 2023.

Jane claimed she was forced into sex with male sex workers while Combs watched, filmed, and sometimes participated — often during days-long sessions fueled by drugs. Her account painted a picture of psychological control and coercion dressed up in the glitz of the music world.

A Famous Rapper in Vegas?

In one particularly revealing moment, Jane testified about a January 2023 trip to Las Vegas during a brief breakup from Combs. She flew out with a high-profile rapper described in court as a “music icon” and close friend of Combs. (While court documents didn’t name the rapper, her testimony came just one day before Ye showed up at court.)

Jane described partying with the rapper and his girlfriend, going to dinner, a strip club, and eventually a hotel suite. There, she said, a sex worker had sex with a woman in front of a group of partygoers. Jane testified that the rapper complimented her appearance and made an explicit remark about wanting to sleep with her. At some point, she said she flashed her breasts while dancing.

Before allowing this testimony, the court held a private hearing to determine how much of the Las Vegas trip could be revealed publicly — an indication of how sensitive and potentially explosive this part of the case may be.

Jury Concerns Surface

Also on Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian addressed a juror’s residency after prosecutors raised concerns. The juror had said during selection that he lived in the Bronx, but later told a court staffer he had moved to New Jersey — which would disqualify him from serving on the jury for a Manhattan federal trial.

Under questioning, the juror admitted to the move but insisted he still stays in New York during the week and maintains a New York driver’s license. Combs’ defense pushed back, accusing the prosecution of trying to remove a Black juror under flimsy pretenses — calling it a “thinly veiled” effort that confused inconsistency with dishonesty.

The judge acknowledged the issue but noted that even if the juror were replaced, the jury would remain diverse.

What’s Next

With the prosecution’s case wrapping up, the defense is expected to begin presenting its side as early as next week. Whether Ye’s appearance signals a potential role as a witness remains to be seen. For now, his presence added yet another layer of drama to a trial already brimming with celebrity, controversy, and questions about justice in the age of fame.

Source: AP News – Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shows up for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial but can’t get in

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“After very careful review of all the arguments…I came to a place where I believe that, under the law, resentencing is appropriate, and I am going to recommend that to a court tomorrow,” District Attorney George Gascon told reporters Thursday afternoon.

He said he will recommend a sentence of 50 years to life for each of the brothers, which would make them immediately eligible for parole under state law because they were under 26 at the time of the murders.

Erik and Joseph “Lyle” Menendez ambushed their parents with shotguns in the living room of their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.

Their first trial ended in a mistrial. They were both convicted after their second trial and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, under a new California law, district attorneys have the authority to request new sentences that were handed down before they took office.

They have been in prison for nearly 35 years,” Gascon said. “I believe that they have paid their debt to society.”

He added that a resentencing must be approved by the court before it becomes official and that a parole board will still need to sign off on their eventual release. He went on to praise the brothers’ good behavior during their decades behind bars.

The brothers and their supporters, including two dozen relatives, among them their mother’s sister Joan Andersen VanderMolen, petitioned Gascon for a resentencing earlier this year, arguing that new evidence shows the brothers were sexually abused and molested by their father.

The new evidence includes allegations made public last year that their father also molested Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, in the 1980s, and a letter that Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, which surfaced in 2015, years after the latter’s death.

The date the letter was written has been challenged by critics of the brothers’ potential release. The defense said he sent it to his cousin eight months before the murders, when the brothers were 21 and 18. The Menendez brothers are now both in their 50s.

Gascon is up for reelection in less than two weeks and faces a strong challenge from independent candidate Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor. Critics have called his involvement in the high-profile case politically motivated. But there is also some public support for the brothers’ release after a series of recent documentaries attracted attention to their case, including one on FOX Nation.

“DA George Gascon received the Menendez habeas corpus petition in May 2023 and request for resentencing in February 2024. Yet, he has waited until days before the Nov. 5 election, 30 points down in the polls with articles coming about how his failed policies have led to additional murders of innocent people, to release his recommendation for resentencing,” his challenger, Nathan Hochman, told Fox News Digital. “By releasing it now, Gascon has cast a cloud over the fairness and impartiality of his decision, allowing Angelenos to question whether the decision was correct and just or just another desperate political move by a DA running a losing campaign scrambling to grab headlines through a made-for-TV decision. Angelenos and everyone involved deserve better.”

The brothers unloaded shotguns at their father, former RCA Records executive Jose Menendez, and their mother, Mary “Kitty” Menendez, while the couple was watching TV at 10:30 p.m.

They ran out of shells and had to go outside to get more in order to finish off their mother, who investigators said had blood on the bottom of her shoes, indicating that she tried to escape after the shooting began.

Not all of the brothers’ family members support their release.

Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, 90, vehemently opposes a reduced sentence and on Wednesday asked the judge overseeing the case to keep his nephews in prison for the rest of their lives – as they were sentenced originally.

Source

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