May 25: National Day in Argentina (1810); Independence Day in Jordan (1946); Liberation Day in Lebanon (2000) and in various African countries (1963)

• 1810 – The Primera Junta, the first independent government in Argentina, was established in an open cabildo in Buenos Aires (pictured), marking the end of the May Revolution.
• 1895 – The Republic of Formosa was inaugurated in Taiwan, proclaiming independence from Qing China.
• 1977 – Star Wars, a science fantasy film written and directed by George Lucas, was released, eventually becoming one of the most successful films of all time.
• 2000 – Israel withdrew its army from most of Lebanese territory, 22 years after its first invasion in 1978.
• 2002 – China Airlines Flight 611 crashed in the Taiwan Strait after breaking up in mid-air, killing all 225 people on board.