Unix Timestamp: 1080086400
Wednesday, March 24. 2004, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Italy jails Tuninter Flight 1153's two pilots for ten years for praying before ditching into the Mediterranean Sea. //www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5043287/Pilot-who-paused-to-pray-in-crash-landing-sentenced-to-10-years-in-jail.html (Telegraph)

Bhutan holds its first-ever general elections.//www.france24.com/en/20080324-bhutan-votes-status-quo-jigmi-thinley-election-parliamentnavi=MONDE Bhutan votes for status quo, France 24, March 24, 2008

A 414 square kilometer (160 sq. mi.sup2/sup) chunk of Antarctica's Wilkins Ice Shelf disintegrates, leaving the entire shelf at risk.

African Union and Comoros forces invade the rebel-held island of Anjouan.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 1747, imposing additional economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran for its ongoing nuclear programme. //www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400576.html (Washington Post)

The Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan reaches its climax with the overthrow of president Askar Akayev.

The 74th Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, are held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California with the film "A Beautiful Mind" winning Best Picture.

Apple Computer releases Mac OS X version 10.0.

The 69th Academy Awards, hosted by Billy Crystal, are held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, with "The English Patient" winning Best Picture.

In San Diego, California, 39 Heaven's Gate cultists commit mass suicide at their compound.

Julius Chan resigns as prime minister of Papua New Guinea, ending the Sandline affair.

For the first time in 26 years, no British soldiers patrol the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In Mali, military officers led by Amadou Toumani Touré arrest President Moussa Traoré and suspend the constitution.

Georgian independence referendum, 1991: Georgia votes for independence from the Soviet Union.

Albania holds its first multi-party elections.

Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay sign the Treaty of Asunción, establishing South Common Market (Mercosur its acronym in Spanish)

The Beninese presidential election, Benin's first presidential election since 1970, is won by Nicéphore Soglo.

Archbishop of CanterburyRobert Runcie announces his intention to retire at the end of the year.

In the Australian federal election, the Australian Labor Party, led by Prime Minister of AustraliaBob Hawke, clings to power with a reduced majority.

In New York City, a fire due to arson at an illegal social club called Happy Land kills 87.

In the Hungarian parliamentary election, Hungary's first multiparty election since 1948, the Hungarian Democratic Forum wins the most seats.

Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Alaska's Prince William Sound the "Exxon Valdez" spills of oil after running aground.

An Israeli court sentences Mordechai Vanunu to 18 years in prison for disclosing Israel's nuclear program to "The Sunday Times".

Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and French Prime Minister and future President of France, Jacques Chirac, sign the agreement to construct the Euro Disney Resort (now called Disneyland Paris) and to develop the Val d'Europe area of the new town Marne-la-Vallée in Paris, France.

Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and French Prime Minister and future President of France, Jacques Chirac, sign the agreement to construct the Euro Disney Resort (now called Disneyland Paris) and to develop the Val d'Europe area of the new town Marne-la-Vallée in Paris, France.

Aer Lingus Flight 712 crashed en route from Cork to London near Tuskar Rock, Wexford, killing 61 passengers and crew.

"Baker v. Carr": The U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal courts can order state legislatures to reapportion seats.

France shortens the term for military service from 26 months to 18.

OAS leader Edmond Jouhaud is arrested in Oran.

The U.S. Army inducts Elvis Presley, transforming The King Of Rock Roll into U.S. private #53310761.

In the Polish village of Markowa, German police kill Józef and Wiktoria Ulm, their six children and eight Jews they were hiding.

The Great Escape ndash 76 Royal Air Force prisoners escape by tunnel Harry from Stalag Luft III this night. Only three return to the UK of those recaptured, fifty are executed.

Fosse Ardeatine massacre: 335 Italians are killed, including 75 Jews and over 200 members of the Italian Resistance from various groups, in Rome.

WWII: Rommel launches his first offensive in Cyrenaica.

American adventurer Richard Halliburton delivers a last message from a Chinese junk, before he disappears on a voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Dictator Francisco Franco assumes power in Madrid.

Marks the seventh successive year of the world wide boycott of all German exports initiated by front page declarations in Britain and the U.S. 'Judea declares war on Germany'

The Philippine Commonwealth becomes established allowing for more self-government from the United States.

Jews call for a boycott of German goods.

The Mayor of New York, Van Wyck, breaks ground for a new underground Rapid Transit Railroad that will link Manhattan with Brooklyn.

George Dewey is made Admiral of the US Navy.

Robert Allison of Port Carbon, Pennsylvania, becomes the first person to buy an American-built automobile when he buys a Winton automobile that had been advertised in "Scientific American".

Robert Koch announces the discovery of the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis ("Mycobacteriumtuberculosis").

The UK frigate "Eurydice" sinks, killing 300.

For the only time in history, the Boat Race between the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford is declared a dead heat (i.e. a draw).

The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, giving blacks the right to vote, is ratified.

Texas is readmitted to the Union following Reconstruction.

Syracuse University is established and officially opens.

Titokowaru\\\'s War ends with surrender of the last Māori troops at large in the South Taranaki District of New Zealand's North Island.

Titokowaru's War ends with surrender of the last Māori troops at large in the South Taranaki District of New Zealand's North Island.

The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is formed.

Taiping Rebellion: Suspecting treachery on the part of East King Yang Xiuqing, Shi Dakai garrisons Anhui and begins his march back to the Heavenly Capital, having defeated a strong Xiang Army detachment.

The First Schleswig War begins () a military conflict in southern Denmark and northern Germany rooted in the Schleswig-Holstein Question, contesting the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.

In Hiram, Ohio a group of men beat, tar and featherMormon leader Joseph Smith, Jr..

Great Britain passes the Quartering Act, requiring the thirteen American colonies to house British troops.

remiere performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's Funeral cantata ""'Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a""' before midday at the St. James Church, Köthen (for the same event as above).

Johann Sebastian Bach's "Brandenburg concertos" completed and dedicated to Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt.

April ndash Pirates John Taylor and Olivier Levasseur capture the 700-ton Portuguesegalleon "Nossa Senhora do Cabo" at Réunion. The total value of treasure on board (from Goa) is estimated as between £100,000 and £875,000, one of the largest pirate hauls ever.

King Charles II of England issues the Charter of Carolina, establishing the Province of Carolina and dividing it between eight Lords Proprietors.ref name=Cassell's Chronology/

In England, Roger Williams is granted an official charter for his Rhode Island Colony, allowing the establishment of a general assembly.

Tokugawa Ieyasu is granted the title of shogun from Emperor Go-Yozei, and establishes the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo, Japan. Start of the 265-year-long Edo period.

Queen Elizabeth I of England dies at Richmond Palace and is succeeded by her cousin's grandson, King James VI of Scotland, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England.ref name=Pocket On This Day

The Treaty of Santarém is signed between D. Fernando of Portugal and Henrique II of Castile, ending the second war between the two countries.

April – Edward III offers defiance of Philip VI.

Guy de Chauliac observes the planets Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars conjoined in the sky under the sign of Aquarius and a solar eclipse on the same day. This sign is interpreted as foreboding by many, and Chauliac will later blame it for the Black Plague.ref name=pgs. 143-148 ASIN B000K6TDP2pgs. 143–148 ASIN B000K6TDP2ref name=Horrox, Rosemary 1994. pg.104-105Horrox, Rosemary. The Black Death. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1994. ISBN 978-0-7190-3498-5 pg.104–105

Pope Innocent III places England under an interdict as punishment for King John of England rejecting his choice for Archbishop of Canterbury. Under the interdict, Church sacraments including marriage and consecrated burial are probably stopped, but there is no sign of the popular discontent which interdicts are intended to produce over the next several years."King John" by Warren. Published by University of California Press in 1961. p. 171

The Battle of Pankalia: a combined Byzantine–Georgian force defeats Bardas Sklerus, an organizer of the large-scale rebellion in the Byzantine Empire's Asian provinces.

The Song Dynasty destroys the Northern Han State.