This Day in History: Archbishop Oscar Romero killed by right-wing hit squads while preparing for mass

The following are some of the major events to have occurred on March 24:

1905 – Jules Verne, the French novelist who wrote “Around the World in Eighty Days”, died.

1974 – First close-up picture of Planet Mercury.

1980 – Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot dead by right-wing hit squads while preparing for mass in San Salvador.

1982 – Lieutenant-General Mohammad Hossain Ershad declared himself martial law leader of Bangladesh after a military coup.

2002 – For the first time in 74 years of Oscars, two black actors won the awards for best actor and best actress: Denzel Washington for “Training Day” and Halle Berry for “Monster’s Ball”.

2004 – CIA director George Tenet testifies on Sept. 11 attacks.

2004 – European Union regulators ruled Microsoft had broken antitrust law and levied a record 497.2 million euro ($611.8 million) fine.

2005 – Kyrgyzstan’s opposition seized power as veteran president Askar Akayev fled following days of violent protests.

2008 – People of Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan vote in their first ever parliamentary polls.

2015 – Germanwings flight 9525 crashes into Alps after co-pilot locked himself in cockpit.

2016 – Jews of world’s first ghetto mark its 500th anniversary.

(Reuters)