In History, Today on April 24

A stampede occurred at a religious gathering at Mount Meron in Israel during the Lag BaOmer celebrations, resulting in the deaths of 45 people and injuring hundreds more.

A van attack occurs in Toronto, Canada, resulting in the deaths of 10 people and injuring 16 others.

Armenians worldwide commemorated the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire starting in 1915.

The European Union unveiled a plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy use, aiming for a legal framework for EU climate policies up to 2030.

The Rana Plaza building collapses in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing over 1,100 people in one of the deadliest garment factory accidents in history.

The solar eclipse of April 24, 2006, was a partial solar eclipse visible from parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Pope John Paul II.

The United States lifts economic sanctions on Libya after the country renounces its weapons of mass destruction programs.

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space by the Space Shuttle Discovery.

The Soviet Union's Government signed a decree to shut down the nuclear power plant that was behind the 1986 Chernobyl disaster within two years.

The introduction of the IBM Personal Computer was announced, setting a new standard in the personal computing industry.

The People's Republic of China launched its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, making it the fifth nation to launch a satellite into orbit.

Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov became the first human to die during a space mission when the Soyuz 1 capsule crashed upon re-entry.

Winston Churchill was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The United Nations Conference on International Organization began in San Francisco, leading to the creation of the United Nations.

The Easter Rising began in Dublin, Ireland, as Irish republicans launched an armed insurrection against British rule.

The Armenian Genocide began with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) began as Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

The Swedish chemist Gustaf Erik Pasch was granted a patent for the safety match, an invention that significantly improved the safety of matches by isolating the chemicals used from direct contact with the user.

The Mexican-American War began when Mexican forces attacked U.S. troops in the disputed zone between the Rio Grande and Nueces River.

The Treaty of the Sixty Articles, also known as the Baft Convention, was signed between Persia and Britain.

A patent for what would become the first modern soda fountain was granted.

Austria, Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia agreed to recognize the independence of Greece.

The United States Library of Congress was established.

Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle wrote 'La Marseillaise', which later became the national anthem of France.

The first regular newspaper in the United States, the Boston News-Letter, was published.

Mary, Queen of Scots, married the French Dauphin, Francis, who later became King Francis II of France.

The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was declared valid by Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer, strengthening their hold on power despite controversy.

The Eleftherios Venizelos National Airport in Athens is temporarily closed and hostilities between France and Greece escalate.

The Battle of Ane occurred during the Drenthe Crusade, which saw the defeat of the Bishopric of Utrecht's troops by the allied forces of the County of Holland and the Frisians.

According to legend, the Greeks entered Troy using the Trojan Horse, leading to the fall of the city.

On April 24, 1066, Halley's Comet appeared, an event noted by medieval chroniclers. It is famously depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry and was considered an omen by many in Europe, particularly concerning the political turmoil in England.

The beginning of the reign of Emperor Constantine VII of the Byzantine Empire, who would rule for several decades, known for his scholarly works and efforts to strengthen the empire through diplomacy and reforms.

Pope Nicholas I is elected as the 105th pope of the Catholic Church.