February 17: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2021: A tragic school kidnapping occurred in Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria, where armed militants attacked a school in the early morning hours. One student was killed, and 27 students were abducted, along with three staff members and 12 of their relatives. The attack highlighted the ongoing security challenges in the region, with no group claiming responsibility for the incident.
• 2014: A series of coordinated bombing attacks in Baghdad resulted in at least 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. Three bombs were detonated in public places, with one explosion occurring outside a Shiite mosque, highlighting the ongoing sectarian tensions in Iraq following the U.S. military withdrawal.
• 2004: José López Portillo, who served as President of Mexico, was born in 1920.
• 2002: On February 17, 2002, the popular Irish boy band Westlife reached the top of the UK singles chart with their hit song 'World Of Our Own'. This milestone marked their 10th number one single in the United Kingdom, solidifying their status as one of the most successful pop groups of the early 2000s.
• 2000: Microsoft officially released Windows 2000, a significant operating system for enterprise and professional users. The new OS represented a major advancement in Windows NT technology, offering improved stability, networking capabilities, and enhanced system management tools.
• 1995: The 11th Soap Opera Digest Awards celebrated excellence in daytime television, recognizing outstanding performances and achievements in the soap opera genre. This annual event highlighted the cultural significance of television drama in the mid-1990s.
• 1994: Randy Shilts, a pioneering American journalist and author of the groundbreaking book 'And the Band Played On', died of AIDS-related complications at the age of 41. His work was instrumental in raising public awareness about the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s, providing critical reporting on the early years of the health crisis and its social impact.
• 1988: Lebanese terrorists kidnapped United Nations truce observer Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins in southern Lebanon, marking a significant incident in the ongoing regional conflict and UN peacekeeping operations.
• 1985: United States Postal Service increases first-class postage rate from 20 cents to 22 cents, reflecting ongoing economic adjustments and inflation.
• 1981: Chrysler Corporation announced the largest corporate financial losses in United States history, signaling significant economic challenges for the American automotive industry during the early 1980s.

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February 17th marks the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.

There are 317 days remaining until the end of the year (or 318 days in case of leap years).

February 17th is the 17th day of the month of February.

What day of the week is February 17?

On February 17th, 2025 the day of the week is Monday.

Holidays and Observances on February 17

The zodiac sign associated with February 17th is Aquarius according to the Western Zodiac.

More about February 17 zodiac

What is special about the Aquarius sign?

• Aquarius personality traits and attitude
• Aquarius most and least compatible signs
• Why February born are so special