November 17: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2020: In a significant military engagement, the Taliban launched an attack in the Jurm District of Badakhshan Province, killing at least 12 police officers and injuring 10 others. Simultaneously, the Pentagon announced a partial withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan, scheduled to be completed by mid-January, signaling a potential shift in U.S. military strategy in the region.
• 2019: The first scientifically documented case of COVID-19 was identified in a 55-year-old male patient who had visited the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This patient would later be recognized as a critical early indicator of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that would dramatically reshape global health and society in the following months.
• 2011: Intense gunfire and explosions were reported in Damascus, the Syrian capital, marking a significant escalation of the 2011 Syrian uprising against the Assad regime.
• 2010: CERN researchers successfully trapped 38 antihydrogen atoms for approximately one-sixth of a second, marking a groundbreaking milestone in scientific research. This achievement represents the first time humans have managed to capture and hold antimatter, potentially opening new avenues for understanding the fundamental properties of matter and the universe.
• 2007: Two Canadian NATO soldiers and an interpreter were killed during operations in Afghanistan's War on Terrorism, with three additional soldiers wounded. This event highlighted the ongoing human cost of the international military intervention.
• 2001: Michael Karoli, a pioneering German guitarist and founding member of the influential experimental rock band Can, passed away. Known for his innovative and avant-garde musical style, Karoli was a key figure in the development of the Krautrock genre during the 1960s and 1970s.
• 1998: On November 17, 1998, Kenneth Allen McDuff, a notorious Texas serial killer, was a subject of criminal investigation. McDuff was known for his brutal murders and was considered one of the most dangerous criminals in Texas during the late 20th century.
• 1996: The play 'Present Laughter', a comedic work by Noël Coward, opens at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City, marking an important moment in theatrical performance for the year.
• 1993: "Grand Night For Singing" opened at the Criterion Theater in New York City, beginning a 52-performance run.
• 1973: At a meeting with 400 Associated Press managing editors in Orlando, Florida, U.S. President Richard Nixon emphatically declared, "I am not a crook," in response to mounting allegations surrounding the Watergate scandal. This infamous statement became a defining moment in American political history, highlighting the growing political tension and erosion of public trust.

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November 17th marks the 321st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 322nd in case of leap years).

There are 44 days remaining until the end of the year.

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

What day of the week is November 17?

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

Holidays and Observances on November 17

The zodiac sign associated with November 17th is Scorpio according to the Western Zodiac.

More about November 17 zodiac

What is special about the Scorpio sign?

• Scorpio personality traits and attitude
• Scorpio most and least compatible signs
• Why November born are so special