January 17 in history — What Happened Today in History

The Czech Republic applies for membership in the European Union.

The 6.9 Mw Great Hanshin earthquake shakes the southern Hyōgo Prefecture with a maximum Shindo of 7, leaving 5,502–6,434 people dead, and 251,301–310,000 displaced.

The 6.7 Mw Northridge earthquake shakes the Greater Los Angeles Area with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 57 people dead and more than 8,700 injured.

During a visit to South Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa apologizes for forcing Korean women into sexual slavery during World War II.

Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins early in the morning as aircraft strike positions across Iraq, it is also the first major combat sortie for the F-117. LCDR Scott Speicher's F/A-18C Hornet from VFA-81 is shot down by a Mig-25 and is the first American casualty of the War. Iraq fires eight Scud missiles into Israel in an unsuccessful bid to provoke Israeli retaliation.

Crown Prince Harald of Norway becomes King Harald V, following the death of his father, King Olav V.

Patrick Purdy opens fire at an elementary school in Stockton, California, killing five and wounding 31 others.

President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos lifts martial law eight years and five months after declaring it.

Capital punishment in the United States resumes after a ten-year hiatus, as convicted murderer Gary Gilmore is executed by firing squad in Utah.

Black Panther Party members Bunchy Carter and John Huggins are killed during a meeting in Campbell Hall on the campus of UCLA.

Palomares incident: A B-52 bomber collides with a KC-135 Stratotanker over Spain, killing seven airmen, and dropping three 70-kiloton nuclear bombs near the town of Palomares and another one into the sea.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers a televised farewell address to the nation three days before leaving office, in which he warns against the accumulation of power by the "military–industrial complex" as well as the dangers of massive spending, especially deficit spending.

Former Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba is murdered together with former Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of the Congo Maurice Mpolo and former Senator from Kasai Province Joseph Okito in circumstances suggesting the support and complicity of the governments of Belgium and the United States.

The Great Brink's Robbery: Eleven thieves steal more than $2 million from an armored car company's offices in Boston.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 79 relating to arms control is adopted.

The Renville Agreement between the Netherlands and Indonesia is ratified.

The UN Security Council holds its first session.

World War II: The Vistula–Oder Offensive forces German troops out of Warsaw.

The SS-Totenkopfverbände begin the evacuation of the Auschwitz concentration camp as the Red Army closes in.

Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg is taken into Soviet custody while in Hungary; he is never publicly seen again.

World War II: Allied forces launch the first of four assaults on Monte Cassino with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome, an effort that would ultimately take four months and cost 105,000 Allied casualties.

World War II: Greek submarine Papanikolis captures the 200-ton sailing vessel Agios Stefanos and mans her with part of her crew.

Franco-Thai War: Vichy French forces inflict a decisive defeat over the Royal Thai Navy.

Alcohol Prohibition begins in the United States as the Volstead Act goes into effect.

Finnish Civil War: The first serious battles take place between the Red Guards and the White Guard.

The United States pays Denmark $25 million for the Virgin Islands.

Russia defeats Ottoman Turkey in the Battle of Sarikamish during the Caucasus Campaign of World War I.

British polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen.

Allonzo Trier, American basketball player

Indya Moore, American actor and model

Lucy Boynton, American-English actress

Mark Steketee, Australian cricketer

Stanislav Galiev, Russian ice hockey player

Trevor Bauer, American baseball player

Willa Fitzgerald, American actress

Esapekka Lappi, Finnish rally driver

Alise Post, American BMX rider

Santiago Tréllez, Colombian footballer

Tyler Zeller, American basketball player

Taylor Jordan, American baseball player

Kelly Marie Tran, American actress

Melvin Day, New Zealand painter and historian (born 1923)

V. Rama Rao, Indian lawyer and politician, 12th Governor of Sikkim (born 1935)

Sudhindra Thirtha, Indian religious leader (born 1926)

Ken Furphy, English footballer and manager (born 1931)

Faten Hamama, Egyptian actress and producer (born 1931)

Don Harron, Canadian actor and screenwriter (born 1924)

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, Indian spiritual leader, 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq (born 1915)

Francine Lalonde, Canadian educator and politician (born 1940)

Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green, English businessman and politician (born 1942)

John J. McGinty III, American captain, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1940)

Sunanda Pushkar, Indian-Canadian businesswoman (born 1962)

Suchitra Sen, Indian film actress (born 1931)

Mehmet Ali Birand, Turkish journalist and author (born 1941)