In History, Today on January 17

The volcanic eruption in Tonga, triggered by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano, caused significant disruptions. Further assessments revealed widespread damage on nearby islands with tsunami waves reaching the coastline.

Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, was arrested upon his return to Russia after recovering in Germany from a poisoning attack that occurred in August 2020. Navalny's arrest sparked widespread protests across Russia.

A car bomb attack at the General Santander National Police Academy in Bogotá, Colombia, kills 22 people and injures dozens more, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the country in recent years.

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh declares a state of emergency after refusing to step down following his defeat in the December 2016 election.

The United States lifted economic sanctions on Iran following the confirmation by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran had complied with a deal to curtail its nuclear program, marking Implementation Day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft, launched in 2004, is successfully reactivated after a 31-month hibernation period to continue its mission to study Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Algerian forces launch a raid to end the In Amenas hostage crisis, where Islamist militants had taken hostages at a gas facility, resulting in numerous casualties.

The Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia began to be officially identified and divided into sections in preparation for its salvage operation after it sank off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Tuscany.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti leads to a massive international relief effort, with the United Nations and various NGOs providing aid to the affected population.

The Doomsday Clock is set to five minutes to midnight due to concerns over nuclear proliferation and climate change.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is sworn in as President of Liberia, becoming the first elected female head of state in Africa.

Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing an estimated 400,000 people and causing significant destruction in the city of Goma.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approves the merger of America Online and Time Warner, creating AOL Time Warner, the world's largest media company at the time.

The Great Hanshin earthquake struck the Kobe region of Japan, resulting in over 6,000 deaths.

The Northridge earthquake strikes Los Angeles, California, causing widespread damage and fatalities.

Operation Desert Storm begins as the United States and coalition forces launch a massive air offensive against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

A B-52 bomber collides with a KC-135 tanker over Spain, dropping three 70-kiloton hydrogen bombs near the town of Palomares.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his farewell address to the nation, warning of the dangers of the military-industrial complex.

The Great Brinks Robbery took place, where a group of armed robbers stole $2.7 million from the Brink's Armored Car Depot in Boston.

The United Nations Security Council holds its first session at Church House, Westminster, London.

The Soviet Union captures Warsaw, Poland, from Nazi Germany during World War II.

British explorer Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole, only to discover that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had beaten him there by 34 days.

The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom occurs as Queen Liliʻuokalani is deposed by a group of American and European businessmen, leading to the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii.

A group of Modoc warriors defeated the United States Army in the First Battle of the Stronghold.

The London Protocol is signed, strengthening the recognition of Greece as an independent nation.

The Treaty of Accession is formally signed, with Russia joining the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Mexican War of Independence: In the Battle of Calderón Bridge, a heavily outnumbered Spanish force defeats Mexican revolutionaries.

The Battle of Cowpens is fought during the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for American forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan over British forces.

Captain James Cook becomes the first known European to cross the Antarctic Circle.

Emperor Susenyos of Ethiopia surprised the Oromo army at Ebenat, resulting in a significant victory.

The Treaty of Lyon is signed, ending the Franco-Savoyard War and resulting in territorial exchanges between France and the Duchy of Savoy.

The Edict of Saint-Germain was issued, granting limited toleration to the Huguenots in France.

Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano sets sail westward from Madeira on a voyage of discovery on behalf of King Francis I of France, eventually reaching the North American coastline.

Pope Gregory XI returned the Papacy from Avignon to Rome, effectively ending the Avignon Papacy, a period during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon, France, rather than in Rome.

The Treaty of Sassoferrato is signed, ending the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Bologna. It marked a significant moment of reconciliation in the ongoing struggles between these factions, which were part of a larger series of conflicts throughout Italy between imperial and papal supporters.

Sisinnius is elected as Pope, succeeding Pope John VII. His papacy is notably brief, lasting only around three weeks due to his poor health.

The Roman Empire is permanently divided into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (later known as the Byzantine Empire) following the death of Emperor Theodosius I.

Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, marking the beginning of his reign as Roman Emperor.