In History, Today on July 17

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the interim president after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid significant political turmoil and protests against economic mismanagement.

Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company, Blue Origin, faced increased scrutiny and criticism due to allegations concerning workplace culture, including a particular focus on safety concerns raised in an essay published by former employees.

A coup attempt in Turkey fails as forces loyal to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regain control.

A series of coordinated suicide bombings occur in the northeastern Nigerian towns of Gombe and Damaturu, attributed to Boko Haram, resulting in numerous casualties.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The incident escalates tensions in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists.

The 2009 Jakarta bombings occurred, with explosions at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, resulting in 9 deaths and over 50 injuries.

TAM Airlines Flight 3054 crashes upon landing at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, resulting in the deaths of all 187 passengers and crew on board, as well as 12 people on the ground.

Twitter, a social media platform, is launched publicly, eventually becoming one of the largest social networking services worldwide.

The Mozilla Foundation was established to promote the development of open source internet applications.

The 27th G8 summit is held in Genoa, Italy, marked by large anti-globalization protests and violent clashes with police.

A Concorde jet crashes shortly after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, killing all 109 people on board and four people on the ground.

TWA Flight 800 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, killing all 230 people on board.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first international human spaceflight mission, was launched, marking a significant moment in US-Soviet cooperation during the Cold War.

Iraq's Ba'ath Party under Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein take power after a coup, reshaping Iraqi politics for decades.

Disneyland, the first Disney theme park, opened in Anaheim, California, marking a significant moment in entertainment history.

The Potsdam Conference begins, involving leaders of the Allied nations to discuss the post-war order in Europe.

The Port Chicago disaster occurred when a munitions explosion killed 320 people at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California.

The Spanish Civil War began as a military uprising against the Republican government started in Spanish Morocco.

The Romanov family, the last imperial dynasty of Russia, was executed by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, marking a significant turning point in the Russian Revolution.

The British Royal Family changed its name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor due to anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I.

The Klondike Gold Rush begins when prospectors George Carmack, Dawson Charlie, and Skookum Jim find gold in Bonanza Creek, setting off one of the greatest gold rushes in history.

The first permanent transatlantic telegraph cable was successfully completed, allowing for faster communication between Europe and North America.

Congress authorized the use of paper currency in the United States for the first time with the passage of the Currency Act.

The Great Train Wreck of 1856 occurs near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when two trains collide, resulting in significant loss of life.

The British humorous magazine Punch was first published.

French Concordat of 1801 is signed, ending the breach caused by the church reforms during the French Revolution.

The 'Martyrs of Compiègne', a group of 16 Carmelite nuns, are executed via guillotine during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, representing the extreme anti-clerical sentiment of the period.

The Champ de Mars massacre occurred in Paris when the National Guard fired on a crowd of republican protesters, killing dozens.

Catherine the Great became the Empress of Russia following the assassination of her husband, Peter III.

The first Masonic Grand Lodge, the Premier Grand Lodge of England, was founded in London, marking the beginning of modern Freemasonry.

King James IV of Scotland issues a report about the sea travels of explorer John Cabot, reflecting inter-European interest in transatlantic exploration following Cabot’s discovery of parts of North America.

The French, led by Joan of Arc, achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Castillon, effectively ending the Hundred Years' War.

The Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević was granted the title of despot by the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, a recognition of his loyalty and the significance of Serbia in the Byzantine sphere at that time.

The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa took place, a pivotal encounter in the Reconquista, where a coalition of Christian armies defeated the Almohad caliphate, marking a significant turning point in the Christian efforts to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.

The construction of the Cattedrale di San Pietro in Mantua is completed, showcasing Romanesque architecture. This cathedral, later undergoing several transformations, serves as a prominent religious building and a testament to the era's architectural style.

King Edward the Elder of England died, leading to the succession of his son Æthelstan, who would become the first King of a unified England.

Pope Leo IV dies. He was known for strengthening Rome's defenses and leading the rebuilding of the city after the Arab raids on Rome in 846.

The death of Saint Kenelm, a child king of Mercia, is traditionally dated to this day. His story became a popular medieval legend, and he was venerated as a martyr and saint in England.