From the archives
Classic headlineBritish Left Waffles on Falkland Islands
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Two birth milestones share this date — Giovanni Ribisi born (1974) and Milla Jovovich born (1975), 1 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- British Left Waffles on Falkland IslandsHall of Fame◆
- 1991For Playoffs, It's Back to the 80'sThe New York Times◆
- 2021More than 130 people rescued after becoming stranded in the ChannelThe Guardian◆
- 2013Spy chiefs should not be accountable to parliament, says ex-GCHQ chiefThe Guardian◆
- 1967Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.Wikipedia◆
- 1896Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.Wikipedia◆
- 1892First issue of Vogue is published.Wikipedia◆
- 1865First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.Wikipedia◆
- 1665The first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal SocietyWikipedia◆
- 1538Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.Wikipedia◆
- -497The first Saturnalia festival is celebrated in ancient Rome.Wikipedia◆
- 1945The modern flag of Kurdistan was raised for the first time in Mahabad, Iran.Wikipedia◆
- 2010Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring.Wikipedia◆
- 2005Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.Wikipedia◆
- British Left Waffles on Falkland IslandsHall of Fame◆
- 1991For Playoffs, It's Back to the 80'sThe New York Times◆
- 2021More than 130 people rescued after becoming stranded in the ChannelThe Guardian◆
- 2013Spy chiefs should not be accountable to parliament, says ex-GCHQ chiefThe Guardian◆
- 1967Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.Wikipedia◆
- 1896Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.Wikipedia◆
- 1892First issue of Vogue is published.Wikipedia◆
- 1865First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.Wikipedia◆
- 1665The first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal SocietyWikipedia◆
- 1538Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.Wikipedia◆
- -497The first Saturnalia festival is celebrated in ancient Rome.Wikipedia◆
- 1945The modern flag of Kurdistan was raised for the first time in Mahabad, Iran.Wikipedia◆
- 2010Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring.Wikipedia◆
- 2005Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Milla Jovovich1975- Giovanni Ribisi1974
- Pope Francis1936
- Ludwig van Beethoven1770
17 December in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — December 17
1967 WeirdHarold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1896 First everPittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 First everFirst performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1665 First everThe first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2021The GuardianMore than 130 people rescued after becoming stranded in the ChannelMakeshift vessels got into trouble attempting to make crossing from France to the UK
Read on The Guardian →
2013The GuardianSpy chiefs should not be accountable to parliament, says ex-GCHQ chiefSir David Omand expresses view in debate on surveillance featuring Guardian editor and Wikipedia founder
Read on The Guardian →- 1991The New York TimesFor Playoffs, It's Back to the 80's
The National Football League's parity and cyclical change in playoff participants are two ingredients it heavily reli…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
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When was “Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Weird
Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1896 First ever
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 17 December — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
4
1770Birth
Ludwig van Beethoven born
Ludwig van Beethoven, composer, was born on this day in 1770. One of the most admired composers in the history of Western music.
1936Birth
Pope Francis born
Pope Francis was born. Head of the Catholic Church.
1974Birth
Giovanni Ribisi born
Giovanni Ribisi was born. American actor.
1975Birth
Milla Jovovich born
Milla Jovovich was born. American actress.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Suicide
1890Death
Vincent van Gogh dies
Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Suicide
1962Death
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe, actress and model, died on this day in 1962. Barbiturate overdose. Remembered as: Iconic actress and sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 17 December
- Milla JovovichAmerican actress (born 1975)Born 1975 · 51 years ago today
- Giovanni RibisiAmerican actor (born 1974)Born 1974 · 52 years ago today
- Pope FrancisHead of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025Born 1936 · 90 years ago today
- Ludwig van BeethovenGerman composer (1770–1827)Born 1770 · 256 years ago today
Coming up this week
Christina AguileraAmerican singer and songwriter (born 1980)18 December · born 1980
Brad PittAmerican actor (born 1963)18 December · born 1963
Steven SpielbergAmerican filmmaker (born 1946)18 December · born 1946
Jake GyllenhaalAmerican actor (born 1980)19 December · born 1980
Alyssa MilanoAmerican actress (born 1972)19 December · born 1972
Leonid BrezhnevLeader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 198219 December · born 1906
Celebration17 December
Wright Brothers Day
Commemorates the first successful flights in a heavier-than-air, mechanically propelled airplane achieved by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 17 December.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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