2017

2017 was a common year starting on Sunday in the Gregorian calendar, marked by Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, initiating policies emphasizing national sovereignty and economic deregulation.^[1] Geopolitically, it featured the United Kingdom's invocation of Article 50 on March 29 to commence Brexit negotiations, the recapture of Mosul from ISIS in July ending significant territorial control by the group, and the ouster of Zimbabwe's long-ruling president Robert Mugabe in November amid military pressure.^[2] The year also witnessed severe natural disasters, with the United States enduring 16 events costing over a billion dollars each, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, which caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage across multiple regions.^[3] In science, 2017 advanced astrophysics through the detection of gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars on August 17, enabling the first observation of a kilonova and confirmation of rapid neutron capture as the primary source of heavy elements like gold.^[4] Technological milestones included the release of advanced smartphones with facial recognition features, while ongoing conflicts and crises, such as the Rohingya exodus from Myanmar, highlighted persistent humanitarian challenges.^[2] Domestically in various nations, revelations of systemic sexual harassment in entertainment and media sectors prompted investigations and legal actions against high-profile individuals, contributing to broader discussions on accountability in power structures.^[5] These events underscored 2017's themes of political realignment, environmental vulnerability, and scientific progress amid global instability, with empirical data revealing heightened disaster costs exceeding $300 billion in the U.S. alone.^[6]

Events

January

1 January – A gunman, later identified as Abdulkadir Masharipov and affiliated with the Islamic State, attacked the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, during New Year's celebrations, killing 39 people and wounding at least 69 others; the victims included 28 foreigners from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon.^[7][8] The assailant, disguised in a Santa Claus outfit, fled the scene after exchanging fire with police, prompting a nationwide manhunt that ended with his capture on 16 January.^[9] 6 January – The United States intelligence community, comprising the CIA, FBI, and NSA, publicly released a declassified assessment concluding with high confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign aimed at the 2016 U.S. presidential election to undermine Hillary Clinton's candidacy and boost Donald Trump.^[10] 20 January – Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the steps of the Capitol, marking the end of Barack Obama's presidency; crowd estimates for the event ranged from 300,000 to 600,000 attendees based on aerial imagery and expert analysis, though Trump and White House officials contested lower figures as underreported.^[11] In his inaugural address, Trump described the condition of American cities as "American carnage" and pledged a transfer of power from Washington elites back to the people.^[12] 21 January – The Women's March drew large crowds in Washington, D.C., and cities worldwide in the day following Trump's inauguration; crowd scientists estimated approximately 470,000 participants in the capital using methods including aerial photos and inflow modeling, while global participation included protests in over 600 locations with total U.S. attendance exceeding 3 million per organizer reports, though independent verifications focused on verifiable densities.^[13][14] The events protested Trump's policies and advocated for women's rights, drawing participants including celebrities and politicians.^[15] 27 January – President Trump signed Executive Order 13769, temporarily suspending entry into the United States for 90 days from nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—citing national security concerns over inadequate vetting processes in those nations; the order also halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and indefinitely barred Syrian refugees.^[16] Implementation led to immediate chaos at airports, legal challenges, and a federal court stay within days, with critics arguing it constituted a de facto religious test despite the administration's insistence it targeted terrorism risks rather than religion.^[17]

February

On February 1, the U.S. Senate confirmed Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State by a vote of 56-43, marking the first approval of a major Cabinet position under President Donald Trump amid partisan divisions. The same day, British Members of Parliament voted 498-114 to authorize the government to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, initiating the formal Brexit process. Protests erupted at the University of California, Berkeley, against a planned speech by commentator Milo Yiannopoulos, leading to violence, property damage, and cancellation of the event, highlighting tensions over free speech on campuses.^[18] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit unanimously upheld a district court order blocking President Trump's Executive Order 13769, known as the travel ban, which restricted entry from seven Muslim-majority countries, citing risks to national security and due process violations in the decision.^[19] On February 5, the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, executing the largest comeback in Super Bowl history (28 points) to win in overtime, with quarterback Tom Brady named MVP. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as U.S. Attorney General on February 8 by a 52-47 Senate vote, despite Democratic opposition over his civil rights record. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking Senate vote on February 7 to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education by 51-50, a decision criticized for her lack of public school experience and support for school choice. The 59th Grammy Awards occurred on February 12, where Adele won Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "25" and "Hello," respectively, while protests against Trump policies unfolded outside. An emergency evacuation of nearly 200,000 residents near Oroville Dam in California followed spillway erosion threatening collapse, prompting state declarations of emergency. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on February 13 after revelations he misled Vice President Pence about discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding sanctions.^[20] India's Space Research Organisation launched a record 104 satellites aboard a single PSLV rocket on February 15 from Sriharikota, including 101 foreign nano-satellites, advancing global Earth observation capabilities. On February 19, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, deploying a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station and achieving a booster landing on the same pad, a milestone in reusable rocket technology.^[21] Astronomers announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, three of which lie in the habitable zone, using data from Spitzer and ground telescopes. The 89th Academy Awards on February 26 featured a historic error when presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced "La La Land" as Best Picture winner due to a misplaced envelope containing Emma Stone's Best Actress card; producers corrected it onstage, awarding "Moonlight" the honor in a moment of confusion broadcast worldwide.^[22] Earlier, ISIS-claimed attacks included a February 16 car bomb in Baghdad killing 48 and a suicide bombing in Pakistan's Sehwan killing 72, underscoring ongoing jihadist threats. President Trump revoked Obama-era guidance on February 22 allowing transgender students access to facilities matching their gender identity, deferring to states on the issue.

March

On March 4, United States President Donald Trump posted a series of tweets alleging that former President Barack Obama had ordered wiretapping of Trump Tower during the 2016 presidential campaign, claims that lacked publicly available evidence and were later contradicted by FBI Director James Comey's congressional testimony on March 20, which confirmed no such FISA warrant targeting Trump had been authorized.^[23][24] The allegations prompted investigations but were not substantiated by declassified documents or official inquiries into the matter.^[2] The Trump administration issued a revised executive order on March 6 restricting travel from six Muslim-majority countries, narrower than the initial January version to address legal challenges, though it faced further court blocks before partial Supreme Court approval in June.^[23] On March 13, House Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but Trump and GOP leaders withdrew it on March 24 after failing to secure sufficient votes due to conservative opposition over insufficient Medicaid cuts and abortion funding concerns.^[25] WikiLeaks released "Vault 7" on March 7, disclosing thousands of CIA documents detailing hacking tools and cyber surveillance capabilities developed since 2013, prompting debates on government overreach in intelligence operations.^[23] In international politics, South Korea's Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on March 10, removing her from office over corruption scandals involving her confidante Choi Soon-sil, leading to a snap election won by Moon Jae-in in May.^[26] The Netherlands held parliamentary elections on March 15, where Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberal party retained the most seats amid gains by Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom, reflecting populist surges but ultimate liberal victory.^[25] Iraqi forces advanced in the Battle of Mosul, recapturing key sites including the government building from ISIS on March 4, as part of the ongoing campaign to liberate the city held by the group since 2014.^[25] A terrorist attack occurred on March 22 in Westminster, London, when Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four, then stabbed a police officer to death near Parliament, resulting in five total deaths including the attacker; Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam with prior extremism links, acted alone according to authorities.^[25] Prime Minister Theresa May formally triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union on March 29, notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intent to withdraw from the EU, initiating the two-year Brexit negotiation period as mandated by the 2016 referendum.^[2] The United Nations warned on March 10 that conflicts in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, and Nigeria had created the world's largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, affecting over 20 million people requiring urgent aid. In technology, Nintendo launched the Switch console worldwide on March 3, a hybrid handheld-home system that sold over 2.7 million units in its first month, revitalizing the company's gaming market position.^[25]

April

On April 4, Syrian government aircraft bombed the rebel-held town of Khan Shaykhun in Idlib province, releasing sarin nerve agent that killed at least 89 civilians, including 20 children, and injured hundreds more, according to investigations by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism.^[27][28] The attack originated from an airstrike by a Syrian Su-22 bomber, with remnants of sarin precursors and munitions consistent with regime stockpiles recovered at the site, marking the fourth confirmed chemical weapons use by forces under Bashar al-Assad since 2013.^[28] In retaliation, on April 6-7, U.S. Navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Shayrat airbase, the launch point for the Khan Shaykhun strike, destroying aircraft, hangars, and fuel sites while minimizing broader Syrian military capacity.^[29] The strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, aimed to deter future chemical attacks and signal a shift from prior U.S. restraint under the Obama administration, though they spared Assad's regime from overthrow. Russia, Syria's ally, condemned the action as a violation of international law but did not escalate militarily.^[30] On April 13, U.S. forces dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal at 21,600 pounds, on an ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) tunnel and cave complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, collapsing the network and killing 36 militants with no reported civilian casualties.^[31][32] The strike targeted ISIS-K fighters who had seized territory from Afghan forces and threatened regional stability, using the bomb's blast radius to neutralize underground fortifications inaccessible to conventional munitions.^[31] April 16 saw Turkey's constitutional referendum pass with 51.4% approval on 18 amendments, abolishing the prime minister position, expanding presidential authority over appointments, decrees, and parliamentary dissolution, and shortening terms to enable Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's continued rule.^[33][34] Turnout reached 85.5% among 49.7 million eligible voters, but the OSCE noted an unlevel playing field, media dominance by pro-government outlets, and irregularities like unstamped ballots accepted by the electoral board, prompting opposition challenges.^[35] The April 23 first round of France's presidential election saw independent centrist Emmanuel Macron lead with 24.0% of votes, followed by National Front leader Marine Le Pen at 21.3%, eliminating traditional party candidates François Fillon (20.0%) and Benoît Hamon (6.4%) amid voter disillusionment with establishment figures.^[36][37] With 74.6% turnout, the results reflected fragmentation, high abstention among youth, and Le Pen's gains in rural areas on immigration and EU skepticism, setting up a May 7 runoff.^[36]

May

On May 7, Emmanuel Macron, the centrist candidate of the newly formed En Marche! movement, won the French presidential election's second round with 66.1 percent of the vote, defeating Marine Le Pen of the National Front party.^[38] Voter turnout was 74 percent, the lowest for a presidential runoff since 1969, amid concerns over economic stagnation and immigration.^[39] On May 9, South Korea held a snap presidential election following the impeachment of Park Geun-hye, resulting in the victory of liberal candidate Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party, who secured 41.1 percent of the vote in a field of five major contenders.^[40] Moon's win reflected public backlash against corruption scandals and a desire for renewed engagement with North Korea on nuclear issues.^[41] That same day, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey, citing recommendations from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein over Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, though the decision occurred amid the FBI's probe into Russian election interference.^[42] The WannaCry ransomware attack emerged on May 12, rapidly infecting over 200,000 systems across 150 countries by exploiting a vulnerability in unpatched Microsoft Windows software known as EternalBlue, which had been developed by the U.S. National Security Agency and leaked online.^[43] The malware encrypted files and demanded Bitcoin ransoms, severely disrupting operations at Britain's National Health Service—where 19,000 appointments were canceled—and firms like FedEx and Renault, with estimated global damages exceeding $4 billion.^[44] The attack's propagation slowed after a British researcher accidentally triggered a kill switch by registering a specific domain name.^[45] On May 22, a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena in England during an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 people, including children, and injured over 1,000 others, carried out by 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who detonated an improvised explosive device laced with nuts and bolts.^[46] The Islamic State claimed responsibility, highlighting ongoing jihadist threats in Europe despite Abedi's prior travel to Libya and contacts with extremists.^[47] British authorities arrested Abedi's accomplice and family members in subsequent raids.^[46] On May 23, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed martial law across Mindanao island in response to Islamist militants from the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf seizing Marawi City, prompting intense urban fighting that displaced over 200,000 residents and killed hundreds.^[48] The declaration, initially for 60 days, enabled military operations to reclaim the city, which endured a five-month siege ending in October with government victory but significant civilian casualties.^[49] Congress later extended it multiple times to address lingering insurgent threats.^[50]

June

On June 1, President Donald Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, citing economic burdens and unfair terms favoring other nations, a decision that took effect in November 2020.^[51] The move drew international criticism but aligned with arguments that the accord disadvantaged U.S. industry without sufficient emissions reductions from major emitters like China and India.^[51] Early on June 3, three Islamist militants drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge, then exited to stab people in nearby Borough Market, killing eight and injuring at least 48 before police shot the attackers dead.^[52] The Islamic State claimed responsibility via its Amaq agency, marking the third major UK attack that year inspired by jihadist ideology.^[53] British Prime Minister Theresa May responded by calling for scrutiny of online radicalization and stricter internet regulations.^[52] On June 8, former FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, detailing private conversations with President Trump, including requests to "let go" of the investigation into Michael Flynn's Russia ties, which Comey interpreted as interference but did not label as obstruction.^[54] Comey confirmed the FBI's probe into Russian election interference but stated no evidence Trump was personally under investigation for collusion.^[55] The testimony, prepared in advance and released publicly, fueled debates over executive overreach without yielding direct legal repercussions.^[54] Mid-month sports highlights included the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 on June 12 to win the NBA Finals 4-1, securing their second title in three years led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.^[56] On June 10, Latvian tennis player Jeļena Ostapenko claimed her first Grand Slam at the French Open women's singles, upsetting top seed Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.^[56] Porsche secured its third consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.^[51] On June 14, a fire ignited by a faulty fridge-freezer in a fourth-floor apartment of Grenfell Tower, a 24-story public housing block in West London, rapidly spread upward due to combustible aluminum composite cladding, killing 72 residents and injuring over 70.^[57] The blaze exposed regulatory failures in building materials and fire safety enforcement, with survivors criticizing delayed evacuations and inadequate alarms.^[58] In the U.S., a gunman motivated by anti-Republican sentiment—later identified as a Bernie Sanders supporter—opened fire at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, critically wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and injuring three others before being killed by police.^[56] From June 17, lightning-sparked wildfires erupted across central Portugal near Pedrógão Grande, merging into a massive blaze that killed 66 people—many trapped in vehicles on rural roads—and burned over 53,000 hectares amid high winds and dry conditions.^[59] The fires, Portugal's deadliest in modern history, overwhelmed firefighting resources and prompted national mourning, with investigations later citing eucalyptus plantations and poor forest management as aggravating factors.^[60]

July

On July 1, India implemented the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a unified indirect tax system replacing a patchwork of central and state-level taxes including excise duty, service tax, and value-added tax, with rates structured at 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% for most goods and services.^{[61] [62]} The reform aimed to simplify compliance and boost economic efficiency but initially disrupted businesses due to new registration and filing requirements.^[63] On July 4, North Korea conducted its first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-14, launched from Panghyon airfield and reaching an apogee of approximately 2,700 kilometers with a flight time of 39 minutes, demonstrating potential to strike parts of the continental United States such as Alaska.^{[64] [65] [66]} The U.S. military confirmed the launch as an ICBM-class test, prompting international condemnation and calls for stronger sanctions.^[67] The ongoing battle for Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, concluded on July 9-10 when Iraqi government forces, supported by coalition airstrikes, declared full liberation from Islamic State (ISIS) control after a nine-month offensive that began in October 2016.^{[68] [69]} The operation involved over 100,000 troops and resulted in heavy casualties, including thousands of civilian deaths amid intense urban fighting and ISIS use of human shields.^[70] In the Qatar diplomatic crisis, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates issued a list of 13 demands to Qatar on July 12, including closing the Al Jazeera network, expelling Turkish military personnel, reducing ties with Iran, and ceasing support for groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, with a 10-day ultimatum for compliance.^{[71] [72]} Qatar rejected the demands as violations of its sovereignty, escalating the blockade imposed since June 5 and straining Gulf Cooperation Council unity.^[73] On July 28, the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation repealing and replacing key provisions of the Affordable Care Act after a procedural vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act fell short, marking a setback for President Trump's health policy agenda amid internal Republican divisions.^[74] The Congressional Budget Office had projected the bill would result in 22 million fewer insured Americans by 2026.^[74]

August

On August 1, a suicide bombing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Shia mosque in Herat, Afghanistan, killed at least 30 people and injured dozens more, with the Islamic State claiming responsibility for the attack targeting worshippers during Friday prayers.^[75] Later that day, the U.S. Senate confirmed Christopher Wray as FBI Director by a vote of 92-5, succeeding James Comey who had been dismissed by President Trump in May; Wray was sworn in on August 2.^[76] On August 2, Congress passed bipartisan sanctions against Russia over its election interference and Ukraine aggression, which President Trump signed reluctantly on August 2, criticizing the bill's rigidity despite veto threats.^[76] The Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 11-12 drew hundreds of participants protesting the planned removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, organized by alt-right and white nationalist groups including Richard Spencer; counter-protests led to street clashes, with state police declaring an unlawful assembly and dispersing the crowd.^[77] On August 12, James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car into counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others; Fields, who had expressed neo-Nazi views online, was charged with federal hate crimes and second-degree murder.^[77] President Trump condemned the violence but noted participants included "very fine people on both sides," attributing fault to extremists while criticizing local officials for poor handling; the incident sparked debates over statue removals, free speech, and media portrayal, with some outlets emphasizing white supremacist elements while downplaying counter-protester violence like flag-burning and assaults.^[24] Separately, on August 7, Google fired software engineer James Damore after his internal memo critiquing the company's diversity policies and citing research on biological sex differences in vocational interests went viral; Damore argued the approach ignored evidence from fields like evolutionary psychology, leading to accusations of sexism from executives, though supporters viewed it as a defense of viewpoint diversity amid tech industry conformity.^[75] On August 17, ISIS-inspired terrorists drove a van into pedestrians on Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, killing 16 and injuring over 130 in a coordinated attack that also included a foiled bombing in Alcanar; five attackers died in a subsequent police shootout, with the cell linked to 12 deaths total across related incidents.^[78] The first total solar eclipse since 1918 to cross the contiguous United States occurred on August 21, visible from Oregon to South Carolina in a 70-mile-wide path of totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds, drawing millions of viewers and boosting tourism despite clear weather forecasts aiding observations.^[24] On August 29, North Korea launched a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean, reaching an altitude of 550 km and traveling 1,000 km, prompting evacuations in Japan and international condemnation as a test of capabilities threatening U.S. bases in Guam; the launch followed U.S.-South Korea military drills and heightened rhetoric from Pyongyang.^[75]

September

On September 3, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test, detonating a device it claimed was a thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 100-250 kilotons, triggering a 6.3 magnitude seismic event detected internationally.^[79] The test, conducted at the Punggye-ri site, heightened global tensions, prompting condemnations from the United Nations Security Council and sanctions from the United States and allies.^[80] Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm, intensified rapidly in early September, reaching peak winds of 180 mph before making landfall in the Florida Keys on September 10 as a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds and storm surges up to 8 feet.^[81] The storm caused 134 deaths across the Caribbean and U.S., including 92 in the continental United States, and inflicted approximately $50 billion in damages, ranking it as the fifth-costliest U.S. hurricane on record.^[82] Widespread power outages affected millions in Florida, with infrastructure damage including flooded homes and downed power lines.^[83] On September 7, credit reporting agency Equifax disclosed a massive data breach occurring between May and July, exposing sensitive personal information of 147 million individuals, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses for about 145.5 million Americans.^[84] The intrusion exploited an unpatched vulnerability in Apache Struts software, leading to congressional investigations, executive resignations, and a $700 million settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.^[85] Affected consumers faced heightened risks of identity theft, prompting free credit monitoring offers from the company.^[86] Apple announced the iPhone X on September 12 during a keynote at the Steve Jobs Theater, introducing features like a 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display, Face ID biometric authentication via TrueDepth camera, and wireless charging, priced starting at $999.^[87] The device marked a shift to edge-to-edge screens without a home button, alongside iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models, emphasizing augmented reality capabilities and A11 Bionic processors.^[88] North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan on September 15 from near Pyongyang, traveling 2,850 kilometers before splashing into the Pacific, demonstrating potential reach to U.S. territories like Guam.^[89] The Hwasong-12 flew over Hokkaido, triggering evacuations and alerts in Japan, and elicited missile defense tests from South Korea and vows of "fire and fury" from U.S. President Donald Trump.^[90] Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20 as a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds, traversing the island from southeast to northwest and causing catastrophic flooding, landslides, and the collapse of the power grid, leaving nearly all 3.4 million residents without electricity.^[91] The hurricane resulted in 64 direct deaths officially, though subsequent studies estimated thousands of indirect fatalities from prolonged outages and inadequate response, with damages exceeding $90 billion.^[92] Federal aid efforts faced logistical challenges due to the island's infrastructure and location.^[93]

October

On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old American, carried out the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history, firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 58 people and injuring over 800 others.^[94] Paddock, who died by suicide at the scene, used legally purchased firearms modified with bump stocks to simulate automatic fire; no clear motive was established despite extensive investigation by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.^[95] The same day, Catalonia held an independence referendum amid opposition from the Spanish central government, which deemed it unconstitutional under the Spanish Constitution requiring bilateral agreement for secession.^[96] Catalan authorities reported 92% of voters favored independence with a 43% turnout, but the process involved clashes with Spanish National Police and Civil Guard, who used rubber bullets and batons to seize ballot boxes, injuring over 800 voters and officials according to Catalan health services.^[97] On October 5, 2017, The New York Times published an investigation revealing decades of sexual harassment and assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, including payoffs to at least eight women dating back to the 1990s, based on documents, recordings, and witness accounts.^[98] Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, denied non-consensual acts but acknowledged behavior for which he expressed regret; the revelations prompted his removal from the company board and expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by October 14.^[99] The Weinstein reports catalyzed the viral spread of the #MeToo hashtag on October 15, 2017, when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted encouraging survivors of sexual harassment or assault to reply with "me too," amassing millions of responses worldwide within days and amplifying awareness of workplace sexual misconduct.^[100] The phrase originated from activist Tarana Burke's 2006 initiative to support survivors, particularly women of color, but gained global traction in 2017 amid high-profile accusations in entertainment and other sectors.^[101] On October 14, 2017, a truck bomb detonated in Mogadishu, Somalia, outside a busy intersection near government buildings and a hotel, killing at least 512 people and injuring over 300 in the deadliest terrorist attack in the country's history, attributed to al-Shabaab or allied extremists though no group immediately claimed responsibility.^[102] In the aftermath of the September 25 Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq—where 92.7% voted for independence but faced international opposition—October 16, 2017, saw Iraqi forces, supported by Shiite militias, retake the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, leading to the collapse of Kurdish territorial gains outside the Kurdistan Region and Masoud Barzani's resignation as KRG president.^[103]

November

On November 4, Saudi Arabia's King Salman established an anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leading to the arrest and detention of over 200 individuals, including prominent princes like Alwaleed bin Talal and former ministers, with assets seized valued at billions.^[104] The campaign, which confined detainees to the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, recovered approximately $100 billion in settlements by early 2018, though critics described it as a political purge to eliminate rivals amid economic reforms.^[105][106] November 5 saw the release of the Paradise Papers by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, comprising 13.4 million confidential documents from the offshore firm Appleby and others, detailing tax avoidance structures used by figures including Queen Elizabeth II's private estate and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross's ties to a Russian oligarch-linked firm.^[107] The leak highlighted legal but opaque offshore entities facilitating wealth preservation, prompting investigations in multiple countries but few immediate prosecutions.^[108][109] That same day, Devin Patrick Kelley, a 26-year-old former Air Force member with a history of domestic abuse and mental health issues, attacked the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 worshippers—including an unborn child—and injuring 22 before fleeing and dying from a self-inflicted gunshot after a shootout with a local resident.^[110] The incident, the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history at the time, involved Kelley using weapons illegally obtained despite a domestic violence conviction, exposing gaps in federal background check enforcement by the military.^[111] On November 14, Zimbabwe's military intervened against President Robert Mugabe's government, placing the 93-year-old leader under house arrest amid party infighting over succession following his dismissal of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.^[112] After a week of negotiations and impeachment proceedings, Mugabe resigned on November 21, ending his 37-year rule marked by economic decline and authoritarianism; Mnangagwa was sworn in as president the next day, promising reforms.^[113][114] November 15 marked the last communication from the Argentine Navy submarine ARA San Juan, which vanished en route from Ushuaia to Mar del Plata with 44 crew aboard; an implosion due to a battery short circuit from seawater ingress was later confirmed, scattering wreckage at 907 meters depth and resulting in all hands lost.^[115] The incident prompted a multinational search and highlighted maintenance lapses in the aging vessel, with investigations leading to charges against naval officers for negligence.^[116] The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on November 16 by a 227-205 vote, a Republican-led reconciliation bill slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, doubling the standard deduction, and capping state and local tax deductions at $10,000, projected to add $1.5 trillion to deficits over a decade per congressional estimates.^[117] On November 24, Islamic State militants attacked Al-Rawda Mosque in Egypt's North Sinai during Friday prayers, detonating a suicide bomb and firing on fleeing Sufi worshippers, killing 305—including 27 children—and wounding 128 in the deadliest terrorist incident in modern Egyptian history.^[118] The assault targeted perceived apostates, prompting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to declare a three-month state of emergency and intensify military operations against ISIS affiliates in the region.^[119]

December

On December 1, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of making false statements to the FBI regarding his communications with Russian officials during the presidential transition period.^[120] Flynn admitted to lying about discussing U.S. sanctions with Russia's ambassador and other matters, as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference.^[120] A series of wildfires ignited across Southern California starting December 4, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, dry conditions, and low humidity, affecting Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties.^[121] The Thomas Fire, the largest, burned 281,893 acres, destroyed over 1,000 structures, and became California's most destructive wildfire on record at the time, with containment not achieved until January 2018.^[122] These fires displaced hundreds of thousands and caused at least two fatalities.^[121] On December 6, President Donald Trump announced U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, breaking with decades of policy that deferred the issue to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and directed the State Department to begin preparations for relocating the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv.^[123] The move, justified by Trump as acknowledging historical reality, prompted international criticism and protests across the Middle East, though Israel welcomed it as affirming its sovereignty claims.^[123][124] In the Alabama U.S. Senate special election on December 12, Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore by a margin of 1.5 percentage points (50.0% to 48.5%), securing the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions upon his confirmation as Attorney General.^[125] Moore, a former state chief justice, faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct involving teenagers reported by The Washington Post in November, which eroded support despite endorsements from Trump and much of the Republican establishment; turnout was 62.6% of registered voters.^[125] Jones's victory marked the first Democratic Senate win in Alabama since 1992.^[125] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a 3-2 party-line vote on December 14, repealed the 2015 Open Internet Order's net neutrality regulations, which had classified broadband internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act to prevent providers from blocking, throttling, or prioritizing content.^[126] The decision, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, aimed to reduce regulatory burdens and promote investment, reverting oversight to a lighter-touch framework; it faced immediate lawsuits from states and advocacy groups.^[126][127] Bitcoin's price surged to an all-time high of approximately $19,800 on December 17, amid speculative trading and broader cryptocurrency enthusiasm, before entering a prolonged decline.^[128] The peak reflected a year-long rally from under $1,000, driven by initial coin offerings and institutional interest, but also highlighted volatility as the asset dropped over 80% by December 2018.^[128] Congress advanced the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with the Senate passing the final version on December 20 by a 51-49 vote and the House approving it the prior day, after reconciling differences from earlier bills.^[129] President Trump signed the legislation into law on December 22, enacting the most significant U.S. tax overhaul since 1986, including permanent corporate rate reduction from 35% to 21%, temporary individual rate cuts, doubled standard deductions, and elimination of certain deductions like state and local taxes above a cap.^[129] The act was projected to add $1.5 trillion to deficits over a decade, per Congressional Budget Office estimates, while proponents argued it would spur growth through incentives for investment and repatriation of overseas profits.^[129] A five-alarm fire erupted on December 28 in a Bronx apartment building at 2363 Prospect Avenue, killing 12 people, including four children, and injuring four firefighters; it was the deadliest New York City fire since 1990.^[130] Officials determined a three-year-old child accidentally started the blaze by playing with stove burners on the first floor, with rapid spread facilitated by an improperly closed apartment door and faulty heating system.^[130] Over 160 firefighters responded, rescuing residents via ladders and stairs amid heavy smoke.^[131]

Science and Technology

Discoveries and Breakthroughs

In August 2017, the LIGO and Virgo observatories detected gravitational waves from the collision of two neutron stars, event GW170817, marking the first observation of such an event with a corresponding electromagnetic counterpart including gamma rays, optical light, and radio waves.^[132][4] This multimessenger astronomy breakthrough, occurring 130 million light-years away in galaxy NGC 4993, provided direct evidence for the production of heavy elements like gold through the r-process nucleosynthesis, with the collision generating approximately 200 Earth-masses equivalent of gold.^[133][134] The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish, and Kip S. Thorne for their decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves, confirming a prediction of general relativity first made by Albert Einstein in 1916.^[135] In Chemistry, Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson received the prize for developing cryo-electron microscopy, a technique that enables visualization of biomolecules at near-atomic resolution by flash-freezing samples in vitreous ice, revolutionizing structural biology and enabling studies of previously intractable proteins like ion channels and enzymes.^[136] The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young for elucidating the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms, identifying the period gene and its protein product that form a transcription-translation feedback loop regulating daily physiological processes in organisms from flies to humans.^[137] On February 22, 2017, astronomers announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, with three in the habitable zone potentially capable of supporting liquid water on their surfaces, based on transit observations from ground-based telescopes and NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.^[138] This system, located 39 light-years away in Aquarius, features tightly packed orbits with periods ranging from 1.5 to 12 days, offering a prime target for atmospheric studies via the James Webb Space Telescope to assess habitability factors like water vapor and biosignatures.^[139]

Technological and Space Milestones

In space exploration, SpaceX accomplished the first reflights of an orbital-class rocket booster on March 30, 2017, when a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage launched the SES-10 communications satellite from Kennedy Space Center and landed successfully on a droneship.^[140] This reuse demonstrated the feasibility of recoverable launch vehicles, enabling SpaceX to complete 18 successful Falcon 9 missions throughout the year, more than doubling its prior annual record.^[141] India's Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) established a record for the most satellites launched in a single mission on February 15, 2017, deploying 104 payloads—including 101 foreign nano-satellites—aboard the PSLV-C37 rocket from Sriharikota, surpassing the previous mark of 37 set by Russia in 2014.^[142] NASA's Cassini spacecraft ended its 20-year mission with the Grand Finale on September 15, 2017, executing 22 orbits between Saturn's rings before plunging into the planet's atmosphere at over 120,000 km/h to avoid contaminating its moons.^[143] In broader technology, DeepMind's AlphaGo Zero system, announced on October 19, 2017, represented a breakthrough in reinforcement learning by mastering the game of Go solely through self-play, outperforming prior versions trained on human data and achieving superhuman performance in three days of computation.^[144] Apple introduced the iPhone X on November 3, 2017, debuting Face ID facial recognition via a TrueDepth camera system for secure authentication and an edge-to-edge OLED display, marking the smartphone's tenth anniversary with sales exceeding 6 million units in the first month despite production challenges.^[145] Tesla initiated customer deliveries of the Model 3 electric sedan on July 7, 2017, from its Fremont factory, fulfilling over 400,000 pre-orders and advancing mass-market adoption of battery-electric vehicles with a range of 310 miles per charge.^[146]

Conflicts and Security

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

In 2017, global deaths from terrorism declined by 22 percent to 25,673 compared to the previous year, marking the first decrease since 2013, though the phenomenon remained concentrated in conflict zones with the Islamic State (ISIS) responsible for the highest number of fatalities.^[147] This reduction coincided with intensified international military pressure on ISIS's territorial holdings in Iraq and Syria, where coalition operations reclaimed significant areas, including the Iraqi city of Mosul in July after nine months of fighting involving Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and advisors.^[148] Similarly, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces captured ISIS's de facto capital of Raqqa in October, effectively dismantling the group's self-proclaimed caliphate by year's end, though ISIS retained insurgent capabilities and inspired lone-actor attacks abroad.^[149] Prominent terrorist incidents in Europe underscored ongoing jihadist threats despite territorial setbacks for ISIS. On May 22, a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom during an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 people, mostly young attendees, and injured over 1,000; the perpetrator, Salman Abedi, a Libyan-British ISIS sympathizer, detonated a homemade explosive device.^[46] In August, ISIS claimed responsibility for a van ramming attack on Barcelona's Las Ramblas promenade on August 17, which killed 13 civilians and injured more than 130, followed by a related incident in Cambrils that killed one additional person; the cell involved had planned larger bombings but resorted to vehicular assault after their explosives failed.^[150] Other attacks included the March 22 Westminster vehicle-ramming and stabbing in London, killing five, and the June 3 London Bridge van attack and stabbings, killing eight, both linked to ISIS-inspired perpetrators.^[149] Counterterrorism efforts emphasized kinetic operations and enhanced domestic security measures. The U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS escalated airstrikes and special operations, including a October 16 strike on ISIS training camps in Yemen's Al Bayda province that killed dozens of militants, disrupting external plotting capabilities.^[151] Under the Trump administration, policy shifted toward prioritizing the physical defeat of ISIS over nation-building, with increased troop deployments to Iraq and Syria and executive actions like the temporary travel restrictions from certain high-risk countries to mitigate radical Islamist infiltration.^[152] European nations bolstered intelligence sharing via frameworks like the EU's counterterrorism agenda, leading to hundreds of arrests, while France maintained a state of emergency until November amid persistent threats.^[153] These measures contributed to ISIS's shift from governance to guerrilla tactics, though analysts noted risks of resurgent attacks from dispersed networks and returning foreign fighters.^[149]

Ongoing Wars and Military Actions

In the Syrian Civil War, which entered its seventh year, government forces backed by Russia made territorial gains against Islamist rebels and ISIS, while the U.S.-led coalition supported the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Raqqa offensive launched in June, capturing ISIS's de facto capital by October after intense urban fighting that displaced over 300,000 civilians.^[154] Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted civilian areas, including markets and hospitals, contributing to thousands of civilian deaths amid accusations of indiscriminate bombing.^[155] In April, the U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat airbase in response to a chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun attributed to the Assad regime, marking a shift in American policy without altering the war's overall trajectory.^[154] The campaign against ISIS in Iraq culminated in the Battle of Mosul, where Iraqi forces, with U.S. coalition air and advisory support, declared the city's eastern sector liberated in January and fully recaptured it from ISIS by July 2017 after nine months of grueling combat that killed an estimated 2,500-11,000 ISIS fighters and caused over 10,000 civilian casualties from crossfire, booby traps, and airstrikes.^[156] Post-Mosul, Iraqi and coalition operations continued to dismantle ISIS remnants in western Iraq, reducing the group's territorial control to under 10% of its 2014 peak by year's end, though insurgency persisted with suicide bombings and guerrilla tactics.^[156] The Yemeni Civil War saw the Saudi-led coalition intensify airstrikes against Houthi positions, resulting in over 4,000 additional civilian casualties from coalition actions since the campaign's start, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis with famine affecting millions due to blockades and disrupted aid.^[157] Houthi missile attacks on Saudi targets escalated in November, prompting retaliatory strikes, while former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's defection from the Houthis in December led to his killing by Houthi forces, temporarily fracturing their alliance but not halting ground fighting in Taiz and other fronts.^[157] U.S. logistical support to the coalition continued, including refueling and intelligence, amid reports of arms sales enabling strikes on civilian infrastructure.^[157] In Afghanistan, the Taliban insurgency expanded control over rural districts, launching major offensives in Helmand and Kunduz provinces, with over 6,500 Afghan security forces killed in 2017 amid high desertion rates and corruption undermining government defenses.^[158] U.S. and NATO forces conducted over 500 airstrikes, the highest since 2015, targeting Taliban and ISIS-Khorasan positions, while President Trump initiated a strategy review in May that later approved additional troops to prevent collapse, though implementation began post-2017.^[158] Civilian casualties from Taliban IEDs and suicide bombings exceeded 3,400 deaths, per UN estimates, highlighting the war's stalemate despite international aid exceeding $100 billion since 2001.^[159] The War in Donbas persisted as a frozen conflict with sporadic shelling along the line of contact, resulting in over 100 civilian deaths and 400 injuries from artillery and mines, as monitored by OSCE observers who recorded tens of thousands of ceasefire violations.^[160] Pro-Russian separatists, backed by Russian arms and personnel, clashed with Ukrainian forces near Avdiivka and Mariupol, where industrial zones became entrenched battlegrounds, contributing to a cumulative death toll approaching 10,000 since 2014 without resolution under the Minsk agreements.^[161] Both sides faced accusations of using civilians as shields and torturing detainees, per human rights reports, amid economic devastation in the region.^[160]

Economy and Policy

Fiscal and Trade Developments

In the United States, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) represented the most significant overhaul of the federal tax code since 1986, enacted through reconciliation to bypass filibuster threats in the Senate. Passed by the House on November 16 and the Senate on December 2, the legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 22, permanently reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% while lowering individual income tax rates across brackets, with the top marginal rate dropping from 39.6% to 37%. It doubled the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for joint filers, eliminated personal exemptions, and capped state and local tax deductions at $10,000, aiming to simplify filing and broaden the tax base amid projections of initial revenue losses offset by dynamic growth effects.^{[162][163][164]} On the trade front, President Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on January 23 via executive action, halting a multilateral pact negotiated under the Obama administration that encompassed 40% of global GDP and sought to counterbalance Chinese influence through tariff reductions and intellectual property protections. This move shifted U.S. policy toward bilateral deals, prompting the remaining 11 nations to rebrand and advance the agreement as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership without U.S. participation. Concurrently, the administration initiated Section 232 national security investigations into steel imports on April 19 and aluminum on April 26, citing import surges—steel imports rose double-digits in early 2017—as threats to domestic capacity utilization below 80%, setting the stage for protective tariffs imposed in 2018.^{[165][166][167]} Globally, merchandise trade volume expanded by 4.7% in 2017, surpassing WTO forecasts upgraded to 3.6% amid synchronized economic recovery in advanced and emerging markets, with Asia leading at 8.1% growth driven by China and export rebounds in electronics and commodities. In North America, the U.S. notified Congress on May 18 of intent to renegotiate NAFTA under the Trade Promotion Authority, launching talks with Canada and Mexico on August 16 to address trade deficits—U.S. goods deficit with Mexico hit $63 billion—and labor, digital trade, and rules-of-origin provisions, culminating in the USMCA framework years later. The United Kingdom's invocation of Article 50 on March 29 formally triggered Brexit negotiations, signaling the end of frictionless EU single market access and prompting early trade diversification efforts, though immediate impacts included sterling depreciation and uncertainty for £250 billion in annual EU-bound exports.^{[168][169][170]}

Regulatory Changes

In the United States, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13771 on January 30, 2017, mandating that for every new regulation issued by federal agencies, at least two existing regulations be repealed, with the total incremental cost of new rules required to be zero or negative for fiscal year 2017 onward.^[171] This order applied to executive departments and agencies, excluding independent ones initially, and aimed to reduce the regulatory burden estimated at $220 billion annually by the administration.^[172] Congress invoked the Congressional Review Act (CRA) 14 times in 2017 to repeal Obama-era regulations, marking the most extensive use in history, including the repeal on February 16 of the Bureau of Land Management's Stream Protection Rule, which had sought to curb mining pollution but was criticized for imposing $81 million in annual compliance costs without commensurate benefits.^[173] Other CRA repeals targeted rules on blacklisting companies for labor violations, privacy safeguards under the FCC's broadband rule, and planned parenthood funding restrictions, with three classified as major rules affecting over 100 million people.^[174] In financial regulation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a June 12 report recommending reforms to the Dodd-Frank Act, proposing to exempt community banks from Volcker Rule prohibitions on proprietary trading and to tailor stress testing requirements based on asset size, arguing that uniform rules overburdened smaller institutions handling under $100 billion in assets.^[175] These suggestions influenced subsequent legislation like the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act passed in 2018 but rooted in 2017 analyses. The Federal Communications Commission, in a 3-2 vote on December 14, 2017, repealed the 2015 Open Internet Order, eliminating federal net neutrality classifications of broadband as a Title II utility service and returning oversight to lighter-touch authority under Section 706, a move projected to spur $13.3 billion in broadband investment over seven years according to FCC estimates.^[172] Internationally, the European Union advanced preparations for the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II), with regulatory technical standards finalized by the European Securities and Markets Authority on September 28, 2017, to enhance transparency in trading and protect investors, though full implementation occurred in 2018. In China, the Cyberserver Law took effect on June 1, 2017, requiring data localization for critical information infrastructure operators and cybersecurity reviews, impacting foreign tech firms by mandating storage of personal data within borders.

Culture and Society

Social Movements and Controversies

The Women's March on January 21, 2017, drew an estimated 470,000 participants in Washington, D.C., with total attendance across the United States and worldwide reaching between 3.3 million and 5.2 million, marking it as one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history.^[13][176] Organized in response to the inauguration of President Donald Trump the previous day, the marches protested policies perceived as regressive on women's rights, immigration, and environmental issues, featuring pink "pussyhats" as a symbol and speakers including Gloria Steinem and Madonna.^[176] Critics, including some feminists, argued the event marginalized pro-life women and focused excessively on anti-Trump sentiment rather than substantive policy advocacy.^[177] Protests over police brutality intensified in the National Football League (NFL) during the 2017 season, building on Colin Kaepernick's kneeling during the national anthem that began in 2016. On September 24, 2017, following President Trump's public calls to fire kneeling players and owners who tolerated the protests, approximately 200 players across multiple teams knelt, linked arms, or stayed in locker rooms during pre-game anthems, drawing boos from crowds and sparking debates over patriotism versus free speech.^[178][179] The actions, intended to highlight racial injustice and officer-involved shootings, led to declining viewership—NFL games averaged 8% fewer viewers than in 2016—and prompted the league to affirm players' rights to protest while encouraging standing, though Kaepernick remained unsigned, fueling collusion allegations later settled in court.^[180][181] The Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017, organized by white nationalist groups to oppose the removal of a Confederate statue of Robert E. Lee, devolved into violence between participants and counter-protesters. A state of emergency was declared after clashes involving clubs, shields, and chemical sprays; James Alex Fields Jr., a rally attendee, drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer, 32, and injuring 19 others, while two state troopers died in a helicopter crash monitoring the event.^[182][183] President Trump's statement equating violence on "both sides" drew condemnation from media outlets and Democrats for downplaying white supremacist involvement, though reports noted antifa-linked counter-protesters initiated some street brawls before the permitted rally permit was revoked.^[184] The incident accelerated nationwide debates and actions to remove Confederate monuments, with over 700 such symbols addressed by 2018.^[185] In July 2017, Google software engineer James Damore circulated an internal memo titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," arguing that gender disparities in tech employment stemmed partly from biological differences in interests and traits rather than solely discrimination, citing studies on personality variances between sexes.^[186] Damore proposed alternatives to diversity quotas, such as addressing conservative underrepresentation and reducing emphasis on empathy-driven hiring; the document leaked online, prompting accusations of sexism from media and Google executives, who fired him on August 7 for violating company conduct policies on harmful stereotypes.^[187] Supporters viewed the firing as evidence of ideological conformity in Silicon Valley, where left-leaning biases in human resources and leadership suppress dissent on group differences, as Damore later sued alleging wrongful termination and discrimination against his Asperger's diagnosis.^[188][189] President Trump announced on July 26, 2017, via Twitter that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed to serve in the U.S. military "in any capacity," reversing Obama-era policies permitting service after disclosure and stabilization of gender dysphoria treatment.^[190] The directive cited military readiness concerns, including medical costs estimated at $8 million annually for transgender-related care and disruptions from surgeries, though Pentagon studies prior had found minimal impact from open service.^[191] Critics, including advocacy groups, decried it as discriminatory, leading to lawsuits that blocked implementation; the policy affected fewer than 9,000 service members, with empirical data showing higher rates of mental health issues and deployability challenges among those with gender dysphoria compared to the general force.^[192][193] The #MeToo movement surged in October 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano's tweet encouraging survivors of sexual harassment to share stories, amplifying Tarana Burke's 2006 phrase amid revelations of producer Harvey Weinstein's decades-long abuses documented in investigative reports.^[194][195] Within weeks, accusations toppled figures including Weinstein (facing criminal charges by year's end), comedian Louis C.K., and Senator Al Franken, resulting in over 200 high-profile allegations and resignations across entertainment, media, and politics.^[196] While credited with empowering victims and prompting corporate reforms like enhanced HR protocols, the movement faced criticism for due process lapses, as some claims led to professional ruin without corroboration or trials, and for selective outrage—sparing figures like Bill Clinton despite prior scandals.^[197] Surveys indicated broad public support, with 65% of Americans viewing it positively by 2022, though concerns persisted over potential chilling effects on workplace interactions.^[101]

Entertainment and Media

In cinema, 2017 featured several blockbuster releases that drove record box office revenues, with worldwide grosses exceeding previous years in key markets. Disney's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, released on March 17, topped the global chart with $1.263 billion in earnings, bolstered by strong family audience appeal and nostalgic remake elements.^[198] Universal's The Fate of the Furious, the eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise premiered on April 14, followed closely with $1.236 billion, emphasizing high-octane action sequences and an expanded international cast.^[198] Other notable performers included Illumination's Despicable Me 3 ($1.035 billion, June 30 release), which continued the animated franchise's dominance in family animation, and Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman ($821 million worldwide, June 2 release), directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, which achieved $412 million domestically and marked a commercial breakthrough for a female-led DC Comics film.^[198] Star Wars: The Last Jedi, released December 15 by Disney/Lucasfilm, generated $620 million domestically by year-end despite polarized fan reactions to its narrative choices. Music releases highlighted streaming's growing influence, with albums achieving unprecedented digital consumption metrics. Ed Sheeran's ÷ (Divide), launched March 3, became the year's top seller in the UK and many territories, moving over 6 million equivalent units globally through a mix of physical sales, downloads, and streams from hits like "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill."^[199] In the US, Taylor Swift's Reputation, released November 10, led traditional album sales with 1.216 million copies in its debut week, the largest of the year, driven by tracks such as "Look What You Made Me Do" amid Swift's public feuds with media figures. Kendrick Lamar's DAMN., out April 14, topped critics' lists for its lyrical depth on social issues and earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2018, with 603,000 first-week units reflecting hip-hop's commercial peak.^[200] Streaming platforms amplified reach, as evidenced by ÷'s record 56.8 million first-week streams in the US. Television saw prestige series gain traction on cable and streaming, with adaptations and returns drawing large audiences. HBO's Game of Thrones seventh season, airing July 16 to August 27, averaged 10.1 million US viewers per episode, culminating in major plot revelations despite shortened episode count due to production scale.^[201] Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, adapted from Margaret Atwood's novel and premiered April 26, attracted 1.7 million viewers for its dystopian narrative on reproductive control, earning 13 Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series.^[201] Showtime's Twin Peaks: The Return, David Lynch's 18-episode revival airing May 21 to September 3, garnered critical praise for surreal storytelling but mixed viewership of around 300,000 per episode initially.^[202] Netflix originals like Stranger Things second season (October 27) and Ozark debut (July 21) underscored the platform's subscriber growth to over 100 million globally by year-end.^[203] The entertainment sector faced upheaval from sexual misconduct revelations, starting with The New York Times reporting on October 5 detailing decades of allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein, including harassment and assault claims from actresses like Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan.^[98] Weinstein was dismissed from The Weinstein Company on October 8, with over 80 women eventually accusing him, leading to criminal charges and his 2020 conviction on rape counts.^[204] This triggered industry-wide investigations, including against figures like CBS's Les Moonves (fired September 9, 2018, but allegations surfaced 2017) and contributing to a reported 2018 exodus of executives.^[205] The Fyre Festival, a luxury music event hyped on social media and scheduled for April 27–29 in the Bahamas, collapsed amid logistical failures, false advertising, and fraud charges against organizer Billy McFarland, who was sentenced to six years in prison in 2018.^[204]

Awards and Recognitions

Nobel Prizes

In 2017, the Nobel Prizes recognized contributions across physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and economic sciences, with announcements occurring between October 2 and October 9. The awards highlighted breakthroughs in gravitational wave detection, biomolecular imaging, circadian rhythms, literary exploration of human illusion, nuclear disarmament advocacy, and behavioral economics. Each prize carried a monetary award of approximately 9 million Swedish kronor, shared among laureates as applicable.^[206] The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded on October 3 to Rainer Weiss for one half, and jointly to Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne for the other half, for their decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves, confirming a key prediction of general relativity.^[135] This detection, first achieved in 2015, opened a new era in astronomy by allowing study of cosmic events through spacetime ripples rather than electromagnetic radiation.^[207] On October 4, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went jointly to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson for developing cryo-electron microscopy, a technique that enables high-resolution imaging of biomolecules in near-native states by vitrifying samples without crystals or stains.^[136] Their innovations revolutionized structural biology, facilitating atomic-level visualization of proteins and complexes previously intractable.^[208] The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, announced October 2, was awarded jointly to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young for discoveries elucidating molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms, the internal biological clocks regulating daily sleep-wake cycles and other processes in organisms.^[137] Their work identified core clock genes and feedback loops, explaining how organisms adapt to 24-hour environmental cycles and linking disruptions to health issues like sleep disorders.^[209] Kazuo Ishiguro received the Nobel Prize in Literature on October 5 for novels of great emotional force that uncover the abyss beneath humanity's illusory sense of connection with the world.^[210] The British author, known for works like The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, explores themes of memory, time, and self-deception through subtle, restrained prose. The Nobel Peace Prize on October 6 was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition founded in 2007, for its efforts to highlight the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear arms and achieve a treaty-based prohibition.^[211] ICAN's advocacy contributed to the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted by 122 states despite opposition from nuclear powers.^[212] On October 9, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel went to Richard H. Thaler for integrating psychological insights into economics, challenging assumptions of rational agents and demonstrating systematic human biases in decision-making.^[213] His research on limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control laid foundations for behavioral economics, influencing policy in areas like savings and public health.^[214]

Other Honors

The ACM A.M. Turing Award, recognized as the highest distinction in computer science, was conferred in 2017 on John L. Hennessy, then-president of Stanford University, and David A. Patterson, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, for their pioneering development of reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architectures, which fundamentally influenced modern processor design and performance.^[215][216] Their collaborative work on RISC principles, including quantitative analysis of instruction sets and pipelining techniques, enabled scalable computing systems that underpin contemporary hardware from mobile devices to supercomputers.^[217][218] On January 12, 2017, President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Vice President Joe Biden in a private White House ceremony, citing his decades of public service, leadership in foreign policy, and advocacy on issues including violence against women and cancer initiatives. The medal recognized Biden's contributions as a senator, vice president, and key architect of legislative efforts like the Violence Against Women Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law precursors.^[219] The Abel Prize in mathematics, awarded annually by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, went to Yves Meyer of École normale supérieure de Cachan in March 2017 for his foundational contributions to wavelet theory, which advanced signal processing, data compression, and harmonic analysis applications in fields from imaging to geophysics. Meyer's work on multiresolution analysis and the construction of orthogonal wavelets provided tools for efficient representation of functions, impacting algorithms used in JPEG 2000 and MRI technology.

Sports

Major Tournaments

The FIFA Confederations Cup, held from June 17 to July 2 in Russia, featured national teams from continental champions and the host nation; Germany defeated Chile 1–0 in the final on July 2, with Lars Stindl scoring the sole goal in the 20th minute, securing Germany's first title in the tournament's history. The event served as a test for the 2018 FIFA World Cup venues, drawing 1,553,016 attendees across eight matches. The ICC Champions Trophy, a quadrennial One Day International cricket event, took place from June 1 to 18 across England and Wales, involving the top eight ranked teams; Pakistan won the final against India by 180 runs on June 18 at The Oval, with Fakhar Zaman's 114 runs off 106 balls earning him player of the match honors. This victory marked Pakistan's first Champions Trophy title, boosted by their bowling attack led by Hasan Ali's 13 wickets throughout the tournament. The World Athletics Championships occurred from August 4 to 13 at London Stadium, hosting over 2,000 athletes from 200+ nations competing in 49 events; the United States led the medal table with 10 gold, 11 silver, and 7 bronze medals, highlighted by Justin Gatlin's 100 meters win in 9.92 seconds on August 5 and Sydney McLaughlin's 400 meters hurdles gold.^[220] Great Britain, as host, secured six golds, including the men's 4x100 meters relay victory in a national record time of 37.98 seconds.^[220] In tennis, the four Grand Slam tournaments crowned their singles champions as follows: Roger Federer won the Australian Open on January 29, defeating Rafael Nadal 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 in the final; Nadal claimed the French Open on June 11, beating Stan Wawrinka 6–2, 6–3, 6–1; Federer took Wimbledon on July 16, overcoming Marin Čilić 6–3, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4; and Nadal secured the US Open on September 10, defeating Kevin Anderson 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3. The World Baseball Classic, contested from March 6 to 22 across multiple host countries, saw the United States defeat Puerto Rico 8–0 in the final on March 22 at Dodger Stadium, with Marcus Stroman pitching a complete game shutout. This edition expanded to 16 teams and featured standout performances like Japan's Shohei Ohtani's 1.86 ERA.

Records and Achievements

In American football, the New England Patriots achieved the largest comeback in Super Bowl history during Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, overcoming a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to win 34-28 in overtime, with Tom Brady throwing for 466 yards and three touchdowns.^{[221] [222]} In tennis, Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open on January 28, 2017, defeating her sister Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the final and surpassing Steffi Graf's Open Era record; Williams was eight weeks pregnant at the time, marking the first such victory in the Open Era.^{[223] [224]} In Major League Baseball, New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge set the American League single-season record for home runs by a rookie with 52, achieved on October 1, 2017, against the Kansas City Royals, surpassing Mark McGwire's 49 from 1987; Judge also won the AL Rookie of the Year award unanimously.^{[225] [226]} Roger Federer captured his eighth Wimbledon men's singles title on July 16, 2017, at age 35, defeating Marin Čilić 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, marking his 19th Grand Slam overall and the oldest men's winner at the tournament since 1981.^[227]

Notable Births

Significant Births

Twins Ella and Alexander Clooney, the children of actor George Clooney and international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, were born on June 6, 2017, at St. Mary's Hospital in London, marking the couple's first children after five years of marriage.^{[228] [229]} Alexander arrived first at 12:54 p.m., followed by Ella at 12:56 p.m., each weighing approximately 4.5 pounds.^[230] One week later, on June 13, 2017, recording artist Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and rapper Shawn Carter (known professionally as Jay-Z) welcomed twins Rumi and Sir Carter at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, following a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia that required bed rest.^{[231] [232]} The births, announced via social media with artistic photography, generated widespread media interest and contributed to discussions on celebrity family privacy.^[233] Tennis champion Serena Williams gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on September 1, 2017, at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, shortly after winning the Australian Open while pregnant; the delivery involved emergency complications including pulmonary embolism, requiring multiple surgeries.^{[234] [235]} Williams, married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, later detailed the experience in her memoir, highlighting maternal health risks in high-profile pregnancies.^[236] Singer Enrique Iglesias and former tennis player Anna Kournikova welcomed twins Nicholas and Lucy on December 16, 2017, in Miami, Florida, keeping the pregnancy private until after the birth, which surprised fans given the couple's long-term relationship without prior public announcements of children.^{[237] [238]} These events underscored 2017's pattern of multiple twin births among entertainment figures, often amplified by social media announcements.

Notable Deaths

Entertainment Figures

Mary Tyler Moore, an American actress best known for portraying Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966) and Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977), died on January 25, 2017, at the age of 80 due to complications from pneumonia while hospitalized in Connecticut. Her work earned her seven Emmy Awards and helped redefine female leads in television comedy. Jerry Lewis, the American comedian, actor, and filmmaker famous for his partnership with Dean Martin in the 1940s–1950s and solo films like The Nutty Professor (1963), died on August 20, 2017, at age 91 from respiratory failure and a cardiac condition at his home in Las Vegas. Lewis hosted annual muscular dystrophy telethons for decades, raising over $2 billion for research, though his comedic style drew criticism for slapstick excess in later years. Chuck Berry, a pioneering rock and roll guitarist and singer-songwriter whose hits like "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958) shaped the genre's guitar riffs and lyrical themes of youth rebellion, died on March 18, 2017, at age 90 from natural causes at his home near St. Louis. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as an early influence, Berry's career included legal troubles, such as a 1962 Mann Act conviction, but his raw, rhythmic innovations remain foundational to popular music. Tom Petty, the American rock musician and leader of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, known for albums like Damn the Torpedoes (1979) and hits such as "Free Fallin'" (1989), died on October 2, 2017, at age 66 from accidental prescription drug overdose including fentanyl, oxycodone, and others, following a full cardio-respiratory arrest in his Los Angeles home. His band sold over 80 million records worldwide, blending heartland rock with Byrds-inspired jangle, and he collaborated with artists like Bob Dylan in the Traveling Wilburys. Chris Cornell, the American singer and musician who fronted Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide via hanging on May 18, 2017, at age 52 in a Detroit hotel room after a performance; toxicology reports indicated Ativan in his system but not at levels impairing judgment. Cornell's powerful baritone defined grunge with Soundgarden's Superunknown (1994) and later nu-metal crossovers, earning a Grammy for "Like a Stone" (2003), though his death sparked debates on mental health in rock amid prior addiction struggles. Chester Bennington, lead vocalist of Linkin Park, whose nu-metal fusion on Hybrid Theory (2000) sold over 30 million copies and addressed alienation themes, died by suicide via hanging on July 20, 2017, at age 41 in California, coinciding with Cornell's birthday; he had battled depression and substance abuse. The band's commercial peak included eight No. 1 albums on Billboard 200. Other significant losses included actor Martin Landau, Oscar winner for Ed Wood (1994), who died July 15, 2017, at 89 from respiratory failure; Bill Paxton, known for Titanic (1997) and Twister (1996), from a stroke post-surgery on February 25, 2017, at 61; and Fats Domino, R&B pioneer with hits like "Blueberry Hill" (1956), from natural causes on October 24, 2017, at 89.

Political and Military Leaders

Mário Soares, the former prime minister and president of Portugal who played a pivotal role in the country's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy following the 1974 Carnation Revolution, died on January 7, 2017, at the age of 92 after a prolonged hospitalization for respiratory and heart issues.^[239][240] Soares, a Socialist leader, served as prime minister from 1976 to 1978 and 1983 to 1985, and as president from 1986 to 1996, advocating for Portugal's integration into the European Union and NATO while navigating economic challenges and political instability.^[239] Martin McGuinness, a senior Sinn Féin politician and former chief of staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who later became deputy first minister of Northern Ireland as part of the power-sharing agreement, died on March 21, 2017, at age 66 from amyloidosis, a rare genetic disease affecting vital organs.^[241][242] McGuinness transitioned from IRA militancy during the Troubles—where he was implicated in bombings and shootings—to peace negotiations, co-authoring the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and serving alongside unionist Ian Paisley from 2007 to 2011, symbolizing reconciliation despite persistent criticism over his paramilitary past.^[241][242] Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to U.S. President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981, died on May 26, 2017, at age 89 from natural causes.^[243][244] A Polish-born strategist, Brzezinski shaped U.S. policy on the Soviet Union, including support for Afghan mujahideen against the 1979 invasion, and promoted human rights while advocating a tough stance against Moscow; his influence extended through books like The Grand Chessboard outlining post-Cold War geopolitics.^[243] Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet lieutenant colonel in the strategic rocket forces who in 1983 correctly identified a false alarm of incoming U.S. missiles as a system malfunction, thereby averting a potential nuclear exchange, died on May 19, 2017, at age 77 from pneumonia; his death was not publicly announced until September.^[245][246] Petrov's decision on September 26, 1983, relied on intuition over protocol amid heightened tensions after the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 shootdown, earning him later recognition from Western sources despite initial Soviet reprimand for procedural violation.^[245] Manuel Noriega, Panama's military ruler from 1983 to 1989 who collaborated with the CIA on anti-communist operations but was later convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering, died on May 29, 2017, at age 83 from complications following brain tumor surgery.^[247][248] Noriega's regime involved suppressing dissent and facilitating cocaine shipments to the U.S., leading to his 1989 ouster via U.S. invasion under Operation Just Cause, after which he served prison terms in the U.S., France, and Panama.^[247] Helmut Kohl, chancellor of West Germany from 1982 to 1990 and reunified Germany from 1990 to 1998, died on June 16, 2017, at age 87; his office cited health reasons without specifics.^[249][250] Kohl orchestrated German reunification post-Berlin Wall fall, negotiated massive subsidies for eastern states, and advanced European integration via the Maastricht Treaty establishing the euro, though his later tenure was marred by a party financing scandal.^[249] Valery Asapov, a Russian lieutenant general serving as chief of staff for Syrian forces in Deir ez-Zor, was killed on September 23, 2017, at age 51 by Islamic State mortar fire near the city during Russia's intervention in the Syrian Civil War.^[251][252] Russia's Defense Ministry attributed his death to ISIS shelling at a forward command post, praising Asapov's coordination of Syrian advances; some Russian officials blamed U.S. policy for enabling ISIS positioning, though U.S. sources denied involvement.^[251] Ali Abdullah Saleh, president of North Yemen from 1978 to 1990 and unified Yemen from 1990 to 2012, died on December 4, 2017, at age 70 during clashes with Houthi rebels near Sanaa, reportedly executed after attempting to flee an alliance breakdown.^[253][254] Saleh navigated Yemen's unification, survived uprisings, and allied variably with Houthis against Saudi-led forces before his fatal reversal; his rule featured patronage networks, corruption allegations, and suppression of southern secessionists and Islamists.^[253][254]

Scientists and Innovators

Oliver Smithies, a British-American geneticist who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing gene targeting techniques that enabled the creation of knockout mice, died on January 10, 2017, at age 91 following a short illness.^[255][256] His innovations in homologous recombination revolutionized genetic research, allowing precise modifications to mammalian genomes and advancing studies of gene function and disease models.^[257] Mildred Dresselhaus, an American physicist dubbed the "Queen of Carbon Science" for her pioneering work on the electronic properties of carbon-based materials including graphite, fullerenes, and nanotubes, died on February 20, 2017, at age 86.^[258][259] Her research laid foundational insights into low-dimensional systems, influencing the development of nanotechnology and graphene applications, while she also advocated for women in science, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.^[260] Eugene Garfield, an American information scientist who founded the Institute for Scientific Information in 1960 and created the Science Citation Index—precursor to the Web of Science—died on February 26, 2017, at age 91.^[261] His introduction of citation indexing and the journal impact factor transformed bibliometrics, enabling quantitative evaluation of scientific influence and literature retrieval.^[262] Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian mathematician and the first woman to receive the Fields Medal in 2014 for her outstanding contributions to the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces, died on July 14, 2017, at age 40 from breast cancer.^[263][264] Her work advanced understanding of complex geometric structures, with implications for topology and Teichmüller theory, and she served as a professor at Stanford University.^[265]

Other Notables

David Rockefeller, a prominent American banker and philanthropist, died on March 20, 2017, at the age of 101 from congestive heart failure at his home in Pocantico Hills, New York.^[266][267] As chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank from 1969 to 1981, he expanded the institution into a global powerhouse and amassed a fortune estimated at over $3 billion, much of which supported philanthropy in education, arts, and international relations through the Rockefeller Foundation and other entities.^[268] His influence extended to foreign policy, including advocacy for U.S.-China engagement prior to Nixon's 1972 visit.^[269] Mike Ilitch, founder of the Little Caesars Pizza chain and longtime owner of Detroit's professional sports franchises, died on February 10, 2017, at age 87. Starting with a single pizza shop in 1959, Ilitch built a fast-food empire with over 5,000 locations worldwide by 2017, while acquiring the Detroit Red Wings in 1982 (leading to four Stanley Cup wins) and the Detroit Tigers in 1992. His business ventures generated billions in revenue, and he invested heavily in urban revitalization, including the $500 million District Detroit project announced in 2014. Brenda Barnes, a trailblazing business executive who became the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company as CEO of Sara Lee Corporation from 2004 to 2010, died on January 13, 2017, at age 63 following complications from a 2007 stroke. Previously president and CEO of PepsiCola North America, she oversaw Sara Lee's restructuring, divesting non-core units to focus on food brands amid declining profits, though the company was later split and sold. Barnes symbolized the challenges of work-life balance, having resigned from Pepsi in 1997 to raise her children before resuming her career.