Kosovo declares independence from Serbia.
17 February: What Happened On This Day in History
Curated historical timeline of momentous political pacts, freedom struggle uprisings, constitutional developments, scientific breakthroughs, and prominent birthdays recorded on 17 February.
Arab Spring: Libyan protests against Muammar Gaddafi's regime begin. In Bahrain, security forces launched a deadly pre-dawn raid on protesters in Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the day is locally known as Bloody Thursday.
Eighteen people are killed and 78 injured in a stampede at a Mardi Gras parade in Haiti.
Military vehicles explode outside a Turkish Armed Forces barracks in Ankara, Turkey, killing at least 29 people and injuring 61 others.
Jibanananda Das, Bangladeshi-Indian poet and author (d. 1954)
Chord Overstreet, American actor and singer
Marianne St-Gelais, Canadian speed skater
Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Bonnie Wright, English actress, director, and screenwriter
Nicola Leali, Italian footballer
Marc Mรกrquez, Spanish motorcycle racer
Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian-American philosopher and author (b. 1895)
Karpoori Thakur, Indian educator and politician, 11th Chief Minister of Bihar (b. 1924)