On This Day: August 17th

A bomb explodes at a wedding in Kabul killing 63 people and leaving 182 injured.

Barcelona attacks: A van is driven into pedestrians in La Rambla, killing 14 and injuring at least 100.

A bomb explodes near the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least 19 people and injuring 123 others.

An accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam in Khakassia, Russia, kills 75 and shuts down the hydroelectric power station, leading to widespread power failure in the local area.

American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.

The first forced evacuation of settlers, as part of Israeli disengagement from Gaza, starts.

Over 500 bombs are set off by terrorists at 300 locations in 63 out of the 64 districts of Bangladesh.

The National Assembly of Serbia unanimously adopts new state symbols for Serbia: Bože pravde becomes the new anthem and the coat of arms is adopted for the whole country.

The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured.

Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.