2017 aluminium alloy
2017 Aluminium alloy has copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and silicon as main alloying elements.


2017 belairdirect BC Men's Curling Championship
The 2017 belairdirect BC Men's Curling Championship was held from February 8 to 12 at the Abbotsford Curling Club in Abbotsford, British Columbia.


2017 belairdirect BC Men's Curling Championship, Qualification process
Sixteen teams qualified for the provincial tournament through several methods. The qualification process is as follows:


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine
A series of powerful cyberattacks using the Petya malware began on 27 June 2017 that swamped websites of Ukrainian organizations, including banks, ministries, newspapers and electricity firms. Similar infections were reported in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. ESET estimated on 28 June 2017 that 80% of all infections were in Ukraine, with Germany second hardest hit with about 9%. On 28 June 2017, the Ukrainian government stated that the attack was halted. On 30 June 2017, the Associated Press reported experts agreed that Petya was masquerading as ransomware, while it was actually designed to cause maximum damage, with Ukraine being the main target.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
Security experts believe the attack originated from an update of a Ukrainian tax accounting package called MeDoc (M.E.Doc), developed by Intellect Service. MeDoc is widely used among tax accountants in Ukraine, and the software was the main option for accounting for other Ukrainian businesses, according to Mikko Hyppönen, a security expert at F-Secure. MeDoc had about 400,000 customers across Ukraine, representing about 90% of the country's domestic firms and prior to the attack was installed on an estimated 1 million computers in Ukraine.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
MeDoc provides periodic updates to its program through an update server. On the day of the attack, 27 June 2017, an update for MeDoc was pushed out by the update server, following which the ransomware attack began to appear. British malware expert Marcus Hutchins claimed "It looks like the software's automatic update system was compromised and used to download and run malware rather than updates for the software."


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
The company that produces MeDoc claimed they had no intentional involvement in the ransomware attack, as their computer offices were also affected, and they are cooperating with law enforcement to track down the origin. Similar attack via MeDoc software was carried out on 18 May 2017 with a ransomware XData. Hundreds of accounting departments were affected in Ukraine.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
The cyberattack was based on a modified version of the Petya ransomware. Like the WannaCry ransomware attack in May 2017, Petya uses the EternalBlue exploit previously discovered in older versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. When Petya is executed, it encrypts the Master File Table of the hard drive and forces the computer to restart. It then displays a message to the user, telling them their files are now encrypted and to send US$300 in bitcoin to one of three wallets to receive instructions to decrypt their computer.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
At the same time, the software exploits the Server Message Block protocol in Windows to infect local computers on the same network, and any remote computers it can find. Additionally, the NotPetya software was found to use a variant of Mimikatz, a proof-of-concept exploit found in 2011 that demonstrated that user passwords had been retained in computer memory within Windows, exploiting these passwords to help spread across networks.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
The EternalBlue exploit had been previously identified, and Microsoft issued patches in March 2017 to shut down the exploit for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2016. However, the WannaCry attack progressed through many computer systems that still used older Windows operating systems or older versions of the newer ones, which still had the exploit, or that users had not taken the steps to download the patches. Microsoft issued new patches for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 8 the day after the WannaCry attack. Security expert Lesley Carhart stated that "Every method of exploitation that the attack used to spread was preventable by well-documented means".


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
Security experts found that the version of Petya used in the Ukraine cyberattacks had been modified, and subsequently has been named NotPetya or Nyetna to distinguish it from the original malware. NotPetya encrypted all of the files on the infected computers, not just the Master File Table, and in some cases the computer's files were completely wiped or rewritten in a manner that could not be undone through decryption. Some security experts saw that the software could intercept passwords and perform administrator-level actions that could further ruin computer files.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Approach
They also noted that the software could identify specific computer systems and bypass infection of those systems, suggesting the attack was more surgical in its goal. There also has yet to be discovery of a "kill switch" as there was with the WannaCry software, which would immediately stop its spread. According to Nicholas Weaver of the University of California the hackers had previously compromised MeDoc "made it into a remote-control Trojan, and then they were willing to burn this asset to launch this attack.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
During the attack the radiation monitoring system at Ukraine's Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant went offline. Several Ukrainian ministries, banks, metro systems and state-owned enterprises (Boryspil International Airport, Ukrtelecom, Ukrposhta, State Savings Bank of Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways) were affected. In the infected computers, important computer files were overwritten and thus permanently damaged, despite the malware's displayed message to the user indicating that all files could be recovered "safely and easily" by meeting the attackers' demands and making the requested payment in Bitcoin currency.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
The attack has been seen to be more likely aimed at crippling the Ukrainian state rather than for monetary reasons. The attack came on the eve of the Ukrainian public holiday, Constitution Day (celebrating the anniversary of the approval by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) of the Constitution of Ukraine on 28 June 1996). Most government offices would be empty, allowing the cyberattack to spread without interference. In addition, some security experts saw the ransomware engage in wiping the affected hard drives rather than encrypting them, which would be a further disaster for companies affected by this.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
A short time before the cyberattack began, it was reported that a senior intelligence officer and head of a special forces detachment unit of the Ukrainian Chief Directorate of Intelligence, Col. Maksym Shapoval, was assassinated in Kyiv by a car bomb. Former government adviser in Georgia and Moldova Molly K. McKew believed this assassination was related to the cyberattack.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
On 28 June 2017 the Ukrainian government stated that the attack was halted, "The situation is under complete control of the cyber security specialists, they are now working to restore the lost data."


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
Following the initial 27 June attack, security experts found that the code that had infected the M.E.Doc update had a backdoor that could potentially be used to launch another cyberattack. On seeing signs of another cyberattack, the Ukrainian police raided the offices of MeDoc on 4 July 2017 and seized their servers. MeDoc's CEO stated that they were now aware there had been a backdoor installed on their servers, again refuted their involvement in the attack, and were working to help authorities identify the source.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attack
Security company ESET found that the backdoor had been installed on MeDoc's updater service as early as 15 May 2017, while experts from Cisco Systems' Talos group found evidence of the backdoor as early as April 2017; either situation points to the cyberattack as a "thoroughly well-planned and well-executed operation". Ukrainian officials have stated that Intellect Service will "face criminal responsibility", as they were previously warned about lax security on their servers by anti-virus firms prior to these events but did not take steps to prevent it. Talos warned that due to the large size of the MeDoc update that contained the NotPetya malware (1.5 gigabytes), there may be other backdoors that they have yet to find, and another attack could be possible.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
On 30 June, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported it had seized the equipment that had been used to launch the cyberattack, claiming it to have belonged to Russian agents responsible for launching the attack. On 1 July 2017 the SBU claimed that available data showed that the same perpetrators who in Ukraine in December 2016 attacked the financial system, transport and energy facilities of Ukraine (using TeleBots and BlackEnergy) were the same hacking groups who attacked Ukraine on 27 June 2017. "This testifies to the involvement of the special services of Russian Federation in this attack," it concluded.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
(A December 2016 cyber attack on a Ukrainian state energy computer caused a power cut in the northern part of the capital, Kyiv). Russia–Ukraine relations are at a frozen state since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea followed by a Russian government-backed separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine in which more than 10,000 people had died by late June 2017. (Russia has repeatedly denied sending troops or military equipment to eastern Ukraine). Ukraine claims that hacking Ukrainian state institutions is part of what they describe as a "hybrid war" by Russia on Ukraine.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
On 30 June 2017, cyber security firm ESET claimed that the Telebots group (which they claimed had links to BlackEnergy) was behind the attack: "Prior to the outbreak, the Telebots group targeted mainly the financial sector. The latest outbreak was directed against businesses in Ukraine, but they apparently underestimated the malware's spreading capabilities. That's why the malware went out of control." ESET had earlier reported that BlackEnergy had been targeting Ukrainian cyber infrastructure since 2014. In December 2016, ESET had concluded that TeleBots had evolved from the BlackEnergy hackers and that TeleBots had been using cyberattacks to sabotage the Ukrainian financial sector during the second half of 2016.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
Around the time of 4 July raid on MeDoc, the $10,000 in bitcoin already collected in the listed wallets for NotPetya had been collected, and experts believed it was used to buy space on the anonymous Tor network. One message posted there purportedly from the NotPetya authors demanded 100,000 bitcoin (about $2.6 million) to halt the attack and decrypt all affected files. On 5 July 2017, a second message purportedly from the NotPetya authors was posted in a Tor website, demanding those that wish to decrypt their files send 100 bitcoin (approximately $250,000). The message was signed with the same private key used by the original Petya ransomware, suggesting the same group was responsible for both.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
According to reports cited in January 2018  the United States Central Intelligence Agency claimed Russia was behind the cyberattack, with Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) having designed NotPetya. Similarly, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence accused Russia in February 2018 of launching the cyberattack, that by attacking systems in the Ukraine, the cyberattack would spread and affect major systems in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Russia had denied its involvement, pointing out that Russian systems were also impacted by the attack.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Attribution
Wired technology writer Andy Greenberg, in reviewing the history of the cyberattacks, said that the attacks came from a Russian military hackers called "Sandworm". Greenberg asserted that Sandworm was behind the 2016 blackouts in Kyiv, among other events. The group had been focusing on hacking into Ukraine's financial sector, and sometime in early 2017, had been able to gain access to M.E. Doc's update servers, so that it could be used maliciously to send out the cyberattack in June 2017.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Affected companies
Companies affected include Antonov, Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine, lifecell, TV channels STB, ICTV and ATR, Kyiv Metro, UkrGasVydobuvannya (UGV), gas stations WOG, DTEK, EpiCentre K, Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany), Prominvestbank, Ukrsotsbank, KredoBank, Oshchadbank and others, with over 1,500 legal entities and individuals having contacted the National Police of Ukraine to indicate that they had been victimized by 27 June 2017 cyberattack. Oshchadbank was again fully functional on 3 July 2017. Ukraine's electricity company's computers also went offline due to the attack; but the company continued to fully operate without using computers.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Affected companies
While more than 80% of affected companies were from Ukraine, the ransomware also spread to several companies in other geolocations, due to those businesses having offices in Ukraine and networking around the globe. Non


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Affected companies
-Ukrainian companies reporting incidents related to the attack include food processor Mondelez International, the APM Terminals subsidiary of international shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk, the FedEx shipping subsidiary TNT Express (in August 2017 its deliveries were still disrupted due to the attack), Chinese shipping company COFCO Group, French construction materials company Saint Gobain, advertising agency WPP plc, Heritage Valley Health System of Pittsburgh, law firm DLA Piper, pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser, and software provider Nuance Communications. A Ukrainian police officer believes that the ransomware attack was designed to go global so as to distract from the directed cyberattack on Ukraine.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Affected companies
The cost of the cyberattack had yet to be determined, as, after a week of its initial attack, companies were still working to mitigate the damage. Reckitt Benckiser lowered its sales estimates by 2% (about $130 million) for the second quarter primarily due to the attack that affected its global supply chain. Tom Bossert, the Homeland Security adviser to the President of the United States, stated that the total damage was over US$10 billion. Among estimated damages to specific companies included over US$870 million to Merck, US$400 million to FedEx, US$384 million to Saint-Gobain, and US$300 million to Maersk.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Reaction
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov claimed there were signs of Russian involvement in the 27 June cyberattack, although he did not give any direct evidence. Russian officials have denied any involvement, calling Ukraine's claims "unfounded blanket accusations".


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Reaction
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg vowed on 28 June 2017 that NATO would continue its support for Ukraine to strengthen its cyber defence.


2017 cyberattacks on Ukraine, Reaction
The White House Press Secretary released a statement on 15 February 2018 attributing the attack to the Russian military, calling it "the most destructive and costly cyberattack in history."


2017 deaths in American television
The following deaths of notable individuals related to American television occurred in 2017.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence
The 2017 demonstration against Catalan independence was a large demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, organized by Societat Civil Catalana on 8 October 2017, usually named after its slogan 'Stop! let's come to our senses' (in Catalan 'Prou! Recuperem el Seny'). It took place around midday starting in Plaça Urquinaona and ending in França railway station. The objective of the rally was to voice protests and growing concerns about the accelerating Catalan independence movement and the recent referendum on self-determination as well as to call for the preserved unity of Spain. The number of demonstrators was estimated at 950,000 by the organizers and 350.000 by the local police.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence, Demonstration
The initial announcement was made by the entity Societat Civil Catalana, asking the 'silenced' Catalonia to demonstrate and say 'enough' to the Catalan independence movement. The aim of the organizers was to assemble the largest pro-unity rally in the history of Barcelona with the aim of making clear that a large part of society was feeling abused by the nationalist movement.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence, Demonstration
Later, political parties decided to participate asking their supporters to join. This included the People's Party, Citizens, and the Socialists' Party of Catalonia, as well as then minority parties UPyD and Vox.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence, Demonstration
It was explicitely asked of demonstrators to join in a civic and peaceful way with a constructive attitude, and it was encouraged to bring Catalan, Spanish and European flags to show the plurality of the pro-union supporters. No unconstitutional symbols were tolerated.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence, Demonstration
The march was led by the Minister of Health Dolors Montserrat, the Delegate of the Government in Catalonia Enric Millo, Nobel laureate in literature Mario Vargas Llosa, the former president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell and anti-corruption public prosecutor Carlos Jiménez Villarejo.


2017 demonstration against Catalan independence, Aftermath
The success of the demonstration surpassed the expectations of the organizers, as until that point the pro-independence movement had had a monopoly in organizing massive public demonstrations. This is reflected in the slogan the streets will always be ours (els carrers seran sempre nostres), commonly used in pro-independence rallies. As a result, the rally is considered a turning point in the public perception of the political conflict, being extensively featured in the international press.


2017 dengue outbreak in Peshawar
In the 2017 dengue outbreak in Peshawar, Pakistan, hundreds of incidents of dengue fever were reported in Peshawar in mid-2017. Initially, according to the health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4,320 suspected cases were received by Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and 831 were positive. About a dozen people died of dengue, starting in July. Punjab healthcare experts and Peshawar experts worked together to control the dengue epidemic, using health workers going door-to-door to educate residents, as well as fumigation of the city to suppress mosquito populations.


2017 dengue outbreak in Peshawar
In November 2017, the World Health Organization reported a total of 24,807 laboratory confirmed cases with 69 deaths.


2017 dengue outbreak in Sri Lanka
In the 2017 dengue outbreak in Sri Lanka, a rise in the number of dengue fever cases was reported on the island country of Sri Lanka. The outbreak began in the mid-year monsoon rain season, when there was record of up to 40,000 cases in July. This figure was far beyond the historical highest number of cases per month in Sri Lanka. Year end total dengue cases rose to 186,101. This number being higher than the previous year. Most cases were recorded in Western Province urban areas. There were 215 deaths reported in end of June.


2017 dengue outbreak in Sri Lanka
Approximately 43% cases report from Western Province. Highest cases reported in Colombo district Year end Sri Lanka total dengue related deaths beyond the 440. Most dengue infected by young and school children. Government of Sri Lanka spend more than US$12 million for control outbreak. Red Cross would provide help to most dengue cases reported Colombo areas in fighting the outbreak.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys
On March 10, 2017, Jeff Sessions, who was appointed United States Attorney General by President Donald Trump, requested the resignations of 46 United States Attorneys. Some resignations were declined by Sessions or Trump. Media outlets described Sessions' move as abrupt and unexpected but not unprecedented. It is typical that when a new president enters office, many sitting U.S. Attorneys depart on their own initiative before their term in office has concluded, or they are asked to resign. The other 47 U.S. Attorney posts were either already vacant by the end of Barack Obama's administration or the incumbent U.S. Attorney had resigned at the beginning of Trump's administration.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Resignations and dismissals, Declined resignations
Trump declined to accept the resignations of Boente (Eastern District of Virginia), who was serving as Acting Deputy Attorney General, and Rosenstein (District of Maryland), whom Trump had selected to become Deputy Attorney General. Trump also allowed Daly (District of Connecticut) and Hartunian (Northern District of New York) to remain in office for a period of several months until they completed 20 years of service at the Justice Department.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Media
Initial media reports described Sessions' move as abrupt and unexpected, but not unprecedented. Slate's Leon Neyfakh accused media outlets of sensationalizing Sessions' actions, which he said were "nothing particularly unusual or surprising", and noted the mass firings of U.S. attorneys accompanying each presidential transition. National Review pointed out that Janet Reno began her tenure as President Bill Clinton's attorney general in March 1993 by firing U.S. attorneys for 93 of the 94 federal districts, this being more than twice as many as Trump attorney general Sessions fired on Friday. The Washington Post contrasted the Trump administration's decision with those of George W. Bush and  Barack Obama, who replaced U.S. attorneys gradually.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Media
Sessions' move came less than 24 hours after Sean Hannity, the Fox News commentator and host of The Sean Hannity Show, called for the "immediate expulsion", or a "purge", of Obama appointees at the United States Justice Department in his show's opening monologue.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Politicians
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, criticized the "abrupt firing. " She said, "Under previous administrations, orderly transitions allowed U.S. attorneys to leave gradually as their replacements were chosen. This was done to protect the independence of our prosecutors and avoid disrupting ongoing federal cases. At a time when Attorney General Sessions has recused himself from major investigations into the Trump campaign, the independence of federal prosecutors could not be more important."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Politicians
Tim Purdon, who served as U.S. attorney for the District of North Dakota from 2010 to 2015, said: "The way the Obama administration handled it was appropriate and respectful and classy. This saddens me because many of these people are great public servants and now they are being asked to leave."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Politicians
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he was "troubled to learn of reports of requests for resignations from the remaining U.S. Attorneys, particularly that of Preet Bharara." Other politicians expressed dismay, such as former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, New York State Republican Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, and Brian Kolb, the Assembly Leader, over Bharara's firing.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Bharara said he was fired and did not resign. He had been asked to maintain his position in November 2016 by then President-elect Trump. Trump's Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, traded stocks of health-related corporations during the time period when Price was working on crafting the legislation that would affect those firms. Bharara was said to have been supervising an investigation about the propriety of those trades. The administration did not respond to questions regarding the relationship.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Bharara was also reported to have been investigating the reports via CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Times, New York Magazine, among other sources, that Fox News had covered up dozens of reports of sexual assault and harassment by its dismissed former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, generating potential tort liabilities that should have been disclosed to its shareholders. Fox attorney and potential Bharara replacement Marc Mukasey declined to comment on these reports as well.


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
In his resignation statement, Capers wrote, "This afternoon, I was instructed to resign my position as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, effective March 10, 2017. It has been my greatest honor to serve my country, New York City and the people of this district for almost 14 years, with the last 17 months serving as United States Attorney."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Capp said in a written statement, "After 31 years at the United States Attorney’s office I have submitted my resignation as United States Attorney. I had advised my office last summer that it was my plan to retire in 2017. I had been looking toward a June retirement, so this is just a few months earlier. It has been my greatest honor and privilege to serve all these years. The work we do in the United States Attorney’s Office has such an important positive impact on the citizens of northern Indiana. I want to thank the men and women of the USAO for their dedication and professionalism, day-in and day-out."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Cotter said, "I think it's very unprofessional and I'm very disappointed. What happened today on Friday, March 10, that was so important that all Obama appointees who are US attorneys need to be gone? I gotta write that (resignation) letter. It's going to be a one-liner."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Daly's office released a statement which said, "It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as Connecticut's United States Attorney. In fact, it has been a gift of a lifetime. I am extremely proud of the tremendous accomplishments of the men and women of this office during my tenure."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Delahanty said, "I didn’t really get a chance to wrap up any loose ends. By Monday morning, my email and iPhone had been shut off."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Fishman said in his statement, "It has been the greatest professional experience that I can possibly imagine to have served in this office for the past seven-and-a-half years. Having spent so much of my career working to protect the interests of the people of New Jersey, I can think of no greater form of public service. I am enormously grateful for the opportunity I was given to lead the men and women who work in this office. They are the most extraordinary group of public servants I have ever known, and I am more than honored to have been their colleague."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
Magidson's release said, "It has been privilege and an honor to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. It has been a hallmark of my administration to ensure that our office lived up to the ideals of justice. The ability to everyday protect the interests of the United States has truly been a great blessing and a hallmark of my career. I am confident that our office will continue to live up to these ideals."


2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys, Reactions, Resignees
McQuade said, "I have loved serving in this job as much as anyone has ever loved any job. It has been an incredible privilege to work alongside public servants who devote their tremendous talents to improving the quality of life in our community. I am proud to have served as U.S. Attorney in the Obama Administration."


2017 draft Libyan constitution
The 2017 draft Libyan constitution is a draft of a constitution for Libya prepared by the Constitution Drafting Assembly of 60 people elected from around Libya in the 2014 Libyan Constitutional Assembly election.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Background
Following the overthrow of the Gaddafi government in the Libyan Civil War, the Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration was published by the Libyan National Transitional Council in August 2011, intended as a temporary constitution until a permanent one could be agreed upon.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Constitution Drafting Assembly
The High National Election Commission (HNEC) organised the 2014 Libyan Constitutional Assembly election of 60 representatives in February 2014, 20 from each of the Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan regions of Libya. The group of 60 people became known as the Constituent Assembly of Libya or Constitution Drafting Assembly.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution
In July 2017, the Constitution Drafting Assembly voted by a two-thirds majority in favour of a final draft constitution. The draft constitution defines a presidential system of government, with strong powers given to the president.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Presidential dominance
Article 100 provides for direct popular election of the president. Article 104(1) gives the president full power to choose a government. Article 113 gives the president to choose the prime minister arbitrarily without being constrained to members of parliament or to the political party with a parliamentary majority. Under Article 115, parliament requires a two-thirds majority to withdraw confidence from the government. Under Article 104(2), government policy is decided by the president, and implemented by the government. Zaid al-Ali interpreted Articles 67 and 109 to together "assume that it is parliament's responsibility to fall into line with the president".


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Wealth redistribution
Zaid al-Ali interpreted Chapters 8 and 9 of the draft constitution to lead to concentration of wealth in the hands of the president, including the control of natural resources.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Security services
Zaid al-Ali judged the lack of definition of intelligence services or constraints on their activities in the draft constitution risked the creation of multiple intelligence agencies with no civilian oversight. He judged the definitions of military and police hierarchies to have "serious problems with the chain of command".


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, States of emergency
Al-Ali viewed the 120-day limit on a state of emergency defined in the draft constitution as positive, "in keeping with [the] trend" of other post-2011 Arab constitutions. He expressed concern that parliament's approval is not required before a presidential declaration of a state of emergency comes into effect (as in the Iraqi constitution, as of 2017).


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Judiciary
Al-Ali judged the judiciary (in Articles including 118, 120, 125, 135 and 136) to be defined with a fair degree of independence from the president, but with a flaw in ambiguity regarding the membership and decision-making methods of the high judicial council.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Human rights
Al-Ali viewed the human rights elements of the draft constitution to lack details of how they would be enforced in courts in practice. He commended the "limitations clause" in Article 65, which limits state authorities from restricting any of the human rights declared in the constitution unless the restriction is "necessary, clear, limited, and proportional with the restrictions' objectives". According to al-Ali, only two other Arab countries at the time had this limitation (Tunisia, Article 49, and Yemen's draft constitution).


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Draft Constitution, Elections
Article 157 of the draft constitution states that the HNEC is responsible for organising elections.


2017 draft Libyan constitution, Support and opposition
The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) presented the draft to the House of Representatives (HoR) for endorsement. In February 2018, the HoR rejected the CDA's draft constitution and called instead to develop an amendment of the 1951 Constitution of the Kingdom of Libya. Earlier in February 2018, a legal case against the validity of the draft constitution proceeded to a hearing by the Supreme Court, which dismissed lower courts' decisions against the draft.


2017 elections in India
The elections in India in 2017 include the seven state legislative assembly elections.


2017 elections in India, Presidential election
A presidential election was held in India on 17 July 2017 before the term of the President Pranab Mukherjee ended. Ram Nath Kovind was declared the winner after the counting of votes which was held on 20 July 2017.


2017 elections in India, Vice Presidential election
A  Vice Presidential election were held in India on 5 August 2017 before the term of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari ends. Venkaiah Naidu was elected as the Vice President of India. Mr Naidu received 516 votes defeating the opposition's candidate, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who got 244 votes. A total of 771 out of 785 parliamentarians voted in the election. M Venkaiah Naidu's victory margin of 272 votes is the highest in a vice presidential election in the last three decades.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Punjab
Elections for the State assembly were held on 4 February 2017 with 75 per cent voter turnout. In Punjab all the 117 assembly constituencies have triangular contests between major parties makes the results uncertain.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Goa
Elections for the State assembly were held on 4 February 2017 with 83 per cent turnout. The BJP, MGP, GFP and two independents formed an alliance to win the election.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh
Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh were held between 11 February and 9 March 2017 in seven phases. Result was declared on 11 March 2017.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Uttarakhand
Elections for the State assembly were held on 15 February 2017 with a 65.64 per cent turnout. Result was declared on 11 March 2017.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Manipur
Assembly elections in Manipur were held on 4 March and 8 March 2017 in two phases. The result was declared on 11 March 2017.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Himachal Pradesh
Elections for the State assembly was held on 9 November 2017. Voting turnout recorded 74%, which is highest ever in the state. The results were declared on 18 December 2017. Over 0.9% of all voters in the election specified the 'None of the Above' option, which amounted to than 33,000 votes.


2017 elections in India, Legislative assembly elections, Gujarat
Elections for the State Assembly were held on 9 and 14 December 2017. The result was declared on 18 December 2017.


2017 electronics ban
The 2017 electronics ban was an order issued by the United States government in March 2017 banning electronics beyond the size of a mobile phone on carry-on luggage for direct flights departing from 10 major airports in the Middle East and traveling to the United States, and requiring airlines to enforce this ban. The order was issued based on intelligence that the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was planning on using batteries and compartments of large electronic equipment to conceal explosives that are not detectable by current aviation security scanners.


2017 electronics ban
The US government has been accused by the International Air Transport Association of implementing the ban more of as a protectionist measure to shield major US airlines from increasing competition of major airlines from the Middle East than for security reasons. The United Kingdom has issued a similar ban but covers a different range of airports and airlines, including low-cost airlines. US officials lifted the ban in July 2017, citing improved airport security.


2017 electronics ban, Background
According to an anonymous official quoted by The New York Times, Israeli hackers gathered intelligence from bombmakers in Syria. From this intelligence, the United States government believed that terrorists were trying to make explosives which resembled laptop batteries.


2017 electronics ban, Background
On 20 March 2017, Royal Jordanian tweeted that it was banning all electronics from being brought into the cabin. This tweet was later deleted. The next day, news surfaced that this action was part of a wider order by US officials implementing an electronics ban on airports and airlines flying out of Middle Eastern airports. Passengers were required to check in all electronic equipment bigger than a mobile phone. Flights that do not fly directly to the United States were not affected by the ban. US intelligence officials justified the order in reference to the risk that the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was developing explosives that would bypass scanners and metal detectors. Airlines were given until 24 March to implement the ban.


2017 electronics ban, Controversy
The ban has been controversial for two reasons. Firstly, the selective nature of the electronics ban has led to accusations by the International Air Transport Association and media commentators from the Sydney Morning Herald, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg and Straits Times that this was more of a veiled attempt to protectionist measure to shield major US airlines from increasing competition of major airlines from the Middle East than for security reasons.


2017 electronics ban, Controversy
The ban especially affected business travelers, who are unable to work during the flight and may be required by their companies to hold onto their equipment which otherwise may be at risk of getting stolen, damage, or hacked if they were to be checked in. Many of these travelers would rather travel through an airline not affected by the ban.


2017 electronics ban, Controversy
Secondly, there was a risk that putting electronics containing lithium batteries together in the cargo hold significantly increases the risk of fire, posing a safety risk to its passengers. Earlier, some airlines have banned batteries from being checked into the cargo hold after UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed due to an uncontained fire caused by lithium batteries.


2017 electronics ban, Controversy
Screening security at American airports has also been questioned, with suggestions that some American airports should also force passengers to put laptops and other electronics in the airplane hold until security at these airports improves.


2017 electronics ban, Airports subject to the US electronics ban
The electronics ban originally applied to ten airports served by eight Middle Eastern airlines and one Turkish airline. On 2 July 2017, the ban was lifted from Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi International Airport to the US. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Royal Jordanian, Egyptair, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Saudia soon followed suit and the bans were lifted on them. No airports are currently subject to the US electronics ban.


2017 electronics ban, Gradual lifting of the ban
Beginning July 2017, the United States introduced new security guidelines that was extended to all 105 countries. In addition, the United States also began to lift the existing ban on Middle Eastern airlines which it found was compliant with the new security guidelines.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals
The 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, also known as the November internationals, or autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were international rugby union matches in 2017.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals
Rugby Championship winners New Zealand travelled to France for two matches (one an uncapped XV match), Scotland and Wales. Argentina faced England, Ireland and Italy - with the latter two countries also hosting South Africa. The Springboks also faced their June test series opposition, France, whom they had beaten 3–0, before ending their tour in Wales, after the international window. Having beaten New Zealand in the third Bledisloe Cup Test match in October, Australia travelled to play Wales, England and Scotland, the latter of whom had beaten the Wallabies in Sydney during the June internationals.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals
Four Tier 2 nations faced Tier 1 opposition during the international window. Ireland and Italy hosted Fiji, the first time since 2009 for Ireland. England and Scotland played host to Samoa. France and Wales hosted historic matches against Tier 2 opposition, with Wales playing Georgia for the first time and France hosting Japan for the first time in the professional era; Japan's previous visit to France came in 1973. For Japan this was the third time in five years that they had played two Tier 1 opponents during the November tests, having already hosted Australia prior to their away match against France.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Tier 2 and Tier 3
After defeating Canada and the United States away earlier in the year, Georgia played host to the same opposition at home. Romania took on Pacific opposition, hosting Samoa, and playing Samoa, for the first time since 1989, before playing host to Tonga after losing for the first time against them in 2015. For the second year in a row, Spain faced Tier 2 opposition from outside of Europe, facing Canada in what was the first meeting since they first played in 2010. As in previous November internationals, travelling Tier 2 nations faced each other at neutral venues in Europe.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Tier 2 and Tier 3
This year saw Japan face Tonga in Toulouse, while Fiji faced Canada in Narbonne. With Uruguay's 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier play-offs taking place in February 2018, they embarked on a two-test series against Namibia as preparation. This was the first time since 2000 that the two nations has met, and the first time Namibia hosted the Los Teros.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Tier 2 and Tier 3
Having won their two-test series against Brazil in November 2015 and November 2016, Germany faced Brazil for the third year in a row, this time in a one-off test match. Germany later went on to face Chile and the United States, in what were historic first ever matches between the respective nations. Brazil also faced historic opposition, playing Belgium and Spain for the first time.


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Mike Fraser (New Zealand)Tim Baker (Hong Kong)Television match official:Ben Skeen (New Zealand)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Alexandre Ruiz (France)Craig Evans (Wales)Television match official:Neil Hennessy (Wales)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)Pierre Brousset (France)Television match official:Neil Paterson (Scotland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Paul Williams (New Zealand)George Clancy (Ireland)Television match official:Simon McDowell (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Nigel Owens (Wales)Dan Jones (Wales)Television match official:Olly Hodges (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Jaco Peyper (South Africa)Ian Tempest (England)Television match official:Graham Hughes (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Wayne Barnes (England)Ian Davies (Wales)Television match official:Rowan Kitt (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Matthew Carley (England)Tom Foley (England)Television match official:David Grashoff (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Glen Jackson (New Zealand)Pierre Brousset (France)Television match official:Brian MacNeice (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Shuhei Kubo (Japan)Sean Gallagher (Ireland)Television match official:Leo Colgan (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)George Clancy (Ireland)Television match official:Simon McDowell (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Dan Jones (Wales)Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)Television match official:Neil Paterson (Scotland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Pascal Gaüzère (France)Craig Evans (Wales)Television match official:Jon Mason (Wales)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Romain Poite (France)Ian Davies (Wales)Television match official:Graham Hughes (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Angus Gardner (Australia)Alexandre Ruiz (France)Television match official:David Grashoff (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Wayne Barnes (England)Tom Foley (England)Television match official:Rowan Kitt (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Adam Leal (England)Jonathan Healy (England)Television match official:Kevin Beggs (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:John Lacey (Ireland)Ben Whitehouse (Wales)Television match official:Eric Gauzins (France)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:JP Doyle (England)David Wilkinson (Ireland)Television match official:Graham Hughes (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Nigel Owens (Wales)Wayne Davies (Wales)Television match official:Simon McDowell (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Rhys Thomas (Wales)Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)Television match official:Stefano Penne (Italy)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Shuhei Kubo (Japan)Vlad Iordăchescu (Romania)Television match official:Brian MacNeice (Ireland)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Jérôme Garcès (France)Frank Murphy (Ireland)Television match official:Rowan Kitt (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Marius Mitrea (Italy)Mike Adamson (Scotland)Television match official:David Grashoff (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:George Clancy (Ireland)Joy Neville (Ireland)Television match official:Sean Davey (England)


2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Fixtures
Touch judges:Wayne Barnes (England)Frank Murphy (Ireland)Television match official:Rowan Kitt (England)


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
The 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards (or simply the iHeartRadio MMVAs) were held on June 18, 2017 outside 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was hosted by Joe Jonas and Alessia Cara. Initial announcements were made on April 26, 2017.


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
Highlights of the broadcast included a red carpet ceremony where Marianas Trench marked their 10th year at the MMVAs by arriving covered in dozens of colourful balloons. Lead singer Josh Ramsay emerged from a cardboard cake dressed in a faux whip cream bikini.


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
During the opening monologue Joe Jonas, who hosted the show eight years earlier with the Jonas Brothers, referenced the pending legalization of marijuana in Canada saying, "This time next year it will be completely legal for Canadians to be blem for real,'' referring to the Drake song "Blem" which uses slang for getting high.


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
The broadcast also had recurring themes of diversity and acceptance brought up by numerous presenters and winners. When indigenous group A Tribe Called Red won video of the year for "R.E.D.'' guest rapper Narcy spoke out about representation. He told the crowd,


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
To all the black, brown, indigenous, immigrant, international kids out there: believe in your dreams, make it happen.


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, Winners & Nominees
Wildcard nominees were announced on May 3, 2017. The full list of nominees was published on May 18, 2017.


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, Winners & Nominees, Video of the Year
A Tribe Called Red (featuring Yasiin Bey, Narcy & Black Bear) — "R.E.D."


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, Winners & Nominees, Best Post-Production
Sleepy Tom (featuring Tonye) — "Seeing Double" (Post-production: Matt Bilewicz, Zhargal Sambuev, Farah Yusuf, Sean Evans, Ryan Ruskay & Fezz Stenton)


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, Winners & Nominees, Best Director
A Tribe Called Red (featuring Black Bear) — "Stadium Pow Wow" (Director: Kevan Funk)


2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, Winners & Nominees, Best Rock/Alternative Video
The Tragically Hip — "In A World Possessed By the Human Mind"


2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards
The 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held on March 5, 2017 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The list of nominations was announced on January 3, 2017. Drake received the most nominations with fifteen categories, followed by The Chainsmokers with twelve.


2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Winners & nominees
The nominees were announced on January 3, 2017. Winners are highlighted in boldface.


2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Category mistake
The day of the ceremony, Zayn was incorrectly announced as the winner for the Best Music Video category, and he accepted the award. The error was not caught until the next day, when the actual winner, Fifth Harmony, was announced on the iHeartRadio's official Twitter account. Zayn was then announced as the winner of the category "Best Solo Breakout".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists
On 17 August 2017, three Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, Alex Chow, Nathan Law and Joshua Wong, were given prison sentences by the Court of Appeal for their roles in a protest at the Civic Square in front of the Central Government Complex in Tamar, Admiralty, on 26 and 27 September 2014. The events at the Civic Square helped set off massive pro-democracy protests, sometimes referred to as the Umbrella Movement, which lasted until police cleared the last of the protest sites in December 2014.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists
The three had originally been convicted and ordered to perform community service or, in the case of Chow, given a suspended sentence. The government appealed their sentences and successfully pursued harsher punishments on the grounds that their crime involved a large-scale unlawful assembly with a high risk of violence. The trio's imprisonment was applauded by the pro-Beijing camp but decried by pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong as well as international politicians and human rights advocates, who have called the activists Hong Kong's first prisoners of conscience, and alleged that the sentence is intended to intimidate other would-be activists.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists
The sentence also disqualifies the three from running for office for five years, quashing their political aspirations in the near future. Wong had previously sought election but was barred due to his age, while Law, democratically elected to the Legislative Council in September 2016, was removed from office in July 2017 following a government challenge.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists
The three activists were released on 6 February 2018 after a successful appeal against their custodial sentences at the Court of Final Appeal.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Activists
Wong, Law, and Chow have been prominent democracy activists for several years. Joshua Wong, now a student at the Open University of Hong Kong, co-founded Scholarism in 2011. Scholarism gained prominence as one of several civil society organisations that protested against the "Moral and National Education" curriculum, proposed by the Education Bureau. He subsequently participated in the Umbrella Movement and then co-founded a political party, Demosistō, in 2016.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Activists
Nathan Law is an undergraduate student at Lingnan University as well as the incumbent chairman of Demosistō. He previously occupied various leadership positions in the Lingnan University Students' Union and served as Secretary General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. During the 2016 Legislative Council election Law ran under the Demosistō banner in the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency and was elected, becoming the youngest-ever elected legislator in Hong Kong. On 14 July 2017, Law became one of six pro-democracy legislators removed from office due to legal action by the Hong Kong Government regarding their manners during the oath-taking ceremony.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Activists
Alex Chow is a University of Hong Kong student, a former vice-president of the Hong Kong University Students' Union, and a former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. He was one of the early organisers of the Umbrella Movement.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Political context
The Chief Executive is the head of the Government of Hong Kong. Article 45 of Hong Kong's constitution, the Basic Law, stipulates that the "ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures". Following the transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the pro-democratic camp pushed for the election of the chief executive in 2007 through universal suffrage.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Political context
On 26 April 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), a mainland Chinese legislative body, ruled out the possibility that universal suffrage would be allowed in 2007. In 2007, the NPCSC ruled out the 2012 election of the legislature and chief executive through universal suffrage, but stated that the Legislative Council and the chief executive could be elected through universal suffrage in 2016 and 2017, respectively.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, Political context
However, democratic aspirations stalled on 31 August 2014, when the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing made a decision that chief executive candidates in 2017 would be required to "love the country and love Hong Kong"; that all candidates would be screened by a nominating committee of a composition paralleling the existing Election Committee, which is dominated by pro-Beijing interests; and that any chief executive elected through these means would then have to be appointed by the Chinese government. The decision was intensely decried by the pan-democratic camp, who said the arrangement would not amount to genuine democracy.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, 2014 Civic Square protests
The incident which led to the sentencing took place in the forecourt of the East Wing of the Central Government Complex, known more commonly as the Civic Square. The new government headquarters was opened in 2011, and was designed under the concept of "Door Always Open" by architect Rocco Yim to symbolise the pride that Hong Kongers take in "openness and transparency of governance". In keeping with this design concept, the Civic Square was originally open to the public when the new government headquarters was inaugurated in 2011.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, 2014 Civic Square protests
The square became a popular site for political demonstrations. In mid-2014, several protests were held there against plans for the development of new towns in the northeastern New Territories. In response, around 16 July 2014 work began on a permanent three-metre high metal fence, closing off the Civic Square from Tim Mei Avenue. The Hong Kong government stated that the barrier was a necessary security measure while others stated that the move ran contrary to Hong Kong people's right to freedom of assembly, which is codified in the Basic Law. The government responded that protests would be allowed in the square on public holidays if the director of the Administration Wing consented in advance. Other areas of the complex were fortified at the same time as the Civic Square.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, 2014 Civic Square protests
Concurrently with the fortification of the square, the government's controversial democratic reform proposals, coupled with the 831 decision, were triggering discontent and protests. On 22 September 2014, students launched a week-long class boycott campaign, coupled with demonstrations at the government complex. At around 22:30 on 26 September 2014, protesting students scaled the fence that had been erected in July in an attempt to "retake" the Civic Square. Police managed to regain control of the square, and kettled dozens of protesters on the circular base of the flagpoles, where they were denied access to water and the toilet.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, 2014 Civic Square protests
At the same time, a large number of protesters amassed outside the Civic Square. The square was cleared by police by the end of the following day, with more than 60 people arrested. Wong, Chow, and Law were among those arrested. Four police officers were injured, one of them suffered a deep wound by an umbrella, and eleven security staff at the government complex were also injured.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Background, 2014 Civic Square protests
The incident immediately helped kick off the 2014 Hong Kong protests, also known as the Umbrella Movement, which saw the motorway in front of the government complex, Harcourt Road, occupied by protesters until 11 December 2016.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Initial sentencing
On 21 July 2016, the Eastern Magistrates' Court found Wong and Chow guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly, while Law was found guilty of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly. These were the first criminal convictions for all three. Wong was cleared of a charge of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Initial sentencing
On 15 August 2016, the three were sentenced. Wong was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service, while Law was sentenced to 120 hours. Chow was sentenced to three weeks in prison with a one-year suspension to allow him to continue his education at the London School of Economics as planned.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Initial sentencing
Immediately following the sentencing, Law said that they respected the decision of the court, and alleged that the Public Order Ordinance was "suppressing [their] freedoms to assemble and protest".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Appeal and additional sentence
The Department of Justice disagreed with the sentencing. In September 2016 it requested a review of the sentences, arguing that the community service sentence was "clearly not enough" as the three "[did] not feel true remorse".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Appeal and additional sentence
A review hearing was held on 21 September 2016, where the magistrate stated that the original sentencing and reasoning was sufficient, and that the department had "failed to provide sufficient evidence for the necessity of a tougher sentence". The department had compared the activists to gangsters, which the presiding magistrate, June Cheung, said was unfair as they were expressing their political beliefs. She stated that there were precedents for non-custodial sentences in similar cases, and dismissed the bid to impose harsher sentences on the three.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Appeal and additional sentence
In October 2016, the Court of Appeal agreed to hear a government appeal against the original sentence.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Appeal and additional sentence
On 17 August 2017, the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of all three and enhanced their sentences by imposing six and seven-month prison terms on Wong and Chow, respectively, and sentencing Law to eight months in jail, removing the suspension. The judges found that the case involved a large-scale unlawful assembly with a high risk of violence, and the crimes were serious, calling for deterrent custodial sentences.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Legal action, Appeal and additional sentence
The sentencing prevented the activists from running for public office in the next five years. Law was previously an elected legislator, while Wong had expressed a desire to seek election in the future, having been unable to run in the 2016 LegCo election for not meeting the minimum age qualification.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Imprisonment
Wong was sent to Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a maximum security facility for male prisoners below the age of 21.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Imprisonment
Law and Chow were being held at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre pending their transfer to prison. On 22 August 2017, Law was moved to the medium-security Tong Fuk Correctional Institution on Ma Po Ping Road on Lantau Island, while Chow was moved to the low-security Pik Uk Prison on Clear Water Bay Road, near Sai Kung, to serve their sentences.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Domestic
The sentence received mixed reactions in Hong Kong. Political figures from the pro-democratic camp and civil rights activists criticised the sentence for being disproportionately long, the Secretary for Justice for appealing the sentence, and the sitting judges for not considering the act committed by Wong, Law and Chow as civil disobedience that would result in a mitigated sentence. On the contrary, pro-establishment politicians welcomed the sentence. The legal profession has also responded to allegations by the media that the Hong Kong judiciary had been influenced or controlled by the Communist Party of China through the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, stating that there is no indication of such influence.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Domestic
Upon the sentencing, Joshua Wong wrote in a series of tweets that the sentence will not halt the activism for universal suffrage and democracy, or "win the hearts and minds of Hong Kongers". Other pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong also criticised the court decision. Academic Benny Tai at The University of Hong Kong, who also faces prosecution for his role in the 2014 protests, stated that civil disobedience to "challenge the law or acts of injustice by the government" is a necessary part of a civilised society.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Domestic
There was also criticism against sentence appeal made by the Secretary of Justice. Lawyer Wilson Leung expressed on behalf of the Progressive Lawyers Group that "we strongly disagree with the government treating political problems as ‘law and order’ problems and focusing on the prosecution of protestors." Former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association and Civic Party politician Alan Leong commented that the appeal was "certainly politically motivated". Another former Bar Association chairman Paul Shieh noted however that there is insufficient evidence suggesting that political considerations were involved. Shieh also called on the Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen to explain the reasons behind the appeal so as to increase the transparency of the decision to appeal.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Domestic
The League of Social Democrats held a rally against the decision outside the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on the evening of 18 August 2017. Several different organisations held a public protest march on 20 August 2017, which started at the Southorn Playground and ended with a rally at the Court of Final Appeal Building. Protesters focused their criticism on Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, following reports that he ignored the advice of top prosecutors in pursuing the appeal.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Domestic
On the other hand, members of the pro-Beijing camp applauded the prison sentences. Starry Lee, chairwoman of Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said that the three "paid the price" for disobeying the law. DAB vice-chairman Holden Chow called unlawful assembly a "serious crime" and said that a heavy punishment was necessary to deter others. Pro -Beijing activist Robert Chow asked rhetorically: "who worked behind the scenes to poison and brainwash Wong, Law, and Chow, along with thousands of young people, to make them delight in seeing the country and Hong Kong as enemies, in having made Hongkongers suffer for the last three years?"


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Mainland China
An editorial in the Chinese state newspaper Global Times stated, "This sentence will be a milestone in Hong Kong's governance. From now on people who protest violently can be given a guilty sentence following this precedent, and they will need to go to jail".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Mainland China
Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated:


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Mainland China
No one shall engage in illegal and violent activities under the pretext of "democracy" or "freedom". The court of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region made the judgment of the relevant case on the basis of facts and in accordance with Hong Kong's law. I would like to reaffirm that Hong Kong is a Special Administration Region of China and Hong Kong's affairs belong to China's internal affairs. The Chinese side firmly opposes any external forces' interference in the affairs and judicial independence of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, International
The Taiwanese government expressed its "deep regret" over the jail sentences, and reiterated Taiwan's "long-standing stance to support Hong Kong people to pursue democracy, freedom, the rule of law and human rights". The Democratic Progressive Party stated that "graver suppression will only spark more resistance", while a government spokesman stated that "Hong Kong authorities should take seriously the fact that Hong Kong people want to be able to choose their own way of life and political regime."


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, International
Nancy Pelosi, leader of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives, called the ruling an injustice that should "shock the conscience of the world". She described the prison sentence as an "egregious decision", and that the resulting disqualification of Wong, Law and Chow to run for public office was unjust. She also regarded the sentence to be against "the basic notions of freedom and democracy".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, International
A group of 25 international figures released a joint statement describing the imprisonment as "outrageously unjust". The signatories called the Umbrella Movement "one of the most peaceful and restrained movements of public protest the world has ever seen" and wrote that the sentencing amounted to "an outrageous miscarriage of justice, a death knell for Hong Kong’s rule of law and basic human rights, and a severe blow to the principles of 'One Country, Two Systems'".


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, International
The statement was signed by eminent politicians, human rights activists, and ex-political prisoners including David Alton, Paddy Ashdown, Sonja Biserko, Charles Maung Bo, Fiona Bruce, John Dayal, Andrew Khoo, David Kilgour, John McCarthy, Mohamed Nasheed, Geoffrey Nice, Consiglio Di Nino, Grover Rees III, Malcolm Rifkind, Janelle Saffin, Charles Santiago, Chris Smith, Charles Tannock, Alissa Wahid, and Zarganar. The group also questioned whether punishing the activists twice (as Wong, Law, and Chow had already served their initial community service orders) contraveneds provisions against double jeopardy in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, International
In September 2017, Hong Kong slipped five places in the judicial independence category of the latest global competitiveness ranking compiled by the Geneva-based non-profit organisation World Economic Forum.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Academics
Eric Cheung, a faculty member at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, questioned why the Court of Appeal decision described the defendants' actions as "seriously violent" while earlier the Eastern Magistracy had cleared the trio of committing any acts of violence. He stated that there did not seem to be any evidence presented that the three committed violence, and questioned whether the Court of Appeal had effected a "substantial and grave injustice". He said there were grounds for the three to appeal the ruling to the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong's court of last resort.


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Human rights organisations
Various human rights organisations also spoke against the sentencing. A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch stated that the effort to put the trio in jail was "not about public order, but is instead a craven political move to keep the trio out of the Legislative Council, as well as deter future protests." Similarly, Mabel Au, a spokeswoman for Amnesty International Hong Kong, commented, "the relentless and vindictive pursuit of student leaders using vague charges smacks of political payback by the authorities."


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Reactions, Human rights organisations
Maya Wang, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, stated: "This is a watershed moment for Hong Kong. It now has political prisoners ... For anyone thinking of protesting, the prospect of a harsh jail sentence will now loom over them."


2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, Other jailings
This article focuses on the three most well-known activists to be jailed in 2017. The high-profile imprisonment of Wong, Law, and Chow spurred some Hong Kong media outlets to compile lists of all individuals who have been imprisoned for allegedly political reasons. On 15 August 2017, 13 protesters who stormed the Legislative Council building in June 2014 (during a protest against the planned North East New Territories new towns) were handed prison sentences of eight to 13 months after a similar push by the Department of Justice for more severe sentences than the community service orders originally imposed.


2017 in AFC
The year 2017 is the 8th year in the history of Australian Fighting Championship (AFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in Australia. In 2017 AFC held 4 events.


2017 in AFC, AFC 21
AFC 21 was an event meant to be held on 28 October 2017, at AFC Arena in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The event was cancelled and instead was held on 28 October 2017, at Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia.


2017 in AFC, AFC 20
AFC 20 was an event held on 28 July 2017, at Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia.


2017 in AFC, AFC 19
AFC 19 was an event held on 15 April 2017, at AFC Arena in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.


2017 in AFC, AFC 18
AFC 18 was an event held on 14 April 2017, at AFC Arena in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut
The year 2017 is the 5th year in the history of the Absolute Championship Berkut, a mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion based in Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson
Absolute Championship Berkut 51: Silva vs. Torgeson was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on January 13, 2017 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California United States.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson, Background
This event featured a world title fight for the vacant ACB Light Heavyweight Championship between Thiago Silva and Jared Ferguson as headliner.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson, Background
A Heavyweight bout between Michal Andryszak and Mike Kyle was scheduled for this card. However, the fight was cancelled due to visa problem sustained by Andryszak.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting
Absolute Championship Berkut 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on January 21, 2017 at the Hallmann dome in Vienna, Austria.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting, Background
6 fighters from Russia, who were to perform at the ACB 52 tournament in Vienna, have not been able to participate due to visa problems.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting, Background
The fight between Patrik Kincl and Arbi Agujev was originally a 2nd-round TKO win by Kincl. The fight was overturned in a No Contest by the ACB official, because the referee stopped the fight too soon.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting, Background
The fight between João Luis Nogueira and Shamil Nikaev was originally a unanimous decision win by Nogueira. The judges decision was Overturned in a No Contest by the ACB official.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 53: Young Eagles 15
Absolute Championship Berkut 53: Young Eagles 15 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on February 18, 2017 at the Hala Urania in Olsztyn, Poland.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 54: Supersonic
Absolute Championship Berkut 54: Supersonic was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on March 11, 2017 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 54: Supersonic, Background
This event featured a Champion vs. Champion fight between The KSW Middleweight Champion Mamed Khalidov and the Venator FC Middleweight Champion Luke Barnatt as headliner, Also the event was originally scheduled to be co-headlined by a welterweight title fight between Brett Cooper and Aslambek Saidov. However, on February 14, it was announced that Cooper had to withdraw from his first title defense due to serious health issues. Saidov  has faced ACB newcomer Ion Pascu. Lightweight Pat Healy and light heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes both suffered injuries in the lead up to the event, and they will no longer participate in the event.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 55: Dushanbe
Absolute Championship Berkut 55: Dushanbe was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on March 24, 2017 at the Tax Committee Sports Center in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 55: Dushanbe, Background
Gamzat Khiramagomedov was injured during the preparation for his fight and was forced to withdraw from his match against Will Noland.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 55: Dushanbe, Background
Evgeniy Lazukov was injured and couldn't participate in his Fight against Muin Gafurov, and was subsequently replaced by Georgian fighter Beno Adamia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 55: Dushanbe, Background
Donald Sanchez and Abdul-Rahman Temirov has to withdraw due to injury, Yusuf Raisov and valdines Silva will now face each other in the co-main event of the evening.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB KB 9: Showdown in Paris
Absolute Championship Berkut Kickboxing 9: Showdown in Paris was a kickboxing event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on March 25, 2017  at the Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan in Paris, France.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 56: Young Eagles 16
Absolute Championship Berkut 56: Young Eagles 16 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on April 1, 2017  in Minsk, Belarus.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback
Absolute Championship Berkut 57: Payback was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on April 15, 2017 at the Luzhniki Palace of Sports in Moscow, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback, Background
This event featured the highly anticipated rematch for the ACB Bantamweight Championship between Magomed Magomedov and Petr Yan as headliner.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback, Background
The title fight between Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov and. Andrey Koshkin is off. The Bout will be Rescheduled to ACB 61 due to Abdulvakhabov knee injury.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback, Background
Matheus Mattos will replace Tural Ragimov in fight against Magomed Ginazov.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback, Background
Albert Duraev is out due to Illness, Ibragim Chuzhigaev will step in as a short notice replacement against Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 57: Payback, Background
Konstantin Erokhin is out due to injury, Georgy Sakaev will step in as a short notice replacement against Azamat Murzakanov.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 58: Young Eagles 17
Absolute Championship Berkut 58: Young Eagles 17 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on April 22, 2017 at the Gamid Gamidov Palace of Sports in Khasavyurt, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 59: Young Eagles 18
Absolute Championship Berkut 59: Young Eagles 18 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on April 29, 2017 at the Palace of sports "Manege" in Vladikavkaz, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 59: Young Eagles 18
Mairbek Khasiev canceled this event. The reason was racist problems between Chechens and Ossetians. Greater likelihood of conflict.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 60: Aguev vs. Devent
Absolute Championship Berkut 60: Aguev vs. Devent was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on May 13, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 61: Balaev vs. Bataev
Absolute Championship Berkut 61: Balaev vs. Bataev was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on May 20, 2017  in Saint Petersburg, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 61: Balaev vs. Bataev, Background
The bout between Ilya Shcheglov (5-1) and Wallyson Carvalho (8-2) is canceled due to Shcheglov's injury.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 61: Balaev vs. Bataev, Background
The fight between Andrei Koshkin and Eduard Vartanyan was canceled due to Vartanyan's injury.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 59: Young Eagles 18
Absolute Championship Berkut 59:  Young Eagles 18 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on May 25, 2017  in Grozny, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz
Absolute Championship Berkut 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on June 17, 2017  in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz, Background
The fight between Igor Fernandes and Michail Tsarev was canceled due to Tsarev's injury.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz, Background
Adam Townsend was slated to make his ACB debut in this event against Alexandr Shabily. Unfortunately, Townsend came in on the scales at 162 lbs. The bout against Shabily was canceled.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 63: Celiński vs. Magalhaes
Absolute Championship Berkut 63: Celiński vs. Magalhaes was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on July 1, 2017  in Gdańsk, Poland.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB KB 10: Russia vs. China
Absolute Championship Berkut Kickboxing 10: Russia vs. China was a kickboxing event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on July 15, 2017  at Izmailovo Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 64: Young Eagles 19
Absolute Championship Berkut 64: Young Eagles 19 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on July 19, 2017  at the Antalya Arena Spor Salonu in Antalya, Turkey.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 65: Silva vs. Agnaev
Absolute Championship Berkut 65: Silva vs. Agnaev was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on July 22, 2017  at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 65: Silva vs. Agnaev, Background
The event will be the second that the promotion have host in California, U.S. and first since ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson in January 2017.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 66: Young Eagles 20
Absolute Championship Berkut 66: Young Eagles 20 was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on August 5, 2017 at the Sports Hall Coliseum in Grozny, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 67: Cooper vs. Berkhamov
Absolute Championship Berkut 67: Cooper vs. Berkhamov will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on August 19, 2017  in Grozny, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 68: Young Eagles 21
Absolute Championship Berkut 68: Young Eagles 21 will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on August 26, 2017 at the Tax Committee Sports Center in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 69: Young Eagles 22
Absolute Championship Berkut 69: Young Eagles 22 will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on September 9, 2017 at the Almaty Arena in Almaty, Kazakhstan.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 70: The Battle of Britain
Absolute Championship Berkut 70: The Battle of Britain will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on September 23, 2017vat the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 70: The Battle of Britain, Background
Regis Sugden is forced out through injury, Richard Herbert steps in to face Jordan Barton.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 71: Yan vs. Mattos
Absolute Championship Berkut 71: Yan vs. Mattos will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on September 30, 2017 at the Dynamo Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 71: Yan vs. Mattos, Background
Mukhamed Kokov and Said-Khamzat Avkhadov didn't make weight. Alexnder Peduson and Akop Stepanyan refused to accept bouts, both fight were canceled.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB KB 11 / Wu Lin Feng
Absolute Championship Berkut KB 11 / Wu Lin Feng was a kickboxing event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on October 7, 2017 at the Henan TV Studio 8 in Zhengzhou, China.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 72: Makovsky vs. Sherbatov
Absolute Championship Berkut 72: Makovsky vs. Sherbatov will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on October 14, 2017 at the Tohu in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 73: Silva vs. Makoev
Absolute Championship Berkut 73: Silva vs. Makoev will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on October 21, 2017 at the Miécimo da Silva Sports Complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB KB 12: Warriors Of Light
Absolute Championship Berkut KB 12: Warriors Of Light will be a kickboxing event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on November 10, 2017 at the Marriott Congress Center in Los Angeles, California, United States.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 74: Aguev vs. Townsend
Absolute Championship Berkut 74: Aguev vs. Townsend will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut at the Wiener Stadthalle on November 18, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 74: Aguev vs. Townsend, Background
ACB 74 was supposed to hold event in Dubau, United Arab Emirates but for unknown reasons was moved to Vienna, Austria.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 75: Gadzhidaudov vs. Zieliński
Absolute Championship Berkut 75: Gadzhidaudov vs. Zieliński was a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on November 25, 2017 at the Carl Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 75: Gadzhidaudov vs. Zieliński, Background
Dennis Siver was set to make his ACB debut, but withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Beslan Isaev, Rasul Shovkhalov, and Shamil Shakbulatov were denied entry to Germany. So they were also removed from the card.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 76: Young Eagles 23
Absolute Championship Berkut 76: Young Eagles 23 will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on December 9, 2017 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gold Coast, Australia.


2017 in Absolute Championship Berkut, ACB 77: Abdulvakhabov vs. Vartanyan 2
Absolute Championship Berkut 77: Abdulvakhabov vs. Vartanyan 2 will be a mixed martial arts event held by Absolute Championship Berkut on December 23, 2017 at the Luzhniki Palace of Sports in Moscow, Russia.


2017 in Albania
The following lists events in the year 2017 in Albania.


2017 in American music
The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2017 in music in the United States.


2017 in American soccer
The 2017 season was the 105th season of competitive soccer in the United States.


2017 in American soccer, National teams, Men's, Senior
Goals are current as of November 14, 2017, after match against  Portugal.


2017 in American soccer, National teams, Women's, Senior
Goals are current as of November 12, 2017 after match against  Canada.


2017 in American soccer, Club competitions, Men's, League Competitions
Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, the Supporters' Shield trophy, seeding in the 2018 Canadian Championship, and 2018 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying for the playoffs.


2017 in American soccer, Club competitions, Men's, League Competitions
As Toronto FC won MLS Cup 2017, one of the U.S. berths for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League had to be reallocated, to the U.S. non-champions with the best aggregate record over the 2017 and 2018 MLS regular seasons. As the top ranked team in the table, Atlanta United FC, also qualified for the Champions League by winning MLS Cup 2018, the Champions League spot via the aggregate table was instead awarded to the second-placed team, the New York Red Bulls.


2017 in American television
The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2017. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, and cancellations; channel launches, closures, and re-brandings; stations changing or adding their network affiliations; and information about controversies and carriage disputes.


2017 in American television, Television programs, Programs returning in 2017
The following shows returned with new episodes or reruns after being canceled or having ended their run previously:


2017 in American television, Television programs, Entering syndication this year
A list of programs (current or canceled) that have accumulated enough episodes (between 65 and 100) or seasons (three or more) to be eligible for off-network syndication and/or basic cable runs.


2017 in Angola
This article lists events from the year 2017 in Angola.


2017 in Argentina
The following lists events that happened in Argentina in 2017.


2017 in Argentine television
The following is a list of events affecting Argentine television in 2017.


2017 in Armenia
The following lists events in the year 2017 in Armenia.


2017 in Australia
The following lists events that happened during 2017 in Australia.


2017 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2017.


2017 in Australian literature, Awards and honours
Note: these awards were presented in the year in question.


2017 in Australian music
The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in 2017 in music in Australia.


2017 in Australian television
This is a list of Australian television-related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2017, the 62nd year of continuous operation of television in Australia.


2017 in Australian television, Programming changes, Changes to network affiliation
Criteria for inclusion in the following list is that Australian premiere episodes will air in Australia for the first time on a new channel. This includes when a program is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a program moves between subscription television channels – provided the preceding criteria is met. Ended television series which change networks for repeat broadcasts are not included in the list.


2017 in Australian television, Programming changes, Free-to-air premieres
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian free-to-air television that had previously premiered on Australian subscription television. Programs may still air on the original subscription television network.


2017 in Australian television, Programming changes, Subscription premieres
This is a list of programs which made their debut on Australian subscription television, having previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air (first or repeat) on the original free-to-air television network.


2017 in Australian television, Programming changes, Returning programs
Australian produced programs which are returning with a new season after being absent from television from the previous calendar year.


2017 in BRACE
The year 2017 was the ninth year in the history of BRACE, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 52
Brace 52 was an event held on November 11, 2017, at AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 51
Brace 51 was an event held on October 28, 2017, at Big Top Luna Park in Sydney, Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 50
Brace 50 was an event held on May 13, 2017, at Township Auditorium in Townsville, Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 49
Brace 49 was an event held on April 8, 2017, at AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 47
Brace 47 was an event held on March 18, 2017, at Big Top Luna Park in Sydney, Australia.


2017 in BRACE, Brace 46
Brace 46 was expected to be held  on March 4, 2017, at RSL Southport in Gold Coast, Australia, and it was cancelled.


2017 in Bangladesh
2017 (MMXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2017th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 17th  year of the 3rd millennium, the 17th  year of the 21st century, and the  8th   year of the 2010s decade.


2017 in Bangladesh
The year 2017 was the 46th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the fourth year of the third term of the Government of Sheikh Hasina.


2017 in Bangladesh, Economy
Note: For the year 2017 average official exchange rate for BDT was 78.47 per US$.


2017 in Bangladesh, Events, Awards and Recognitions, Independence Day Award
The award was given to fifteen people and an organization.


2017 in Barbados
This article lists events from the year 2017 in Barbados.


2017 in Belarus
The following lists events in the year 2017 in Belarus.


2017 in Bellator MMA
2017 in Bellator MMA was the tenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 26 events in 2017.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Background
This year, Bellator announced their first MMA event to be held in New York: Bellator NYC. The event would also mark the Bellator debuts of former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, calling his first card on Spike TV since 2011 (which was the televised portion of Bellator NYC, referred to as Bellator 180), and former Strikeforce commentator Mauro Ranallo.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 170
Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen  took place on January 21, 2017 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV, drawing 1.4 million viewers.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 170
On October 18, 2016, it was announced that former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz and UFC veteran Chael Sonnen would headline this event. Sonnen owns career wins over the likes of Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt, Brian Stann, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Maurício Rua and former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping. Ortiz is a UFC Hall of Famer and one of the most decorated champions in UFC history. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" signed with Bellator in 2013 and has gone 2–1 with the promotion. He has wins over the likes of Alexander Shlemenko, Stephan Bonnar, Wanderlei Silva, Ken Shamrock and Forrest Griffin.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 170
A women's bout between Rebecca Ruth and Colleen Schneider was initially announced for this card. However, the bout never came to fruition for undisclosed reasons and Ruth was replaced by Chrissie Daniels


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 171
Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani was held on January 27, 2017 at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 171
The event was headlined by catchweight at 179 pounds bout between UFC veteran Melvin Guillard and Chidi Njokuani.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 171
The co-main event featured a lightweight bout between local favorite David Rickels and Aaron Derrow.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 171
Additionally, prospects and former collegiate heavyweight wrestling stars Jarod Trice and Tyrell Fortune were featured on the undercard. Trice, a three-time All-American wrestler at Central Michigan University, faced Kevin Woltkamp. Fortune, a former NCAA Division 2 champion, faced Will Johnson.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 172
Bellator 172: Thomson vs. Pitbull aired on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 172
The event was scheduled to be headlined by heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko against former UFC veteran Matt Mitrione. Emelianenko retired in 2012, but ultimately returned to the sport in 2015. This will be Emelianenko's first fight in the U.S. since 2011. Mitrione, a 38-year-old former NFL player has scored back-to-back knockout victories since joining Bellator over Carl Seumanutafa and Oli Thompson. Hours before the event, the fight was cancelled due to Mitrione becoming ill. As a result, Josh Thomson vs. Patricky Freire was moved up to the main event.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 173
Bellator 173: McGeary vs. McDermott was held on February 24, 2017 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 173
The event was originally scheduled to be headlined by a bout between Liam McGeary and Chris Fields. However, on February 20, it was announced that Fields had to withdraw from the match due to injury. The initial replacement for Fields was announced as Bellator newcomer Vladimir Filipovic. However, Filipovic also was pulled from the bout due to visa issues. McGeary eventually faced Bellator newcomer Brett McDermott.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 173
The event was a dual promotion event as Bellator's card was co-promoted with BAMMA 28.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 174
Bellator 174: Coenen vs. Budd was held on March 3, 2017 at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 174
The main event featured Marloes Coenen versus Julia Budd for the inaugural Bellator women's featherweight title. This was the first time a woman's bout has headlined a Bellator card.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 174
Kendall Grove was originally scheduled to face Chris Honeycutt at this event. However, Honeycutt was removed from the bout on February 28 and replaced by three-time UFC veteran and Bellator newcomer Mike Rhodes. Rhodes then failed to make weight and the fight was cancelled.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 174
Joe Taimanglo was scheduled to face Steve Garcia on this card. However, the fight was removed from the card after Taimanglo missed weight.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 175
Bellator 175: Rampage vs. King Mo 2 was held on March 31, 2017 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV.


2017 in Bellator MMA, Bellator 175
The event was headlined by Heavyweight bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson against former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal.