April 17, 2005 (Sunday)
- A major breakthrough in the study of ancient Greek and Roman texts may lead to the revelation of hundreds of lost comedies, tragedies and epic poems. Using an infrared technique originally developed for satellite imaging, classicists at Oxford University, in the past four days alone, have made a series of new discoveries from Oxyrhynchus, including writings by Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod and other literary giants. It may also be used to reveal lost Christian gospels. (The Independent), (Blogger News Network)
- Over one hundred thousand people throughout Indonesia have taken part in anti-Israeli and anti-American protests. The protest was organised by the Prosperous Justice Party in order to show Muslim unity regarding the Al Aqsa Mosque. (Herald Sun), (Guardian), (Jerusalem Post)
- Privacy groups in the United Kingdom along with opposition Liberal Democrats decry fingerprint passports as 'ID card by stealth'. (Telegraph) Archived 2008-04-18 at the Wayback Machine (Wikinews) (Guardian) (Telegraph)[permanent dead link]
- Marla Ruzicka, a US activist and aid worker, is killed by a car bomb in Iraq. (CIVIC Worldwide) (Guardian)
- 12 people die and 15 are injured when a coach plunges into a ravine near the Great St. Bernard Pass in Switzerland. (Swissinfo) (BBC)
- In the Comoros Islands, the volcano Mount Karthala begins to erupt, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee. (Reuters)[permanent dead link] (CNN)
- Seven people die in clashes between supporters of rival political factions prior to the forthcoming Togolese presidential election. (Reuters AlertNet) (ReliefWeb) (BBC)
- Turkish Cypriots elect Mehmet Ali Talat as their new president. Talat endorses unification of Cyprus and membership in the European Union. (Reuters)[permanent dead link] (Turkish Weekly) (Guardian)
- 100 supporters of the Party of the Democratic Revolution protest outside the ranch of Mexican president Vicente Fox. They protest against the trial of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, popular mayor of Mexico City. (El Universal, Mexico) (Reuters) Archived 2005-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- The Basque National Party of Juan José Ibarretxe wins regional elections in the Basque autonomous region of Spain but votes to EHAK, the Communist Party of Basque Lands, denies them majority. EHAK may have gained votes of supporters of banned Herri Batasuna party. Results may threaten Ibarratxe's plans for autonomy. (EITB) (Reuters) Archived 2005-04-18 at the Wayback Machine (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Jörg Haider launches his new party, Alliance for Austria's Future. (Deutsche Welle)
- Negotiations in Helsinki between the government of Indonesia and Free Aceh Movement end "constructively", according to mediator Martti Ahtisaari. Talks are scheduled to continue in May. (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Students at the University at Albany in Albany, New York set the record for the world's largest pillow fight with 3,648 participants, observed by Guinness Records officials. (Albany.edu)