Unix Timestamp: 1203206400
Sunday, February 17. 2008, 12:00:00 AM UTC

No survivors are found after a rescue helicopter discovers the wreckage of Santa Bárbara Airlines Flight 518 just northeast of Mérida, Venezuela. The commercial plane had 46 people on board, including crew.

A general election is held in Pakistan, delayed from January 8 due to riots in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Opposition parties, including Bhutto's, take more than half of the seats, while PresidentPervez Musharraf's party suffers a huge defeat.

The United States Navy destroys a spy satellite containing toxic fuel, by shooting it down with a missile launched from the "USS Lake Erie" in the Pacific Ocean.

Former building society Northern Rock is the first bank in Europe to be taken into state control, due to the U.S. subprime mortgage financial crisis.

The British government introduces emergency legislation temporarily to nationalize Northern Rock, the 5th largest mortgage bank in the UK, due to the bank's financial crisis.

A total lunar eclipse crosses North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.

Kosovo formally declares independence from Serbia, with support from some countries but opposition from others.

Fidel Castro announces his resignation as President of Cuba, effective February 24.