Portal:Current events/2017 July 19

July 19, 2017 (Wednesday)

Arts and culture

Singer Barbara Weldens, whose recently released first album had won several awards, collapses and dies on stage while singing in Festival Léo Ferré in Gourdon in southwestern France. The 35-year-old singer and poet apparently was electrocuted. (BBC) (The Quebec Times)^{[permanent dead link]}

Disasters and accidents

2017 California wildfires
- Thousands of residents are evacuated from Mariposa and several other communities in Mariposa County, California, following the rapid spread of the Detwiler Fire near Yosemite National Park. (Reuters)

International relations

2017 Doklam crisis
- Amid a stalemate between India and China over Doklam, disputed between the latter and Bhutan, China renews a call for India to withdraw its troops from Doklam. It follows reports claiming China held live firing drills in the region. (Arab News)
Comfort women
- South Korea plans to establish a national memorial day (set to be celebrated on every 14 August) to remember and honor the country's comfort women victims. (The Korea Times)

Law and crime

Murder of Justine Damond
- 9-1-1 for help because of a suspected assault near her home, was murdered on Saturday by a U.S. police officer who had responded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (ABC News)

Pierre de Villiers resigns as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the French Armed Forces due to disagreements with President Emmanuel Macron over proposed budget cuts. (The Independent)
brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. This is his second battle with cancer, after having been successfully treated for malignant melanoma. (NBC News)

Political appointments by Donald Trump
- U.S. President
  Secretary of the Army. (Voice of America)

Vietnam pledges on ending the trafficking and farming of bears. (National Geographic)

Sports

Rugby union
- In the wake of reports by various media outlets, including the
  the coming season. (BBC) (Celtic Rugby)