Portal:Current events/2019 June 8

• Syrian Civil War, Northwestern Syria offensive
  • Abdul Baset al-Sarout, a Jaysh al-Izza commander, the “singer of the revolution”, and former Syria national football team goalkeeper, dies from wounds sustained Thursday when he was struck by Syrian Army artillery. (BBC News) (The Guardian)

• Human remains found at a beach near the Port of Quebec in 2011 and 2016 are identified as those of 21 shipwreck victims, who drowned in 1847 while fleeing the Irish Great Famine. (BBC News)

• Media freedom in Russia
  • Several people, protesting Meduza investigative journalist Ivan Golunov's arrest Thursday on drug charges, are themselves arrested outside Moscow's Nikulinsky Court. Others were arrested yesterday. His lawyer says drugs were planted on him. Golunov was taken to a hospital, police say because he said he was ill. Meduza says he was beaten up during and after his arrest. A doctor's examination found the reporter has "a suspected rib fracture, concussion and hematoma." (BBC News) (Moscow Times)

• 2019 French Open
  • Australian Ashleigh Barty, a former professional cricket player, defeats 19-year-old Czech Markéta Vondroušová (6–1, 6–3) to win the 2019 French Open women's singles championship, her first Grand Slam singles title. (The New York Times)