#tham luang

[anthonymhowellblog]

THE CAVERN

x Mere slips of girls behind masks are hardly what I am after. I am a diver after bushy clefts, fruits that swell and dangle From generous trunks, bases round and soft, feminine Versions of pachyderm deities, just as keen to be aroused As they are keen to excite, invite into their matted recesses.  x But am I that keen on entering this regal, sleeping vagina, Delve beneath stalactite curtains,…

[foralleternityidiot]

how am I you ask? I’m thinking about how all the parents and volunteers and officials expected to pull thirteen bodies out of tham luang cave but still risked and sacrificed everything anyway just on the chance they could save even one boy, then saved them all. So how do you think I am?

[mothmiso]

Laos (2) (3) (4) by Renaud Forest

Via Flickr:

(1) Near Tham Xang. (2) Luang Prabang. (3) Savannakhet.     

[gaylienz]

This documentary provides an in-depth look at the 2018 rescue of a Thai football team trapped inside a cave. The soccer/football team from the Chiang Rai region in Thailand was trapped inside the Tham Luang cave, which had been flooded by storms.

--

I teared up because stuff like this shows you how incredible people can be. And also do not go into caves, especially during monsoon season. I remember hearing and seeing news about this but had no idea just how complex and difficult the rescue operation was.

[scumtrout]

I have to get this off my chest somewhere but I keep saying people say 'the lost Titan submarine is getting more attention than the capsized migrant boat because the passengers of the Titan were wealthy!' and

yes

but

attention != sympathy

The migrant boat disaster is just really fucking sad, but the loss of the Titan is a story that (to be brutal) possesses a lot of horrible novelty. Famous and/or wealthy people do not always elicit attention because we sympathize with them. They don't even elicit attention because we like them. They elicit attention when they die under really weird circumstances.

As for the money being spent on the rescue effort: the cynic in me is easily convinced that if I went missing at sea, people wouldn't throw that much money at the rescue effort. Therefore it's easy to believe that the passengers of the Titan are receiving special treatment because of their wealth. But it's a tricky one to quantify. The Tham Luang cave rescue was also expensive (money aside, 2 rescuers died) and the kids involved were... well, normal, so I think there is a basic human drive to rescue people who are lost in strange and unpleasant circumstances, regardless of who those people are.

Anyway tl;dr re: 'booo people care about dead billionaires' - people care about weird shit, sorry. Is it rubbernecking? Probably. Is rubbernecking inherently bad? Sometimes, sometimes not; I've learned a lot of useful things from case studies of things going wrong. (Look into the story of the Station Nightclub Fire and I promise that afterward, you'll always pay attention to the locations of fire exits.) And if people are rubbernecking at a disaster involving individuals who were taking a tourist trip to the site of a massive tragedy, then the universe is laying on the irony a little thick.

[thefilmsnob]

Glen Coco’s Top 10 Films of 2022

Hey, look out, gang, movies are back in theaters! Isn’t that exciting?! Get off the couch and go to some, so theaters don’t close! Also, I usually share my top 10 films of the previous year much closer to the Oscars ceremony, but it’s been Procrasti-Nation up in my life and I have a real job. Anyway, introductory paragraphs are so 2008 and I’m already 2000 and late, so I’ll just get on with my top 10 films of 2022...after the runners-up and the standard bonus track...there’s always a bonus track.

RUNNERS-UP

-Everything Everywhere All at Once

-The Fabelmans

-The Northman

-The Whale

-Women Talking

#10b. (Bonus Track) Nope

Director: Jordan Peele

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun

Like his previous films, Jordan Peele’s third feature begins with an entrancing prologue that begs to be deciphered, especially its relationship to the film as a whole. As the story unfolds, all its seemingly disparate parts coalesce to make a final product that’s a mix of fascinating plot developments, gorgeous photography and insightful themes. Although the payoff this time isn’t quite as satisfying as in his previous works and the themes are somewhat less coherent, Nope is still an engrossing experience, crafted by one of the industry’s most distinct and creative voices. A master of utilizing and manipulating an array of tantalizing images—inflatable tube men, chimpanzees, the sky—Peele has created a spectacle that, in turn, challenges our fascination with the very idea of spectacles, but just like the characters in the film, we too can’t look away.

#10. Thirteen Lives

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton 

When 12 young players and coach of a Thai soccer team were saved from the flooding Tham Luang cave during a miraculous rescue mission just five years ago, it was obvious someone would adapt this harrowing event into a film. In fact, there have been several adaptations in various forms already, but that doesn’t take away from the sheer intensity and realism director Ron Howard has imbued in his version, so much so that at times it actually feels like a documentary. William Nicholson’s meticulous screenplay focuses in great detail on the myriad of technical issues faced during the grueling mission and huge stars like Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell completely disappear beneath their real-life cave diver characters alongside their Thai acting partners for maximum authenticity. Knowing the outcome is insignificant; when you’re watching the divers swim through dangerously narrow passages or finally exhaling as the boys are rescued, it’s as if you’re there, witnessing the ordeal firsthand.

FULL REVIEW

#9. Top Gun: Maverick

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly 

Who knew a Top Gun sequel, released 35 years after the original and unaffiliated with Marvel, Star Wars or James Cameron, would become one of the most successful films of all time? Well, it did and it’s exactly what the dwindling movie theater business needed: an exhilarating combination of eye-popping special effects and nostalgia. Sure, it has some clunky dialogue and cheesy moments here and there, but the mesmerizing flight choreography, numerous callbacks, wonderful acting and a surprising amount of pathos render those flaws trivial. And in these uncertain times, there’s such a strong feeling of comfort and familiarity seeing a true movie star like Tom Cruise flash that iconic smile and save the day. It helps that he gives one of the best performances of his career as the now-veteran Maverick, instructing a new class of pilots which includes his old partner Goose’s son, played with apt restlessness by Miles Teller. Cruise’s talent is most evident in a poignant scene that reunites him with former rival and currently ailing Iceman; in a story set so frequently in the sky, this heartwarming scene grounds it with a level of tenderness that’ll take you by surprise.

#8. Bones and All

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Starring: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet

Here’s something you’ve probably never heard: one of the most romantic films of the year follows two young people with an insatiable urge to consume human flesh. Bones and All isn’t some typical zombie or cannibal B-Movie, though; the content is treated with the same sincerity as a great prestige picture. Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet don’t play one-dimensional monsters but fully realized outcasts who we come to not only understand but care for, especially as their romance, based on a unique type of belonging, blossoms. Aside from romance, the film’s also a metaphor for drug addiction and the poor souls on the fringes of society. Not exactly a horror film, it still includes graphic, bloody images that are at once shocking and matter-of-fact, not meant to frighten but to bring us into these characters’ bizarre reality. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the film is a truly creepy character portrayed by the invaluable Mark Rylance, who, in an award-worthy performance, embodies the darkest side of this lifestyle, one unbound by any moral code. Employing fittingly grainy photography, director Luca Guadagnino evokes similar films from the ‘70s and ‘80s, giving atmosphere to one of the most unique movie experiences of 2022.

#7. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Starring: Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp, Isabella Rossellini

It takes serious discipline to avoid using the word ‘charming’ in every sentence describing this movie, but that’s basically it in a nutshell--or, rather, seashell. Indeed, a seashell is what Marcel is, the protagonist at the heart of this live-action/animated hybrid gem. Based on Dean Fleischer Camp’s animated shorts that gained popularity years ago, this feature is an example of art imitating life in that a fictionalized version of the writer/director moves into an Airbnb, discovers Marcel living there and makes documentaries that go viral. The imagination on display with regard to how the inch-tall Marcel and his grandmother interact with their human surroundings is pure whimsy, whether they’re using wine corks as chairs or a spinning record as a treadmill. Voiced by Jenny Slate with an adorable child-like rasp, Marcel is instantly endearing, as are his drolly nonchalant exchanges with his new human friend. Beyond the film’s overt appeal, there’s also an underlying debate about the pros and cons of social media that adds some weight to this otherwise light and...charming...experience.

FULL REVIEW

#6. Moonage Daydream

Director: Brett Morgen

Starring: David Bowie

If you’re looking for a cinematic Wikipedia entry of David Bowie, this is not the documentary for you. Granted, it would’ve been nice to hear more anecdotes from friends and colleagues, but what we’ve been gifted by Brett Morgen, who wrote, directed, produced and edited the project, is a kaleidoscopic stream of consciousness brought to life. Told roughly in chronological order (emphasis on ‘roughly’), the film shows many of Bowie’s live performances, interviews, film roles, side projects (ie. sculpting, oil painting) and extensive behind-the-scenes footage. Bowie himself provides voice-over work throughout, musing on topics like art, love, religion, identity, life itself and no shortage of philosophy, in place of mere dates and locations. Though several are included, Morgen interestingly omits many of Bowie’s greatest hits, in favour of more obscure songs, and it’s a testament to the genius’s artistry that they’re just as phenomenal. The way Morgen incorporates these songs, how and when he combines them with the wondrous imagery, is sheer poetry, culminating in a jaw-dropping climax. This is how Bowie would’ve wanted his story to be told, a work that can be labeled with the same word used to describe Bowie’s entire life: art.

#5. Bodies Bodies Bodies

Director: Halina Reijn

Starring: Maria Bakalova, Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson, Myha’la Herrold, Lee Pace, Rachel Sennott, Chase Sui Wonders  

Described as a horror film on Wikipedia and marketed as a slasher flick, Bodies Bodies Bodies is definitely not the former, debatably the latter and, in fact, one of the funniest movies of the year. The black comedy sees a group of mostly wealthy twentysomethings gathered for a ‘hurricane party’ at a mansion owned by the parents of the host. Following a murder mystery game, the partyers start dying off for real, but instead of cooperating to survive, they succumb to pettiness and paranoia, exacerbating the situation in a manner both hilarious and sadly believable. Set in one location, the film relies heavily on its charismatic young cast and a smart screenplay by Sarah DeLappe that’s kinetic, engrossing and astute. It’s also, finally, a delightful skewering of various qualities of Generation Z from constant validation-seeking to endless labels to jobs that may or may not be real jobs. It culminates in a deeply satisfying finale that ties things up perfectly and validates everything that preceded it, an ending that’s at once brutal and entirely cathartic. And even if you don’t love this film, you’ll still love to ‘hate-watch’ it.

#4. All Quiet on the Western Front

Director: Edward Berger

Starring: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl

It’s fascinating how a movie so enveloped in drab greys and blues and caked in mud could look so striking. That’s the case with the latest adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front; director Edward Berger and cinematographer James Friend take a dark period in history from which we’re far removed and pull us in with crisp, vivid images. Occasionally, we’re treated to beautiful views of forests and fields, but more often we experience the horror of the battlefield, complete with muddy trenches, severed limbs, pools of blood and incessant fear. It’s a stark contrast to the praise and glory the idealistic young Germans were promised by their overzealous superiors. Felix Kammerer shines as the naive Paul Bäumer, a symbol of the loss of innocence in war, his big bright eyes gazing at the inhumanity before him. These messy scenes are juxtaposed with those featuring Daniel Brühl, a German official trying to negotiate peace with men in spotless uniforms inside ornate rooms. The film’s stellar technical achievements support equally awe-inspiring personal moments as in the film’s most powerful scene involving soldiers on opposite sides of the war when a character ignores his programmed hatred and allows his humanity to take control.

#3. Tár

Director: Todd Field

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant

Written, directed and produced by Todd Field, Tár is a masterclass in nuance and precision. Every frame, every line, every movement is so deliberate and full of meaning. This style perfectly compliments Lydia Tár, the world-famous composer and conductor, played by Cate Blanchett in a pitch-perfect, and perhaps her best, performance. The character’s accomplishments are extraordinary, especially for a woman in that field. It’s hard not to admire this trailblazer, even as her challenging behaviour and potentially problematic actions surface. But, Blanchett and Field refuse to make her simply unlikable or provide tidy labels like ‘villain’. Her subtle actions like gripping someone’s hand to stop incessant pen clicking or employing a slight inflection on a certain word tells us volumes about who she is. As the film proceeds, we learn that she may have a history of sexual misconduct, but we’re provided subtle hints gradually rather than an overt information bludgeoning. Ultimately, the story tackles timely issues like the ‘me too’ movement and cancel culture, but Field shows monumental restraint in refusing to take a side, instead choosing to treat the audience like mature adults and reserving judgment for them.   

#2. The Banshees of Inisherin 

Director: Martin McDonagh

Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan

The Banshees of Inisherin is set in 1923 on a small, sparsely populated island off the coast of Ireland where life is quiet and predictable. Things are rationally organized, from the sharp divide between rocky cliffs and water to the rows of stone that separate fields from foot paths. That’s why it’s so jarring when Colm refuses to join longtime friend Pádraic on their daily trip to the pub because, we soon learn, he just doesn’t like him anymore. A friendship’s decline is a simple premise but one that leads to profound developments as both emotions and stakes intensify rapidly. It’s a fascinating character study, enhanced by magnificent performances from the year’s best acting ensemble. Banshees tells an intimate story, but it reflects the current state of our society at large. The powerlessness felt by some of the characters mirrors what we’re all feeling in a world afflicted by a raging pandemic, a senseless war and an eroding democracy. Because it’s a Martin McDonagh film, the character analysis, dark humour and moments of genuine feeling are blended with the macabre, but take that all away and you still have endless lines of riveting dialogue. That’s one reason why the omission of flashbacks was such an apt decision. We don’t need to see the friendship as it once was; these marvelous actors tell us everything we need to know about a joyful past, a turbulent present and an uncertain future.

FULL REVIEW

#1. EO   

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

Starring: Ettore, Hola, Marietta, Mela, Rocco, Tako (all donkeys) 

The best film of 2022 features an undeniably charismatic lead. Like many icons of film, this one is beautiful, benevolent, charming, and sympathetic. He also happens to be a donkey named Eo. I was so curious as to how this story would be told since it’s not a documentary about donkeys but a scripted work of fiction starring one. He’s neither animated nor a product of CGI over which the the film makers have complete control. This makes Polish writer/director/producer Jerzy Skolimowski’s deeply moving film EO not only impressive but subversive. In fact, instead of anthropomorphizing the donkey as Hollywood is wont to do, Skolimowski embraces his non-human nature, presenting a real living donkey as the wonderful creature he is.

The story begins with Eo working in a Polish circus with his fellow human performer Kasandra who cares deeply for him until he’s taken away to work at a stable. His journey continues as he moves from place to place, person to person, some kind, some cruel. We see he’s not so different from humans; he enjoys being caressed and loved and protected. He lacks the cruelty, though, which makes caring about him effortless and speaks volumes about humanity. Frankly, few other works will make you reevaluate your feelings toward--and relationship with--animals more than EO, a film that is often as heartbreaking as it is endearing. Yet, it’s not meant to scold its audience or even pass judgement but merely encourage one to view life differently, in this case through the peaceful, unassuming behaviour of a magnificent little donkey. 

[aggressivelyarospec]

Quinn submitted:

“Thirteen Lives” (2022)

Biographical survival film based on the Tham Luang cave rescue. Really well made. Feels like a theatrical film while still being respectful to the real-life people involved. No romance at all, just people working together to help the tapped people.

Additional Information: PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Biography Trailer: 

Added!

[amazing-thailand]

At Tham Luang Mae Sab, Khun Khan National Park in Chiang Mai, the caves inside emit spectrums of colours not unlike rainbows. Truly a geological gem.

#AmazingThailand

[phaphimol]

Tham Khao Luang, Phetchaburi Province

[beautifulgiants]

Watch "Colin Farrell, Tom Bateman & Sahajak Poo Boonthankit Interview: Thirteen Lives" on YouTube

Colin Farrell, Tom Bateman & Sahajak Poo Boonthankit Interview: Thirteen Lives

BY

ASH CROSSAN

PUBLISHED AUG 05, 2022

Thirteen Lives stars Colin Farrell, Tom Bateman & Sahajak "Poo" Boonthankit share the emotions they experienced during the rescue in real-time.

Ron Howard's penchant for bringing history to the film screen is in full effect in Thirteen Lives, which is now available to stream on Prime Video. In it, the Apollo 13 director recreates the events of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, allowing audiences to understand why it was so dangerous for the boys trapped in a flooded cave - and how exactly the brave divers were able to get them out.

The stars of Thirteen Lives were just as affected by the gripping true story when it went down as viewers around the world were, so reliving the tense times from another perspective was a unique experience. Colin Farrell and Tom Bateman play two of the divers who traveled to help, while Thai actor Sahajak "Poo" Boonthankit (Fistful of Vengeance) plays Governor Narongsak.

Screen Rant spoke to Bateman, Farrell and Boonthankit about how they experienced the events of Thirteen Lives in real-time before reliving them on the set of the film.

Screen Rant: What a movie; what a story. I remember this happening, but I feel like the movie just elicited so many positive feelings for me of selflessness. Do you remember when this happened? And what stuck out to you most about this story?

Tom Bateman: I think the first [time] that I got really into it was when they found the boys. I remember thinking, "Those boys were being stuck in the cave, and when they found them." And then it just became this every day, checking in on the news on how they were doing. And I just remember the beauty of when they said, "They've got them out." Everyone was running around, and it's all anyone was talking about at the time. It was a beautiful, very special time.

Because, usually with the news, you're not really bonded by joy. You're bonded by bad things. "Oh, my God, have you seen this awful thing? This awful thing." I think I can count on maybe one hand the amount of times you have a news story like this, that just makes you happy and full of joy and hopeful and want to be a better person.

Colin Farrell: And that was the thing about it, though, wasn't it? That you were caught between catastrophe and the potential of what actually came to pass, because we saw it in real-time.

So, it was actually a horrible thing that was going on. And we were stuck in the fear of the present, where we believed globally that the children were still alive. But we didn't know if, while we were talking about them being still alive, they were actually dying. Nobody knew until the guys got to them, and then there was some confirmation that they were there. And then there was back and forth; there were certain dives happening. But, as Tom said, when the moment came that they started coming out and the ambulance started disappearing and airlifting them and airlifting them. And the information wasn't shared of who was out,; how many were out.

And even when the mission started, it was all very cloak and dagger. All of a sudden, all the press were pushed back and nobody knew exactly what the means were [by which] they were going to be extracted.

Poo, I want to hear, because I can't believe we worked together and I never heard from you. I never asked you, because we were all just working, so we were involved in the present together of making the film. What was it like for you, man? You were in the country?

Sahajak Poo Boonthankit: Yes, I was. I was in Thailand at the time. But I think it's very different for me, personally. I always say I heard about the boys getting stuck, and... At first, I was actually angry at the boys. "Why did they even go in there? What drove you? What took you in there?"

And then, you found out, "Okay, they didn't intend to go in when it was raining. It rained after they went in." Okay. Five days, six days go on. I'm saying, "Okay, maybe they're dead." And now, being Thai, you start to sit in front of your mantle and you pray. You light your [prayer sticks] and everything, and hope that they come out well and alive.

Colin Farrell: Was the whole country doing that, you think? The majority?

Sahajak Boonthankit: Yes, I do believe so. I do believe so. It's a cultural thing.

And then, on the seventh, eighth, ninth day, I'm saying, "Wait, I have four children. What if one of them was in there?" Now, it gets really intense. Then you hear people are coming from all over the world to help, and I can't even do anything. I don't know how to dive. I can't do anything. So, I'm just sitting there, shaking, praying, hoping. And once they came out, once we heard that the kids were all well, it was a big relief.

But it wasn't until I read the script that I understood the inner workings of everything, and all the hair stood on end. It was amazing.

Screen Rant: Because I'm a diver, I'm like, "Why can't they just dive and get them out?" I did not understand. And then, when you watch the movie, you're like, "Okay."

Colin Farrell: It's not safe.

Tom Bateman: Is it normal diving, or cave diving you do?

I've done some cave diving - not like that. Colin, I take it you're not going to keep your certification going?

Colin Farrell: Ash, it's a certified fact that your balls are bigger than mine. Because I was asked by a couple of the lads, "When you finish the film, are you going to do some cave diving?" And I said, "Absolutely not."

I mean, they did build these extravagant cave systems. There was four or five different networks that were based on the ordinance of the Tham Luang cave system. There was pinch points and bits that went down and stalactites and stuff. It was tight in there, and we had safety divers and all that stuff, but you're still in water and still looking up, and there's a roof on top of your head.

Tom, you found it uncomfortable at times, didn't you? I mean, I really did.

Tom Bateman: Thank you so much for that. One of my favorite memories, though, is I remember you and me both - I think it was Viggo, you, me, Joel and Paul. And we all got stuck in the middle. The camera-

Colin Farrell: Disaster. And I have Viggo's fin in my f**king face, and someone pushing me from behind.

Tom Bateman: Exactly. I got Paul falling asleep on my leg. But I remember coming out of it and this beautiful moment [where] I think we grabbed each other, like, "You good? You good?" I'm like, "Yeah, I'm good. I don't want to go back down there again." They're like, "Okay guys, resetting, you're going again." No, I don't want to do it.

Colin Farrell: And it was a 4-foot dive with 20 safety guys in 2.5 feet of water. I did find it nerve-wracking.

The difference between... I'd done a little bit of open water scuba diving, but it's night and day from anything that has a seal on it. I don't know how they do it. It's just a very different mentality that I don't really have. I have a little bit of - don't want to diagnose myself with panic syndrome, but the head can get away from me pretty quickly

[abraham2love]

ron howard : director

full movie

[foralleternityidiot]

Thai Cave Rescue (Netflix, 2022) ending tribute to actor Beam Papangkorn Lerkchaleampote, who died in his sleep on March 23, 2022 at the age of 25.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

16 October 2018 | Prince William, Duke of Cambridge speaks with diver Chris Jewell during a reception to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by British rescue divers and support staff in the successful search and rescue of 12 boys and their football coach from the Tham Luang Cave in Thailand, at Buckingham Palace in London, England. Prince William will meet several of the British Divers who took part in the rescue which lasted many days ending finally on 10th July with all of the boys and their coach having been successfully rescued from the cave. (c) Jon Bond - WPA Pool/Getty Images

[ryansmoviereviews]

Thirteen Lives

Please check out my latest review. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Please subscribe! #movie #movies #moviereview #moviereviews #moviereviewer #film #films #filmreview #filmreviews #moviecritic #filmcritic #subscribe #like #share #review #follow

Dir Ron Howard Viggo Mortensesn, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton. Based on the true story of the soccer team who were stuck in a cave following a monsoon in 2018, in Tham Luang Nang Non, in Thailand. When the world took notice, world renowned diver, John Volanthen (Farrell) calls his friend and fellow diver Rick Stanton (Mortensen) believing they will be able to help. With few being able to…

[yugiohmdx1]

In 2018, a cave rescue in Thailand captured the world’s attention. Twelve boys from a local soccer team, along with their coach, were trapped deep within the Tham Luang cave complex by rising floodwaters. An international team of experts, including experienced divers, military personnel, and volunteers, came together for a daring and complex rescue mission.

The operation faced numerous challenges, from narrow, flooded passages to the boys’ deteriorating health. After more than two weeks, the rescuers successfully brought all thirteen members of the group to safety. The mission was a remarkable testament to human courage, ingenuity, and the power of global cooperation.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 7.10 (after 1950)

1951 – Korean War: Armistice negotiations begin at Kaesong. 1962 – Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit. 1966 – The Chicago Freedom Movement, co-founded by Martin Luther King Jr., holds a rally at Soldier Field in Chicago at which as many as 60,000 people attend. 1973 – The Bahamas gain full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations. 1974 – An EgyptAir Tupolev Tu-154 stalls and crashes at Cairo International Airport, killing all six people on board. 1976 – Four mercenaries (one American and three British) are executed in Angola following the Luanda Trial. 1978 – President Moktar Ould Daddah of Mauritania is ousted in a bloodless coup d'état. 1985 – The Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior is bombed and sunk in Auckland harbour by French DGSE agents, killing Fernando Pereira. 1985 – An Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 stalls and crashes near Uchkuduk, Uzbekistan (then part of the Soviet Union), killing all 200 people on board in the USSR's worst-ever airline disaster. 1991 – The South African cricket team is readmitted into the International Cricket Council following the end of Apartheid. 1991 – Boris Yeltsin takes office as the first elected President of Russia. 1991 – A Beechcraft Model 99 crashes near Birmingham Municipal Airport (now Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport) in Birmingham, Alabama, killing 13 of the 15 people on board. 1992 – In Miami, former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega is sentenced to 40 years in prison for drug and racketeering violations. 1997 – In London, scientists report the findings of the DNA analysis of a Neanderthal skeleton which supports the "out of Africa theory" of human evolution, placing an "African Eve" at 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. 1997 – Miguel Ángel Blanco, a member of Partido Popular (Spain), is kidnapped (and later murdered) in the Basque city of Ermua by ETA members, sparking widespread protests. 1998 – Catholic Church sexual abuse cases: The Diocese of Dallas agrees to pay $23.4 million to nine former altar boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Rudolph Kos, a former priest. 1999 – In women's association football, the United States defeated China in a penalty shoot-out at the Rose Bowl near Los Angeles to win the final match of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The final was watched by 90,185 spectators, which set a new world record for attendance at a women's sporting event. 2000 – EADS, the world's second-largest aerospace group is formed by the merger of Aérospatiale-Matra, DASA, and CASA. 2000 – Bashar al-Assad succeeds his father Hafez al-Assad as President of Syria. 2002 – At a Sotheby's auction, Peter Paul Rubens's painting The Massacre of the Innocents is sold for £49.5 million (US$76.2 million) to Lord Thomson. 2006 – A Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27 Friendship crashes near Multan International Airport, killing all 45 people on board. 2007 – Erden Eruç begins the first solo human-powered circumnavigation of the world. 2008 – Former Macedonian Interior Minister Ljube Boškoski is acquitted of all war-crimes charges by a United Nations Tribunal. 2011 – Russian cruise ship Bulgaria sinks in the Volga River near Syukeyevo, Tatarstan, causing 122 deaths. 2011 – Amid widespread backlash to revelations of phone hacking, British weekly tabloid News of the World publishes its final issue and shuts down after nearly 168 years in print. 2012 – The Episcopal Church USA allows same-sex marriage. 2016 – Portugal defeats France in the UEFA Euro 2016 Final to win their first European title. 2017 – Iraqi Civil War: Mosul is declared fully liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant by the government of Iraq. 2018 – A group of Thai school children and their teacher get stuck in a cave for a few days; they are all rescued but one rescuer doesn't make it. This is known as the Tham Luang cave rescue. 2019 – The last Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the line in Puebla, Mexico. The last of 5,961 "Special Edition" cars will be exhibited in a museum.