TODAY IN HISTORY

• 2018 - Thailand

In Thailand, rescuers raced to free 12 members of a youth soccer team and a coach who have been trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days. Divers found the teammates and coach alive, but were unable to rescue them yet.

• 2013 - Senegal

In Senegal, a special tribunal charged former Chad dictator Hissene Habre, with crimes against humanity, over two decades after his arrival in Chad.

• 2012 - USA

CNN’S Anderson Cooper, the host of “AC360," confirmed that he is gay.

• 2009 - Liberia

Liberia's truth and reconciliation commission ordered that ex- Pres. Charles Taylor and seven other former warlords be prosecuted for crimes against humanity for their roles in the country's civil war.

• 1999 - USA

Mario Puzo ( 78), American author of "The Godfather," died on Long Island. His last book, "Omerta," was scheduled for publication in 2000. He is known for his crime novels about the Italian- American mafia, most notably The Godfather ( 1969), which he later co- adapted into a threepart movie. Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. His final novel The Family was released posthumously in 2001.

• 1998 - Nigeria

Ahead of his meeting with detained MKO Abiola, United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, said at least 250 political prisoners would soon be released including Abiola.

• 1994 - Colombia

Colombian footballer, Andres Escobar, was shot to death in Medellin, 10 days after accidentally scoring an own goal at the World Cup, which led to the team's elimination.

• 1991 - S/ Africa

The first national conference of the ANC, since the group was banned in 1960 began in Durban, South Africa. Oliver Tambo, who was sick, handed over the presidency of the ANC to Nelson Mandela and assumed the honorary post of national chairperson. Walter Sisulu was elected deputy president.

• 1990 - S/ Arabia

1,402 Muslim pilgrims were killed in a stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It was the worst hajj tragedy of modern times.

• 1969 - USA

Kirk Kerkorian opened his hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the largest hotel in the world. It later became the Las Vegas Hilton .