On This Day: November 18th

The Utah monolith, built sometime in 2016 is discovered by state biologists of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

NASA launches the MAVEN probe to Mars.

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria becomes the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules 4–3 in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and gives the state legislature 180 days to change the law making Massachusetts the first state in the United States to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Iraq disarmament crisis: United Nations weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrive in Iraq.

At Texas A&M University, the Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.

A fire occurs on a train traveling through the Channel Tunnel from France to England causing several injuries and damaging approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) of tunnel.

In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved by the House of Representatives.

In South Africa, 21 political parties approve a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule.

Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon release Anglican Church envoys Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland.