Summary of the Day ✨ 18 November (18/11)
State biologists discovered the mysterious Utah monolith while NASA launched the MAVEN probe to Mars, marking significant scientific exploration. Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a landmark court ruling, while UN weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrived in Iraq during the ongoing disarmament crisis.
Historical Events 📜
- 2020: The Utah monolith, built sometime in 2016 is discovered by state biologists of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
- 2013: NASA launches the MAVEN probe to Mars.
- 2012: Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria becomes the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
- 2003: 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.
- 2002: Iraq disarmament crisis: United Nations weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrive in Iraq.
- 1999: At Texas A&M University, the Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.
- 1996: 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.
- 1993: In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved by the House of Representatives.
- 1993: In South Africa, 21 political parties approve a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule.
- 1991: Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon release Anglican Church envoys Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland.
- 1991: After an 87-day siege, the Croatian city of Vukovar capitulates to the besieging Yugoslav People’s Army and allied Serb paramilitary forces.
- 1991: The autonomous Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, which would in 1993 become a republic, was established in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- 1987: King’s Cross fire: In London, 31 people die in a fire at the city’s busiest underground station, King’s Cross St Pancras.
- 1985: The first comic of Calvin and Hobbes is published in ten newspapers.
- 1983: Aeroflot Flight 6833 is hijacked en route from Tbilisi to Leningrad. After returning to Tbilisi, the aircraft is subsequentialy raided on the ground, resulting in seven deaths.
Famous Births 👶
- 2004: Luka Romero, Mexican-Argentine footballer
- 2002: Patrick Baldwin Jr., American basketball player
- 2001: Caleb Williams, American football player
- 1997: Jacob Bryson, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1997: Shea Langeliers, American baseball player
- 1997: Robert Sánchez, Spanish footballer
- 1996: Akram Afif, Qatari footballer
- 1996: Christian Kirk, American football player
- 1994: Akiyuki Hashimoto, Japanese sprinter
- 1994: Danka Kovinić, Montenegrin tennis player
- 1994: Bernhard Luxbacher, Austrian footballer
- 1992: Nathan Kress, American actor and director
- 1992: Henry Martín, Mexican footballer
- 1992: Quincy Miller, American basketball player
- 1992: Steven Skrzybski, German footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Charles Dumont, French singer and composer (born 1929)
- 2024: Arthur Frommer, American travel writer (born 1929)
- 2024: Bob Love, American basketball player (born 1942)
- 2024: Colin Petersen, Australian drummer, record producer and actor (born 1946)
- 2022: Tabassum, Indian actress and talk show host (born 1944)
- 2020: Kirby Morrow, Canadian actor, comedian and writer (born 1973)
- 2017: Malcolm Young, Scottish-Australian hard rock guitarist (born 1953)
- 2016: Sharon Jones, American soul and funk singer (born 1956)
- 2016: Denton Cooley, American surgeon and scientist (born 1920)
- 2015: Abdelhamid Abaaoud, Belgian-Moroccan terrorist (born 1987)
- 2015: Dan Halldorson, Canadian-American golfer (born 1952)
- 2015: Jonah Lomu, New Zealand rugby player (born 1975)
- 2014: Dave Appell, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1922)
- 2014: Pepe Eliaschev, Argentinian journalist and author (born 1945)
- 2014: Ahmad Lozi, Jordanian educator and politician, 48th Prime Minister of Jordan (born 1925)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Abhai of Hach (Syriac Orthodox Church) - Christian feast day:
Alphaeus and Zacchaeus - Christian feast day:
Barulas - Christian feast day:
Constant - Christian feast day:
Dedication of Saints Peter and Paul - Christian feast day:
Elizabeth of Hungary (Church of England) - Christian feast day:
Juthwara - Christian feast day:
Mabyn (Roman Catholic Church and Anglicanism) - Christian feast day:
The main day of the Feast of the Virgen de Chiquinquirá or Chinita’s Fair (Maracaibo, Venezuela) - Christian feast day:
Maudez (Mawes) - Christian feast day:
Nazarius (Nazaire) - Christian feast day:
Odo of Cluny - Christian feast day:
Romanus of Caesarea - Christian feast day:
Rose Philippine Duchesne - Christian feast day:
November 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)