Events
Name Description
S-Abduct abductions and hostage taking
S-Accidents accidental and unexplained human incidents
S-Accuse / Criticize allege, blame, find fault, hold accountable, censure, rebuke, "whistle blowing"
S-Agree / Accept accept invitations, agree to a proposal, future action (including scheduled truces), suggestion or request
S-Aid to guerrillas Any aid to guerrilla groups.
S-Apologize admit wrongdoing, acknowledge with remorse, express regret
S-Appeal / Request general requests and pleading / appealing for a (humanitarian) cause, typically by a third party (contrast with calls to action)
S-Arbitration / Mediation arbitration & mediation independent of the judicial system
S-Arms control reduce or control arms, disarm, destroy weapons, de-mining operations, includes weapons monitors and inspections
S-Arms transactions commercial sales, transfers and lending of military armaments and equipment
S-Arrest / Detain detain arrest, hold or incarcerate people
S-Ask for material aid ask for material assistance, economic aid and armaments
S-Ask for protection ask for shelter or protection, seek asylum, request respect of sovereignty
S-Assassinate political killings and attempts to kill reported as political, except armed mutiny
S-Assault physical force attack or physical battering, beating or raping by an individual in a non-riot context, may include casualties
S-Assent / Approve assent, certify, accredit, ratify or assent to proposals, requests and agreements
S-Assure / Reassure assure or reassure promised or continuing support or positive interest
S-Bomb bombing and mining operations, includes attempts, excludes de-mining operations (see arms control)
S-Boycott imposition of economic, social or political boycott
S-Break relations severance of formal and informal ties, declarations of independence
S-Call to action / Urge urge others to mobilize and calls for specific action, aid or intervention in response to a particular problem or disaster (contrast with general appeals)
S-CBR weapon use use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against a territory or people
S-Censor limit, curb or intimidate the media, ban discussion of ideas, ban information
S-Change plans apparently benign cancellation or postponement of a planned event or withdraw of an offer); default category for changes made without explicit protest
S-Charge / Indict file charge or implicate, arraign, indict, seek impeachment
S-Claim responsibility admit or acknowledge without remorse, take responsibility for an action or situation (contrast with Apologize)
S-Collaborate form alliance, or associate with, merge, join, accompany, collaborate, includes extradictions
S-Complain making an informal complaint about or publicly questioning an action, statement or policy
S-Control crowds compliance force techniques used by police and others for crowd control
S-Coup / Mutiny rebellion or insubordination by military personnel, includes all coups & attempted coups
S-Death death and the process of dying
S-Declare war formal or official statement that a state of military war exists, excludes "wars on drugs" and other social problems
S-Decline comment explicit decline or refusal to comment on a situation
S-Defy open defiance of laws and norms, civil disobedience
S-Denounce condemn, denigrate, name-calling
S-Deny accusation deny, negate or disaffirm allegation or accusations
S-Deport deport individuals and groups
S-Disavow disavow, distance or disassociate from attributed positions, roles or policies
S-Discuss direct talks, meetings (anywhere) and negotiations, in person or via telecommunications
S-Ease restriction extend civil liberties or economic freedom, release or set people free, pardon, amnesty, commute or reduce sentence, relax censorship
S-Ease sanctions interrupt, suspend, void, terminate or lessen a non-physical (force) or military sanction, reduce fine or penalty, return property and withdrawal of troops
S-Elections public elections and referenda
S-Empathize express condolences or sympathy, forgive, reconcile, attend funerals and other ceremonies
S-Endorsement nominate, support or sponsor people or policies
S-Exclude banish, expel, exclude, evict, excommunicate, disqualify individuals and groups, fire employees
S-Explain explanation of policy or future position
S-Extend economic aid extending (must include the delivery) monetary aid and financial guarantees, grants, gifts and credit
S-Extend military aid extending military and police assistance, including arms and personnel, includes military and police peacekeeping, and joint military exercises
S-Extend other aid extending non-military / non-economic assistance, including civil training, development assistance, education & training, humanitarian aid & monitoring elections
S-Formal protest file a formal complaint or protest, includes impeachment and recall procedures and petition drives
S-Give warning warn of danger, express caution, sound alarm, admonish, excludes implicit military threats
S-Halt negotiations abrupt or abnormal stop / interruption of talks or negotiations
S-Harass intimidation and stalking
S-Hide / Elude flee, hide or escape from capture or seizure
S-Host hosting an invited visitor
S-Illness / Injuries illnesses, injuries
S-Improve relations begin, improve or resume an activity or relations, formally acknowledge or extend diplomatic recognition
S-Invite extend invitation to visit
S-Issue order compel, insist on compliance, lay claim to some object or territory, assert control or ownership
S-Legislate laws propose bills, enact laws, declare resolutions & edicts
S-Litigation official court and judicial proceedings, but not rulings
S-Market transactions non-military financial and commercial transactions, barter exchanges & sales
S-Military air display public demonstration or testing of airborne military capabilities not involving combat operations
S-Military alert reported increase in the military readiness of a conventional armed force
S-Military blockade use of armed (military, police or security) forces to seal off a territory to prevent exit or entry of goods or personnel
S-Military border fortification explicit attempt to publicly demonstrate military control over a border area
S-Military border violation belligerent crossing by armed (military, police or security) forces, without engagement, of a recognized boundary
S-Military clash ambiguous initiation of military hostilities or engagement between armed forces, includes truce violations (use as default for war and battles)
S-Military mobilization activation of all or part of previously inactive armed forces, arms races, military exercises, training and arms displays
S-Military naval display public demonstration or testing of naval armed forces not involving combat operations
S-Military occupation use of armed (military) forces to occupy the whole or part of a territory
S-Military raid initiation of the use of armed (military, police or security) forces to fire upon another armed force, population or territory
S-Military seizure capture of military material, troops or other prisoners of war by armed (military) forces
S-Military troops display public demonstration or testing land based armed (military) forces not involving combat operations
S-Neutral comment neutral or ambiguous comment on a situation
S-Nuclear alert / Testing reported increase in military readiness of a nuclear force and nuclear testing
S-Occupy occupations and incursions by non-military individuals or groups not involving combat operations
S-Offer proposal offer incentives, suggest talks, propose resolution or truce, initiate contingent improved relations, offers to mediate
S-Optimistic comment optimistic or positive comment on a situation
S-Organizational Adjustments routine organizational changes, restructuring, appointments & dismissals not otherwise classified
S-Performances performing arts and entertainment events and exhibitions, excluding sports
S-Pessimistic comment pessimistic or negative comment on a situation
S-Physical attack armed conflict or physical battering, beating or raping, organized by an armed group against another group, includes snipers
S-Physical punishment sanctioned physical (body) punishment
S-Praise acclaim, commend, extol, laud, offer thanks or appreciation, give prize or award, bestow honor
S-Promise assistance promise human (non-material) assistance, including technicians, experts and observers
S-Promise material support promise material support, including supplies, armaments & economic aid
S-Promise policy support promise to use influence or to support in a political manner, give general expression of support
S-Protest altruism self-depriving appeal (typically civil disobedience)
S-Protest ceremony protest ceremonies, and symbolic displays including vigils and standing displays
S-Protest delay deliberately abstaining from or postponing an activity, suspend operations, work to the rule, filibuster
S-Protest march protests moving from one location to another
S-Protest obstruction impede or block action
S-Protest picket picketing, placarding, displays
S-Protest rally protest rally, gathering, demonstration
S-Protest--other miscellaneous (and default) protest demonstrations not otherwise categorized
S-Reduce activity withdraw representative, suspend or reduce diplomatic privilege, lockout, back away from or distance
S-Reduce aid reduce or halt current aid or assistance, withhold promised support
S-Refuse / Object disagree or object, refuse to allow or acknowledge, restrict or suspend liberties, invoke martial law
S-Reject proposal reject proposal or request
S-Release / Return release people and return property
S-Riot outbreaks of unruly turmoil, includes violence and destruction in non-battle contexts
S-Rulings judgments, judicial rulings, sentences and decisions, including the imposition of fines and penalties
S-Sanction--economic professional & labor strikes, excludes judicial fines and penalties (default sanction)
S-Sanction--social general, social & political strikes, ostracism, blackball, disclosure, withhold political support (use Sanction for unspecified costs)
S-Seek information investigate, search for information, carry out search warrants
S-Seize Possession non-military seizure, theft or confiscation, spying
S-Shelter / Protect offer protection or refuge, grant asylum
S-Solicit support request political support or solicit use of political influence, including electoral campaigning and lobbying
S-Sports events sporting games, competitions and exhibitions
S-Support rallies support rallies, celebrations, public displays of support, except commemorations
S-Threaten military war explicit threat to declare a state of military war
S-Threaten ultimatum explicit threat with a definitve ultimatum
S-Threaten--military attack explicit threat to use armed forces in a military attack or invasion
S-Threaten--military blockade explicit threat to use armed ships, airplanes or military troops to prevent entry or exit
S-Threaten--military occupation explicit threat to use armed (military) forces to occupy the whole or part of a territory
S-Threaten--nuclear explicit threat to use a nuclear weapon against armed forces, a population or territory
S-Threaten--physical force explicit threat or ultimatum to use physical (but not military) force to injure or kill people (use Threaten for unspecified costs)
S-Threaten--sanction explicit threat or ultimatum to impose an economic social or political sanction (use Threaten for unspecified costs)
S-Threaten--unspecified explicit threat or ultimatum to impose negative but unspecified cost or interest (default threat)
S-Torture gross human rights abuses and torture, mutilation, maiming, disfigurement, deprivation, "disappearing," massacres and genocide
S-Truce actually reduce, abate, halt or suspend physical (force) hostilities, begin cease fire or truce, (contrast with proposals and agreements to future actions)
S-Vandalism deliberately disabling, defacing or destroying things (not in the context of military attacks & riots), excludes symbolic destruction (e.g.. Flag burning)
S-Veto refuse to assent to formal rejection of legislative bill, recommendation or resolution
S-Visit travel to visit a (hosted) meeting
S-Weather events weather related incidents and natural disasters
S-Yield possession give up, release, cede control, abandon or surrender territory or property in the face of coercion
S-Yield to order submit to arrest, surrender, obey an order or demand
N-Abduct abductions and hostage taking
N-Accidents accidental and unexplained human incidents
N-Accuse / Criticize allege, blame, find fault, hold accountable, censure, rebuke, "whistle blowing"
N-Agree / Accept accept invitations, agree to a proposal, future action (including scheduled truces), suggestion or request
N-Aid to guerrillas Any aid to guerrilla groups.
N-Apologize admit wrongdoing, acknowledge with remorse, express regret
N-Appeal / Request general requests and pleading / appealling for a (humanitarian) cause, typically by a third party (contrast with calls to action)
N-Arbitration / Mediation arbitration & mediation independent of the judicial system
N-Arms control reduce or control arms, disarm, destroy weapons, de-mining operations, includes weapons monitors and inspections
N-Arms transactions commercial sales, transfers and lending of military armaments and equipment
N-Arrest / Detain detain arrest, hold or incarcerate people
N-Ask for material aid ask for material assistance, economic aid and armaments
N-Ask for protection ask for shelter or protection, seek asylum, request respect of sovereignty
N-Assassinate political killings and attempts to kill reported as political, except armed mutiny
N-Assault physical force attack or physical battering, beating or raping by an individual in a non-riot context, may include casualties
N-Assent / Approve assent, certify, accredit, ratify or assent to proposals, requests and agreements
N-Assure / Reassure assure or reassure promised or continuing support or positive interest
N-Bomb bombing and mining operations, includes attempts, excludes de-mining operations (see arms control)
N-Boycott imposition of economic, social or political boycott
N-Break relations severance of formal and informal ties, declarations of independence
N-Call to action / Urge urge others to mobilize and calls for specific action, aid or intervention in response to a particular problem or disaster (contrast with general appeals)
N-CBR weapon use use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against a territory or people
N-Censor limit, curb or intimidate the media, ban discussion of ideas, ban information
N-Change plans apparently benign cancellation or postponement of a planned event or withdraw of an offer); default category for changes made without explicit protest
N-Charge / Indict file charge or implicate, arraign, indict, seek impeachment
N-Claim responsibility admit or acknowledge without remorse, take responsibility for an action or situation (contrast with Apologize)
N-Collaborate form alliance, or associate with, merge, join, accompany, collaborate, includes extradictions
N-Complain making an informal complaint about or publicly questioning an action, statement or policy
N-Control crowds compliance force techniques used by police and others for crowd control
N-Coup / Mutiny rebellion or insubordination by military personnel, includes all coups & attempted coups
N-Death death and the process of dying
N-Declare war formal or official statement that a state of military war exists, excludes "wars on drugs" and other social problems
N-Decline comment explicit decline or refusal to comment on a situation
N-Defy open defiance of laws and norms, civil disobedience
N-Denounce condemn, denigrate, name-calling
N-Deny accusation deny, negate or disaffirm allegation or accusations
N-Deport deport individuals and groups
N-Disavow disavow, distance or disassociate from attributed positions, roles or policies
N-Discuss direct talks, meetings (anywhere) and negotiations, in person or via telecommunications
N-Ease restriction extend civil liberties or economic freedom, release or set people free, pardon, amnesty, commute or reduce sentence, relax censorship
N-Ease sanctions interrupt, suspend, void, terminate or lessen a non-physical (force) or military sanction, reduce fine or penalty, return property and withdrawal of troops
N-Elections public elections and referenda
N-Empathize express condolences or sympathy, forgive, reconcile, attend funerals and other ceremonies
N-Endorsement nominate, support or sponsor people or policies
N-Exclude banish, expel, exclude, evict, excommunicate, disqualify individuals and groups, fire employees
N-Explain explanation of policy or future position
N-Extend economic aid extending (must include the delivery) monetary aid and financial guarantees, grants, gifts and credit
N-Extend military aid extending military and police assistance, including arms and personnel, includes military and police peacekeeping, and joint military exercises
N-Extend other aid extending non-military / non-economic assistance, including civil training, development assistance, education & training, humanitarian aid & monitoring elections
N-Formal protest file a formal complaint or protest, includes impeachment and recall procedures and petition drives
N-Give warning warn of danger, express caution, sound alarm, admonish, excludes implicit military threats
N-Halt negotiations abrupt or abnormal stop / interruption of talks or negotiations
N-Harass intimidation and stalking
N-Hide / Elude flee, hide or escape from capture or seizure
N-Host hosting an invited visitor
N-Illness / Injuries illnesses, injuries
N-Improve relations begin, improve or resume an activity or relations, formally acknowledge or extend diplomatic recognition
N-Invite extend invitation to visit
N-Issue order compel, insist on compliance, lay claim to some object or territory, assert control or ownership
N-Legislate laws propose bills, enact laws, declare resolutions & edicts
N-Litigation official court and judicial proceedings, but not rulings
N-Market transactions non-military financial and commercial transactions, barter exchanges & sales
N-Military air display public demonstration or testing of airborne military capabilities not involving combat operations
N-Military alert reported increase in the military readiness of a conventional armed force
N-Military blockade use of armed (military, police or security) forces to seal off a territory to prevent exit or entry of goods or personnel
N-Military border fortification explicit attempt to publicly demonstrate military control over a border area
N-Military border violation belligerent crossing by armed (military, police or security) forces, without engagement, of a recognized boundary
N-Military clash ambiguous initiation of military hostilities or engagement between armed forces, includes truce violations (use as default for war and battles)
N-Military mobilization activation of all or part of previously inactive armed forces, arms races, military exercises, training and arms displays
N-Military naval display public demonstration or testing of naval armed forces not involving combat operations
N-Military occupation use of armed (military) forces to occupy the whole or part of a territory
N-Military raid initiation of the use of armed (military, police or security) forces to fire upon another armed force, population or territory
N-Military seizure capture of military material, troops or other prisoners of war by armed (military) forces
N-Military troops display public demonstration or testing land based armed (military) forces not involving combat operations
N-Neutral comment neutral or ambiguous comment on a situation
N-Nuclear alert / Testing reported increase in military readiness of a nuclear force and nuclear testing
N-Occupy occupations and incursions by non-military individuals or groups not involving combat operations
N-Offer proposal offer incentives, suggest talks, propose resolution or truce, initiate contingent improved relations, offers to mediate
N-Optimistic comment optimistic or positive comment on a situation
N-Organizational Adjustments routine organizational changes, restructuring, appointments & dismissals not otherwise classified
N-Performances performing arts and entertainment events and exhibitions, excluding sports
N-Pessimistic comment pessimistic or negative comment on a situation
N-Physical attack armed conflict or physical battering, beating or raping, organized by an armed group against another group, includes snipers
N-Physical punishment sanctioned physical (body) punishment
N-Praise acclaim, commend, extol, laud, offer thanks or appreciation, give prize or award, bestow honor
N-Promise assistance promise human (non-material) assistance, including technicians, experts and observers
N-Promise material support promise material support, including supplies, armaments & economic aid
N-Promise policy support promise to use influence or to support in a political manner, give general expression of support
N-Protest altruism self-depriving appeal (typically civil disobedience)
N-Protest ceremony protest ceremonies, and symbolic displays including vigils and standing displays
N-Protest delay deliberately abstaining from or postponing an activity, suspend operations, work to the rule, filibuster
N-Protest march protests moving from one location to another
N-Protest obstruction impede or block action
N-Protest picket picketing, placarding, displays
N-Protest rally protest rally, gathering, demonstration
N-Protest--other miscellaneous (and default) protest demonstrations not otherwise categorized
N-Reduce activity withdraw representative, suspend or reduce diplomatic privilege, lockout, back away from or distance
N-Reduce aid reduce or halt current aid or assistance, withhold promised support
N-Refuse / Object disagree or object, refuse to allow or acknowledge, restrict or suspend liberties, invoke martial law
N-Reject proposal reject proposal or request
N-Release / Return release people and return property
N-Riot outbreaks of unruly turmoil, includes violence and destruction in non-battle contexts
N-Rulings judgments, judicial rulings, sentences and decisions, including the imposition of fines and penalties
N-Sanction--economic professional & labor strikes, excludes judicial fines and penalties (default sanction)
N-Sanction--social general, social & political strikes, ostracism, blackball, disclosure, withhold political support (use Sanction for unspecified costs)
N-Seek information investigate, search for information, carry out search warrants
N-Seize Possession non-military seizure, theft or confiscation, spying
N-Shelter / Protect offer protection or refuge, grant asylum
N-Solicit support request political support or solicit use of political influence, including electoral campaigning and lobbying
N-Sports events sporting games, competitions and exhibitions
N-Support rallies support rallies, celebrations, public displays of support, except commemorations
N-Threaten military war explicit threat to declare a state of military war
N-Threaten ultimatum explict threat with a definitive ultimatum
N-Threaten--military attack explicit threat to use armed forces in a military attack or invasion
N-Threaten--military blockade explicit threat to use armed ships, airplanes or military troops to prevent entry or exit
N-Threaten--military occupation explicit threat to use armed (military) forces to occupy the whole or part of a territory
N-Threaten--nuclear explicit threat to use a nuclear weapon against armed forces, a population or territory
N-Threaten--physical force explicit threat or ultimatum to use physical (but not military) force to injure or kill people (use Threaten for unspecified costs)
N-Threaten--sanction explicit threat or ultimatum to impose an economic social or political sanction (use Threaten for unspecified costs)
N-Threaten--unspecified explicit threat or ultimatum to impose negative but unspecified cost or interest (default threat)
N-Torture gross human rights abuses and torture, mutilation, maiming, disfigurement, deprivation, "disappearing," massacres and genocide
N-Truce actually reduce, abate, halt or suspend physical (force) hostilities, begin cease fire or truce, (contrast with proposals and agreements to future actions)
N-Vandalism deliberately disabling, defacing or destroying things (not in the context of military attacks & riots), excludes symbolic destruction (e.g.. Flag burning)
N-Veto refuse to assent to formal rejection of legislative bill, recommendation or resolution
N-Visit travel to visit a (hosted) meeting
N-Weather events weather related incidents and natural disasters
N-Yield possession give up, release, cede control, abandon or surrender territory or property in the face of coercion
N-Yield to order submit to arrest, surrender, obey an order or demand