2018 Strasbourg attack, Background
Christkindelsmärik is the Alsatian dialect name of the Christmas market in Strasbourg, held annually on the square in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral since 1570. In 2000, a bombing plot was foiled by the French and German police when Al-Qaeda-linked operatives had planned to detonate pressure cookers rigged as bombs in the crowd at the Christkindelsmärik. Since then, the market has been under reinforced security. In 2016, several people were arrested in Marseille and Strasbourg for planning a terrorist attack; officials considered cancelling the Christmas market, but it was ultimately held as scheduled.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Background
On the morning of 11 December 2018, the police raided the home of Chérif Chekatt in Neudorf with the intention of arresting him on suspicion of attempted murder. He was not at home, but they found a stun grenade, a loaded .22 calibre rifle, four knives, and ammunition.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attack
The attack started at approximately 19:50 local time (18:50 UTC) near Place Kléber, where the Christkindelsmärik was being held. Chérif Chekatt entered the area through Pont du Corbeau, then went through Rue des Orfèvres, opening fire and stabbing people in three different locations, first at Carré-d'Or (Rue des Orfèvres), then Rue des Grandes-Arcades. The attack lasted ten minutes and took place in multiple streets, during which time Chekatt was heard shouting "Allahu akbar" as he attacked members of the crowd.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attack
He then exchanged fire with soldiers of Opération Sentinelle, and then with the National Police; a soldier was hit in the hand, and Chekatt was shot in the arm. A 45-year-old Thai tourist was hit in the head in front of a restaurant and died, despite a passersby attempting to resuscitate him; ambulances took over 45 minutes to arrive.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attack
Chekatt then escaped in the direction of Neudorf and Place de l'Étoile, taking a taxi cab; the driver was unharmed and reported to the police having taken an armed and wounded man. His testimony allowed the police to identify the gunman, as the man bragged about killing people and having a grenade at home. Two days after the attack, Chekatt's gun was revealed to be a Modèle 1892 revolver.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attack
Initially, 350 men of the security forces hunted for Chekatt, supported by air units. Five hundred more men joined the next day, with a further 1,300 planned to join as reinforcements. The incident led to the closure of locations around the city, including the European Parliament building. Police used Twitter to relay information to the public. The French government raised their security threat level to the highest possible as the search continued, though Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet stated on Public Sénat that a state of emergency would not be declared for the incident.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attack
Five thousand people were stranded in a sports facility used as temporary shelter, and the European Parliament was put on lockdown. President Antonio Tajani tweeted that the European Parliament "will not be intimidated by terrorist or criminal attacks" and will "continue to work and react, strengthened by freedom and democracy against terrorist violence". The incident was declared an act of terrorism by French authorities.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Victims
Five people were killed; two died at the scene and three others in hospital, while 11 others were injured, four critically. The first of the dead to be identified was a 45-year-old male tourist from Thailand who was shot multiple times and died at the scene. He was on holiday with his wife, who was also shot, but survived.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Victims
The others were a French 61-year-old former bank employee; a 45-year-old local male mechanic and Muslim originally from Afghanistan who died two days later, Antonio Megalizzi, a 29-year-old journalist from Italy covering the European Parliament plenary session, who died on 14 December; and Barto Pedro Orent-Niedzielski, a 36-year-old French-Polish national who died on 16 December.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
The perpetrator was Chérif Chekatt (French pronunciation: [ʃɛʁif ʃɛkat]), a 29-year-old man born of a retired national French-Algerian delivery driver, characterised as a "hardened criminal" who "converted to rigorous Islam".


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
According to French authorities, Chekatt had been known to police since the age of 10 and he had his first criminal conviction by age 13. He was known to security services for a total of 27 convictions in France, Germany, and Switzerland, arising from 67 recorded crimes in France alone. His criminal activities started with petty crime, robbery and drug dealing.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
French police considered him a "gangster-jihadist", a term referring to people convicted of various crimes and "radicalised" in prison. Chekatt was released from prison in France in 2015, then received a prison sentence for theft in Singen, Germany and was expelled to France after his release in 2017.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
Chekatt was tagged with a fiche "S" ("State Security" file), a type of extra-judiciary document that French State Security uses to keep track of suspect individuals while not necessarily keeping surveillance on them. He was listed for his recent "religious radicalisation" and for "Islamic extremism". Neighbours said that he seemed quite ordinary, comparing him to his more traditional brother. His German lawyer told media that "he was just an ordinary criminal. It was no special case. We didn't notice any radicalisation."


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
Secretary of State Laurent Nuñez stated that Chekatt had become a "terrorism apologist" in prison, but had not been expected to perform an attack. On the morning of the attack, local police had attempted to arrest him in relation to an attempted murder, but they could not locate him, because Chekatt's father had warned him by SMS that the gendarmes were about to arrest him.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker
Investigators subsequently concluded that Chekatt had made extensive preparations for the attack. He told fellow inmates in 2015 that he would "commit a robbery before departing for Syria or die a martyr", and became "very interested in seeking weapons, according to a friend of the jihadist, Audrey Mondjehi."


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker, Manhunt and Chekatt's death
An investigation was initiated for "murder and acts of terrorism in relation to a criminal enterprise". Four people close to Chekatt were detained for questioning after the shooting, namely his father, who is tagged with a fiche "S" as well because of his religious fundamentalism, his mother, and two of his brothers, both known for their local Salafist affiliation, and a fifth person was taken into custody on 13 December. A search warrant was issued in Algeria for a "very radicalised" third brother, who has his own fiche "S" record because of radicalisation and "contacts with Islamist circles in Strasbourg".


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker, Manhunt and Chekatt's death
Chekatt was still at large after the attack, and an international manhunt began. There were some initial fears that he had escaped to Germany across the Rhine. Immediate efforts for the manhunt included closing the city's A35 autoroute that leads to Switzerland and Germany, a coordinated security reinforcement between Strasbourg and German state police, and suspending the tramway between the city and Kehl in Germany. Ultimately, more than 700 officers were involved in the manhunt. On 12 December at 19:20 (18:20 UTC), the French National Police released a photograph of Chekatt and asked for any witnesses to come forward.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker, Manhunt and Chekatt's death
On the evening of 13 December, police found Chekatt in Strasbourg between Neudorf and the Stade de la Meinau. He fired on officers when they tried to question him and they returned fire, killing him.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Attacker, Manhunt and Chekatt's death
Soon after his death, the Islamic State claimed him as one of their "soldiers" through their propaganda outlet, Amaq. Christophe Castaner, France's interior minister, dismissed the claim as "completely opportunistic". In an interview for France 2 Chekatt's father said his son had been an Islamic State supporter. Nine days after Chekatt's death, a USB key containing a video of him pledging allegiance to the Islamic State was found among his belongings judicial sources said.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Reactions
The leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen, described the attack as an "Islamist massacre". Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the conservative party Les Républicains, called for a strengthening of the laws.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Reactions
Border controls were increased due to Strasbourg's proximity to Germany. The Christmas market was closed on the day after the attack.


2018 Strasbourg attack, Reactions, Conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theorists and some members of the yellow vests movement, which was ongoing at the time of the attack, commented on social media that the shooting was a false flag conspiracy by the French president, to distract attention from the movement's protests. This prompted angry denials from cabinet ministers, who called the claims "disgusting".


2018 Stratosphere 200
The 2018 Stratosphere 200 was the third stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, March 2 in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 134 laps to complete.


2018 Stratosphere 200
In a late race restart, Kyle Busch of Kyle Busch Motorsports was able to hold off a charging Sauter and Moffitt for the last 11 laps to win the race, the 50th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win of his career and the first of the season. To fill out the rest of the podium, Johnny Sauter of GMS Racing and Brett Moffitt of Hattori Racing Enterprises finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.


2018 Stratosphere 200, Background
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.


2018 Stratosphere 200, Practice, First practice
The first practice was held on Thursday, March 1 at 5:05 PM EST. Justin Marks of DGR-Crosley would set the fastest time of the session with a 30.313 and an average speed of 178.141 miles per hour (286.690 km/h).


2018 Stratosphere 200, Practice, Second and final practice
The second and final practice was held on Thursday, March 1 at 7:05 PM EST. Johnny Sauter of GMS Racing would set the fastest time with a 30.114 and an average speed of 179.319 miles per hour (288.586 km/h).


2018 Stratosphere 200, Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, March 2, at 6:05 PM EST. The qualifying system was a single car, single lap, two round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 13-32. Then, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 1-12.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season
The 2018 season is Strømsgodset's twelfth season back in Eliteserien since their promotion in the 2006 season.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Squad, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Transfers, Winter
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Transfers, Winter
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Transfers, Summer
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season, Transfers, Summer
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup
The 2018 Sud Ladies Cup (officially French: 1ère Sud Ladies Cup – Tournoi Maurice Revello) was the first edition of the Sud Ladies Cup women's football tournament. The tournament was named after Maurice Revello, who started the Toulon Tournament in 1967 and died in 2016.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup
It was held in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur from 5 to 10 June 2018. All matches were played in Salon-de-Provence. Similar to the Toulon Tournament, the tournament was contested by under-20 national teams.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup
United States defeated Germany, Haiti and France to sweep all three games and won their first title.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup, Participants
Four participating teams were announced on 9 April 2018. All they were qualified for 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup


2018 Sud Ladies Cup, Goalscorers
26 goals were scored in 6 matches, for an average of 4.33 goals per match.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup, Awards
After the final, the following players were rewarded for their performances during the competition.


2018 Sud Ladies Cup squads
The 2018 Sud Ladies Cup was an international association football tournament held in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. The four national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 22 players; only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.


2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens
The 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens was the twelfth edition of the Sudamérica Rugby Sevens, the continental championship for rugby sevens in South America. Five national teams competed for two slots, not only for the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualification tournament, but also for participation at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.


2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens, Main Tournament
The main South America Sevens series took place over two legs, one in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and one in Viña del Mar, Chile.


2018 Sudan Cup
The 2018 Sudan Cup is the 43rd edition of the Sudanese knockout football competition since its inception in 1990. Al Merrikh triumphed over  Hilal Al-Obied by a score of 4-1.


2018 Sudan Premier League
The 2018 Sudan Premier League is the 47th season of top-tier football in Sudan. The season began on 3 February 2018.


2018 Sudan floods
From July to November 2018, Sudan experienced extensive flooding due to extreme rainfall. The most affected states were Kassala, West Kordofan, and Khartoum. By August 16, at least 23 people had been killed and over 60 injured. By November 5, over 19,640 homes had been destroyed, and an estimated 222,275 people had been affected.


2018 Sudanese protests
The 2018 Sudanese protests were a series of peaceful demonstrations and protest actions nationwide targeting the issues they've been living with for a bit of time. Anti -government rioting has also been occurring nationwide. Anti -austerity and anti-corruption agencies have protested as well, demanding democratic reforms and justice. The movement was suppressed by February 1, while 2 has been killed. Protesters first came into the streets demanding the end of the government and an end to corruption. Clashes erupted between the military as tanks was pulled in and the army was deployed to quell mass unrest from spreading.


2018 Sudanese protests
Bread riots occurred in Omdurman, where the demonstrations first broke out. Tear gas was used to disperse protesters who pelted rocks and demanded an end to spiralling food inflation and pressure on doctors. Doctors, students and mothers all joined the protest movement, leading to more violence. The large-scale civil unrest was suppressed on 28 January-1 February when 2 was killed in various acts of Civil disobedience. Massive disorder also rocked Khartoum but was suppressed brutally but ultimately, it led to the Sudanese Revolution.


2018 Sudbury District municipal elections
Elections were held in the organized municipalities in the Sudbury District of Ontario on October 22, 2018 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.


2018 Sugar Bowl
The 2018 Sugar Bowl was a College Football Playoff semifinal bowl game that was played on January 1, 2018 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The 84th Sugar Bowl game, it matched two of the top four teams selected by the Selection Committee to compete for a spot at the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 8, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It was one of the 2017–18 bowl games that concluded the 2017 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Allstate insurance company, the game is officially known as the Allstate Sugar Bowl.


2018 Sugar Bowl
The contest was televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with a radio broadcast on ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio, with kickoff at 8:00 PM CT (9:00 PM ET).


2018 Sugar Bowl, Teams
The #1-ranked Clemson Tigers, champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, faced the #4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, co-champions of the SEC West Division (along with Auburn who won head-to-head over Alabama.) This was the third consecutive year in which Clemson and Alabama met in the CFPs, though the previous two meetings were in the CFP Championship Game.


2018 Sugar Bowl, Notes
This was Alabama's first Sugar Bowl win of the Nick Saban era. This was also their first win in a Sugar bowl since 1993 against Miami. The Tide had lost games in the 2008–2009, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015 football/bowl seasons. This was also the first win for the Southeastern Conference in the Sugar Bowl since 2010 (Ole Miss has to vacate a win over Oklahoma State), including losses to Louisville, Oklahoma (twice) and Ohio State (twice).


2018 Sugar Bowl, Game summary
The Crimson Tide immediately took a 10–3 lead at halftime. Alex Spence was the only player to score for the Clemson Tigers with just two field goals. Alabama's defense was a huge factor in the game holding the Tigers to only six points. This matchup was a rematch of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship in which the Tigers won with quarterback Deshaun Watson leading the team as the game's MVP. The Tigers were not able to perform without Watson and with Kelly Bryant.


2018 Sukabumi landslide
On afternoon 31 December 2018, a landslide struck a settlement in the village of Sirnaresmi in Sukabumi Regency, Indonesia, striking 30 houses and killing at least 18 people. The settlement, populated by around 100 people, was located in a landslide-prone area.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Location
The impacted areas were in Cigareohong kampung, Cimapag hamlet, Sirnaresmi village, Cisolok subdistrict, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. The settlement is located within the Mount Halimun Salak National Park, at the foot of a steep hill. Cisolok routinely experiences landslides, with one official remarking that landslides occurred there "every year since 2010". The already loose soil of the area was made more vulnerable by agricultural terracing and lack of strong vegetation roots.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Location
Sirnaresmi, which is listed as a "cultural village", has settlements spread across altitudes ranging from 300 to 600 meters above sea level with hilly terrain and high inclination. The impacted area was populated by 107 people, living in 32 households.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Landslide
Shortly before sunset on 31 December, around 5:30 p.m. local time, the landslide struck and buried 30 houses out of 32. Eyewitness accounts noted that at the time of the landslide, there was no rain, and some reported hearing a loud booming noise.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Casualties
By 10 a.m. the following day, on New Years' Day, 5 dead bodies had been recovered, 3 had been confirmed injured, while 61 residents had been confirmed safe. By 3 January, 18 dead had been recovered with 15 missing. Some of the bodies were found buried under four meters of mud, with four additional survivors being found under the mud although one, an infant, died at hospital.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Response
Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho noted that early search and rescue operations used manual equipment - with the hundreds of rescuers, locals, police, soldiers and volunteers, using their hands, shovels and hoes - due to poor road access to the affected areas, further strained by disaster tourists. Sutopo also said that across the country, 40.9 million people live in landslide-prone areas. A local military district commander gave a figure of 1,066 people involved in the evacuation. Evacuation procedures was briefly halted on 1 January due to inconsistent weather which was deemed too risky for SAR operations.


2018 Sukabumi landslide, Response
The Social Ministry provided Rp 15 million (around USD 1000) in aid for the families of all the fatalities. West Java governor Ridwan Kamil proposed to adopt two children orphaned by the landslide. Head of BNPB Willem Rampangilei - which was set to retire on 2 January - was requested by President Joko Widodo to visit the site, and his replacement's swearing in was delayed. The Indonesian government agreed to finance relocation of the affected victims to a less dangerous area.


2018 Sukma Games
The 2018 Sukma Games, officially known as the 19th Sukma Games was a multi-sport event held in Perak from 11 to 22 September 2018. This was Perak's second time to host the Sukma Games and its first time since 1994.


2018 Sukma Games
The games was held from 11 to 22 September 2018, although several events had commenced from 8 September 2018. Around 7464 athletes from 13 states, Federal Territory and Brunei participated at the games which featured 427 events in 29 sports. The games was opened by Nazrin Shah, the Sultan of Perak at the Perak Stadium.


2018 Sukma Games
The final medal tally was led by Terengganu, followed by host Federal Territory and Selangor. 5 national and 27 games records were broken during the games. Sabahan archer Eugenius Lo Foh Soon and Terengganuan sprinter Azreen Nabila Alias were announced as best sportsman and best sportswoman of the games respectively.


2018 Sukma Games, Host city
On 15 May 2015, during the Sukma executive committee meeting chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the committee jointly awarded Perak and Johor the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2020 Sukma Games respectively.


2018 Sukma Games, Development and Preparation, Venues
On 29 May 2016, the federal government allocated RM152 million to the Perak state government for organising the Games. This included RM 20 million that was spent on renovation and repair works for some old sporting facilities such as Perak Stadium, Velodrome Rakyat and Stadium Indera Mulia, and the rebuilding of Ipoh City Council Swimming Complex. The government also states that all 12 districts of Perak will host at least one sporting event.


2018 Sukma Games, Development and Preparation, Volunteers
The organisers estimated that around 3000 volunteers are needed to successfully host the games.


2018 Sukma Games, Development and Preparation, Baton relay
A relay of baton (which resembles a torch) was held statewide, began and ended at the host city on 2 and 11 September respectively.


2018 Sukma Games, Marketing, Motto
The official motto of the games is "Wow! Kita Hebat!" (Wow! We are great!). Wow is the acronym for World of Wonders, a recognition given by Lonely Planet to Perak during the Visit Perak 2017 tourism campaign.


2018 Sukma Games, Marketing, Logo
The official logo of the 2018 Sukma Games is an image that combines the elements of human and water wave. The human element symbolises the fighting spirit of the athletes at the highest level to achieve success and their positivity, while the water wave element represents the Perak River as the second longest river in Peninsular Malaysia that is the source of the basic needs for all Perak citizens. It was launched on 21 January 2018 at the Bulatan Amanjaya in Ipoh alongside the motto, mascot and the theme song.


2018 Sukma Games, Marketing, Mascot
The official mascot of the 2018 Sukma Games is a Seladang or a Malayan Gaur named "Chor". In Perak, Chor is a name given to anyone in the local community who is the eldest in the family in the Perak Malay dialect. The mascot is designed to wear white sports attire, with its cheeks in yellow, both are which colours of the Perak state flag. It was chosen to portray physical and mental strength and burning spirit of overcoming challenges in sports.


2018 Sukma Games, Marketing, Theme song
The theme song of the 2018 Sukma Games is “Wow! Kita The Greatest!” (Wow! We are the greatest!). It was composed and sung by Renowned composer and award-winning singer Datuk Wah Idris.


2018 Sukma Games, The games, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was held on 11 September 2018 at the Perak Stadium at 8:00 pm.


2018 Sukma Games, The games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held on 22 September 2018 at the Perak Stadium at 8:00 pm.


2018 Sukma Games, The games, Sports
On 12 December 2017, sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that weightlifting, sepaktakraw and taekwondo have been dropped from the list of 19 core sports as well as the games' sports list due to decline in performances, doping issues as well as power struggles within the associations, leaves only 16 core sports for the 2018 edition. This decision however had drawn dissatisfaction from several sports council across the country including Sarawak and the Federal Territory.


2018 Sukma Games, The games, Sports
On 8 February 2018 after a discussion with the sports associations involved in the issue, Ahmad Shapawi announced during an organising committee meeting that weightlifting, sepaktakraw and taekwondo were reinstated as the games events but only as elective sports. At the same time, a total of 29 sports were confirmed as part of the games programme.


2018 Sukma Games, 2018 Sopma Games
The deaf national games known as the 2018 Sopma Games (20th Sopma Games) was held from 15 to 20 October 2018. The opening ceremony was held on 15 October 2018 at 7 pm, while the closing ceremony was held on 20 October 2018 at 7 pm. 551 athletes from 13 states and the federal territories participated at the games. 42 events were featured in 5 sports competed.


2018 Sukma Games, 2018 Para Sukma Games
The disabled national games known as the 2018 Para Sukma Games (19th Para Sukma Games) was held from 23 to 28 November 2018.


2018 Sukma attack
On 13 March 2018, at least nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and six others were injured when Maoists blew up a mine-protected vehicle with an IED in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, India.


2018 Sukma attack, Background
The attack came almost eleven days after Indian security personnel killed 10 alleged Naxalites in the forests of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on 2 March. It also came almost a year after at least 25 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest attacks by Maoist rebels.


2018 Sukma attack, Incident
On 13 March 2018, an IED blast occurred when a contingent of CRPF's 212th battalion was patrolling in a mine-protected vehicle in the forest of Kistaram area in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. At least nine Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and six others were injured in the attack. The blast ripped the vehicle apart and some dead bodies were found 20 to 30 feet away from the blast site. The injured were airlifted for treatment in Raipur.


2018 Sukma attack, Incident
According to Special Director General CRPF D. M. Awasthi, "There were about 11 men in the vehicle. A patrolling party was going from Kistaram to Palodi in an anti-landmine vehicle which was targeted by Naxals with an IED". He said that, "they were only 1km from the nearest camp in Palodi". According to him, "there is an exchange of fire almost on a daily basis. The security forces have been running an aggressive campaign against Naxalites".


2018 Sukma attack, Incident
The security forces are trying to figure out if the attack was carried out by a single group of Naxals or multiple.


2018 Sukma attack, Arrests
Seven individuals, identified by authorities as Komram Sade, Madkam Joga, Madkam Hindwa, Mandvi Sukka, Madkam Ganga, Vanjam Aayta and Vanjam Singha, have been arrested and are being investigated on suspicion of involvement with the attack. Athhorities assert that all seven members of the "Jan Militia". All are residents of Kistram in Sukma.


2018 Sukma attack, Reaction
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in a tweet expressed anguish at the attack and saluted the CRPF personnel who lost their lives. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families and stated that, "we remain firm in our resolve to take on and defeat all forms of terrorism".


2018 Sukma attack, Reaction
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet saluted the CRPF personnel who were killed in the attack and said that, "the nation stands shoulder to shoulder" with the families and friends of those killed "in this hour of grief".


2018 Sukma attack, Reaction
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed distress in a tweet. He also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in Sukma blast and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He further stated that, "I spoke to DG CRPF regarding the Sukma incident and asked him to leave for Chhattisgarh".


2018 Sukma attack, Reaction
Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh condemned the "cowardly attack".


2018 Sukma attack, Reaction
Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the attack mirrors a "deteriorating internal security situation due to flawed policies". He called the attack "tragic" and expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished speedy recovery to those injured.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami
On 28 September 2018, a shallow, large earthquake struck in the neck of the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia, with its epicentre located in the mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi. The magnitude 7.5 quake was located 70 km (43 mi) away from the provincial capital Palu and was felt as far away as Samarinda on East Kalimantan and also in Tawau, Malaysia. This event was preceded by a sequence of foreshocks, the largest of which was a magnitude 6.1 tremor that occurred earlier that day.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami
Following the mainshock, a tsunami alert was issued for the nearby Makassar Strait. A localised tsunami struck Palu, sweeping shore-lying houses and buildings on its way. The combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami led to the deaths of an estimated 4,340 people. This makes it the deadliest earthquake to strike the country since the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, as well as the deadliest earthquake worldwide in 2018, surpassing the previous earthquake that struck Lombok nearly 2 months earlier, killing more than 500. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) confirmed that a tsunami had been triggered, with its height reaching an estimated maximum of 4 to 7 metres (13 to 23 ft), striking the settlements of Palu, Donggala and Mamuju along its path.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami
The earthquake caused major soil liquefaction in areas in and around Palu. In two locations this led to mudflows in which many buildings became submerged causing hundreds of deaths with many more missing. The liquefaction was considered to be the largest in the world and was deemed as rare.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tectonic setting
Sulawesi lies within the complex zone of interaction between the Australian, Pacific, Philippine and Sunda Plates in which many small microplates are developed. The main active structure onshore in the western part of Central Sulawesi is the left-lateral NNW-SSE trending Palu-Koro strike-slip fault that forms the boundary between the North Sula and Makassar blocks. The rate of slip along this fault is estimated to be in the range 30–40 mm per year. At Palu, there are several parallel fault strands defining the margins of a pull-apart basin, each of which take up some of the overall slip. Several major earthquakes have been attributed to movement on this fault since 1900 and three larger events in the last 2,000 years have been deduced from studies of the fault zone. In 2017 a study recognised this fault as representing the greatest seismic risk in eastern Indonesia.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Foreshocks
The mainshock was preceded by a sequence of foreshocks starting about three hours earlier with a M6.1 event, followed by several others, all located in the area immediately south of the mainshock epicentre.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Foreshocks
The first foreshock occurred at 15:00 WITA (Indonesia Central Standard Time). The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km with a magnitude of 5.9 ML(BMKG). The USGS registered the size of the quake as 6.1 Mw . Strong shaking was felt in Donggala. At least 1 person was killed by fallen debris while 10 others were injured. Authorities confirmed that dozens of structures were either damaged or destroyed in the quake.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Mainshock
The mainshock occurred at 18:02 WITA, during rush hour traffic. The shaking was felt as far away as Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan, to the west and Makassar in the south. It was also felt in several parts in Gorontalo, located on the north and was also felt in Tawau, Malaysia. Violent shaking was reported in Donggala and Palu. Blackouts occurred throughout the area and telecommunications went down. The state-owned Telkomsel reported that more than 500 wireless communication towers had been damaged by the earthquake.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Mainshock
The earthquake happened during the 40th anniversary of the city of Palu. To commemorate the anniversary, the Government of Palu on each year holds a festival, the Palu Nomoni Festival, with its starting point from Wina Hotel to Talise Beach, stretching almost 3.8 kilometres on the coast of Palu. Hundreds of people had gathered on the beach. The festival was expected to attract international paragliders as an international paragliding event was also being held as a part of the festival. Hotel owners in Palu reported that the number of guests had risen significantly due to the festival. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the festival was resumed.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Mainshock
The mainshock magnitude was initially reported as M7.7 by both the USGS and BMKG. The USGS later revised their estimate to M7.5. The focal mechanism of the earthquake showed that it was caused by strike-slip faulting on faults trending either roughly north–south or west–east. Further analysis of seismic waveforms suggests that a fault trending north–south gives a better fit. The earthquake was caused by movement on the Palu-Koro fault. Geodetic evidence suggests that about 150 km of the fault ruptured.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Mainshock
During the mainshock, the rupture propagated at speeds in excess of the S-wave velocity as determined by back-projection of teleseismic data, and supported by satellite geodesy. The possibility of supershear rupture on the Palu-Koro Fault was raised in 2017.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Mainshock
Indonesian authorities confirmed that no one had been able to contact a single person from Donggala, the closest town to the epicentre. As of 1 October, contacts were still hampered by downed telecommunication lines.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Aftershocks
The mainshock was followed by a series of aftershocks, with 14 of M≥5.0 in the first 24 hours. Since then, a total of 150 aftershocks have struck the region.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Earthquake, Intensity
The earthquake was felt over a wide area. The strongest shaking was felt in Palu with a maximum intensity of IX (violent), according to the United States Geological Survey. energy released by the quake was 200 times to that released in the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Analysis also showed that the shoreline which was located near the rupture in Palu and Donggala had a decrease on its height. Height drops of 0.5–1 meter were recorded, while an increase of height of around 0.3 cm was recorded in Banawa.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
A tsunami warning was issued in Palu and Donggala at 18:07 WITA. Warnings were sent via SMS by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information. Residents of Donggala were told to expect tsunamis with heights of 0.5 to 3 metres, while residents in Palu were told to expect tsunamis with heights of less than 0.5 metres. The tsunami, however, struck higher than expected. Residents of Palu reported waves with heights of more than 2 metres while several others stated that the waves managed to reach the second floor.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
Indonesian officials calculated the estimated time of arrival of the tsunami. Calculations suggested that the tsunami would arrive in Palu approximately 20 minutes after the earthquake. Around 18:27 WITA, the Indonesian meteorological agency (BMKG) in Mamuju detected tsunamis. A tsunami warning was issued, and later lifted.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
The BMKG claimed the warning was lifted after the tsunami had struck, the timing is clear, but since there was a one-hour time difference between the sunset in Palu and Java where many Indonesian in social media reside, many thought the warning was lifted before the tsunami hit, because the video that circulating around was after the sunset, while the warning lifted around 18:27 WITA it was 17:27 WIB for most of these people reside where the sun is still high up, resulting in the agency being criticized on social media.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
Even though officials did send warnings via telephone and television, tsunami alarms were not activated. The Palu Nomoni Festival in Talise Beach continued and most of the festival attendees did not realize that there was a possibility of a tsunami. Eyewitnesses even stated that some people were still strolling on the beach when the tsunami struck. It was estimated that hundreds were caught off guard and swept away by the waves.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) later admitted that the tsunami detectors in Palu were damaged in the earthquake. The shaking was violent enough to damage the tsunami detectors in Palu, as further examination revealed that none of the detectors were able to send signals to alert residents.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
As Palu was located at the end of a narrow bay, the tsunami's force was intensified when the waters entered. Officials confirmed that the waves that struck Palu had actually reached a height of 5 metres, with some as nearly as high as 6 metres.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Tsunami
The tsunami surprised geologists. It was expected to be at a low height, no more than about 2 metres, since the earthquake was a strike-slip earthquake, which usually don't have enough vertical movement to create large tsunamis. One explanation is that the earthquake triggered underwater landslides, causing the tsunami. A study of coastal liquefaction has suggested that 84% of the tsunami amplitude was a result of the combined effect of coastal and submarine landslides, based on an analysis of tide gauge records at Pantoloan. Newer research suggests the earthquake created about 1.5 meters of vertical seafloor movement, which, combined with a very fast rupture speed, could have produced the tsunami, regardless of any landslides.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
More than 70,000 houses are reported to be damaged, forcing tens of thousands of people to live in shelters and tents. In Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, 1 mosque and a major section of the Antapura Hospital collapsed. Palu's Tatura Mall, one of the oldest shopping centres in Palu, collapsed, trapping dozens of people. An eight-story hotel, identified as the Roa-Roa Hotel, had also collapsed, trapping numerous hotel guests, several of whom were participants of the Palu's annual paragliding festival. At the time of the earthquake, 76 of the 80 bedrooms of the hotel were occupied.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Palu's Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport was forced to close as large cracks, one of which was 500 meters long, had been formed on the runway. Airport officials confirmed that the navigation system was damaged and the control tower of the airport collapsed. An air traffic controller, who was watching the take-off roll of Batik Air 6231 during the earthquake, was killed due to internal injuries. Major structural damage was also reported in the airport, with the roof the airport's terminal reportedly caved in. The airport was reopened for limited operation on 29 September 2018. Due to the damage in the airport, hundreds of passengers were stranded and were told to wait in the airport's apron. Normal operation returned on service on 30 September.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Authorities confirmed that numerous settlements and residential areas, including more than a thousand homes, had been destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami also caused major damage to ports in Palu. In Pantoloan Harbour, a Quay crane collapsed and was swept by the tsunami. In Wani Harbour, structural damage was reported, while Ogoamas Harbour moved 3 cm to its right due to the earthquake. The IAIN Datokarama Palu, a university in Palu, was severely damaged by the tsunami.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Officials confirmed that Palu's iconic bridge, the Kuning Ponulele Bridge (Jembatan Palu IV), which was also the first arch bridge in Indonesia, was destroyed by the earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. Roads to and from the city, connecting it to Makassar and Poso, were also severely damaged. There were also reports of landslides.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Of the 24 mosques in Palu, 20 were severely damaged. Only a few survived, including the iconic Floating Mosque of Palu which was partially submerged underwater. The worst-hit mosque was the Baiturrahman Mosque where 300 worshippers were killed during the evening prayers.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Communication to the affected area was severely hampered, with President Joko Widodo being initially unable to contact governor Longki Djanggola. Ministry of Communication and Information Technology announced that 1,678 base transceiver station in Central Sulawesi were damaged by the earthquake and disaster. Local hospitals were damaged, with the Director of the Palu Undata Hospital opting to treat victims outside of the hospital and made a public plea for tents, medicine, canvas, and nurses. A warden for a prison in Palu reported that more than half of its 560 inmates fled in panic as the prison walls collapsed.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
An assessment made by the Ministry of Education and Culture showed that nearly 3,000 schools had been damaged by the earthquake and tsunami and more than 100,000 students and 20,000 teachers were affected. Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendi stated that a period of minimum 1 year would be needed to rebuild and repair the damaged schools in the affected areas.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, prisoners in the Donggala Penitentiary in Central Sulawesi rioted and set the prison on fire as they demanded to be met by their families. At least 100 prisoners managed to escape. The prison reportedly suffered severe damage.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman stated that the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent soil liquefaction damaged 9,718 hectares of crops throughout Palu, Sigi and Donggala, costing 36 billion rupiah in damage.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Damage
Overall damage cost from combination of earthquake, tsunami and liquifaction is Rp 18 Trillion


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
Parts of Central Sulawesi have been hit by major mudflows following the earthquake as a result of liquefaction. The most affected areas are the Petobo sub-district in southern Palu and the village of Balaroa, just outside the city, both locations some distance from the coast.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
In Petobo, at least 34 Indonesian students from a Bible camp were killed, but it is suspected that many others are dead. Most of the districts 744 houses have been destroyed and 200 bodies have so far been retrieved. Survivors of the mudflow in Petobo stated that as soon as the earthquake struck, 2-meter-high mud came out from the ground. Survivors also recalled that the ground immediately turned into liquid-like substance. Hundreds of houses sank into the soil and hundreds of people were drowned by the mudflow. Out of the 13,000 inhabitants in Petobo, 6,000 are thought to have been buried by the mud. Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management announced that 2,050 houses were destroyed by the mudflow in Petobo and an area of 180 hectares were shifted by the liquefaction.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
Balaroa almost disappeared as the ground collapsed, with most of the village's 1,747 houses sinking into the mud. Of the 2,000 inhabitants, 600 are known to have died, while more than a thousand are still missing. The liquefaction reportedly shifted an area of 47,8 hectares. Several places were shifted to the north while several others were shifted to the west and southwest.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
Major soil liquefaction was reported in Sigi Regency, which was located south of Palu. Numerous eyewitnesses stated that the total amount of liquid released by the soil was so immense that buildings and structures were swept away. There were also reports that a whole village was gone. The liquefaction shifted an area of 202 hectares.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
The major liquefaction shifted hundreds of structures in Palu and Sigi. In Sigi, the Jono Oge village was shifted 3 km from its initial position. The village was replaced by corn fields, which was also shifted from the mountain up in the north of the village. The liquefaction also reportedly managed to shift the overhead electrical tower in the area to several hundred meters from its initial position. In Palu, hundreds of houses "crashed into each other" when the liquefaction occurred, with some shifted to the north and some shifted to the southwest. Roads also became twisted due to the liquefaction. Similar report also came from Balaroa where houses reportedly spun and crashed into each other. The liquefaction in Jono Oge and Palu was recorded on camera.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Mudflows
On 11 October, the Indonesian Government decided to stop the search and rescue operation in Petobo, Balaroa and Jono Oge. The Governor of Central Sulawesi Longki Djanggola agreed to build memorial park in Petobo, Balaroa and Jono Oge to commemorate thousands of victims who were killed in the disaster.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties
The 6.1 magnitude foreshock occurred at 15:00 local time while the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on the evening caused severe destruction in Palu, Donggala and Sigi, destroying hundreds of structures. At least 4,340 people are estimated to have died as a result of the disaster and more than 10,000 others injured, of which 4,612 were seriously injured.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Palu
On the evening of 28 September, earthquakes followed by a tsunami struck the city. The first place that was hit by the tsunami was the beach where a festival named Festival Pesona Palu Nomoni was ongoing. The majority of the partygoers were later recovered dead from the beach and the sea. Several others were injured.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Palu
Local residents stated that many bodies were lined and laid on the side of the street and many were also found on the shoreline. The Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla announced the day after the disaster that the death toll will likely rise to more than a thousand, added that he based his statements on his past experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Palu
On 30 September 2018, officials from the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency reported that at least 100 people were trapped inside Tatura Mall, the oldest and the largest shopping center in Palu. Another 50–60 people were still trapped inside the rubble of the 8-story Roa-Roa Hotel, many of whom were heard crying for help. Officials admitted that lack of heavy equipment hampered the search and rescue effort.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Palu
Indonesian authorities stated that at least 200 survivors in Palu will be evacuated with a Hercules C-130 to Makassar, some for further medical treatment. According to officials, nearly 17,000 people in Palu had been displaced by the earthquake and tsunami. The Head of Data, Information and Public Relations Center of Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, stated that around 2.4 million people were affected by the earthquake and tsunami.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Palu
Fearing that diseases might spread, the Indonesian Government decided to bury those who had been identified in mass graves. The Indonesian government had made at least one mass grave measuring 1,000 square meters. The grave could hold as much as 1,000 bodies. The Indonesian Government then added that they would probably make another as thousands of people had died in the provincial capital. On 1 October, at least 53 bodies were buried in another mass grave in Palu.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Donggala
From 28 to 29 September, the victims from Donggala could not be accounted for due to limited access and downed communication lines. In the next days, emergency workers arrived in the city. Donggala was heavily affected by the tsunami, with Banawa District being the worst affected district. Nearly all coastal houses were destroyed by the tsunami, which reportedly had struck Donggala at a height of more than 7 meters. Authorities stated that more than 150 people in Donggala had been killed by the disaster.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Sigi
The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management stated that Sigi Regency was among the area with the most casualties. Reports from the city revealed that "dozens of people" were killed by the earthquake, including the 34 students from a Bible camp that died after being struck by a mudflow. There were also reports of "massive liquefaction" which caused homes to be swept away. Officials also reported that several aftershocks with magnitude of over 5.0 had struck Sigi, damaging more buildings and structures. At least 7 districts in Sigi were cut off due to landslides and damaged roads.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Casualties, Parigi Moutong
Reports of damage were also received from Parigi Moutong. At least a mosque and a temple were damaged by the earthquake. Dozens of homes were also damaged. Authorities stated that at least 15 people in Parigi Moutong were killed while 2 others were missing.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Indonesian President Joko Widodo immediately ordered the Coordinating Minister of Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto to coordinate the relief efforts in the affected areas. He had called the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Hadi Tjahjanto for the emergency responses. He also stated that he will declare the earthquake and tsunami in Palu as a major disaster. He added that he had tried to call the governor of Central Sulawesi, whose office is in the city of Palu. However, due to the downed telecommunication lines, the calls weren't able to be received. He later appealed for calm and urged people not to panic in response to the disaster.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Joko Widodo and several other prominent government officials, including head of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency Bambang Soelistyo, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Hadi Tjahjanto and some of his ministers will visit the hardest hit areas on 30 September.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Coordinating Minister of Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto stated that his Ministry will conduct a joint search and rescue effort with the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian BMKG and the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management. Several personnel had been immediately deployed to the disaster zone. He also added that makeshift hospitals, shelters and crisis centres will be set up in multiple locations.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
A 14-day emergency period, starting from 28 September, was set up in Central Sulawesi. This was later extended to 26 October.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
A minute of silence was held during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Para Games to honour the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information deployed at least 30 satellites phone to recover the communication in Palu. On 30 September 2018, the Ministry deployed 100 satellite phones to Sulawesi. Indonesian Ministry of Internal Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo ordered all regional governments in Indonesia to assist the government of Central Sulawesi in handling the disaster. He added that every regional governments in Sulawesi had been ordered to send emergency services and basic supplies to the survivors. On 29 September, he visited Palu to supervise the relief effort.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Ministry of Health sent dozens of medical team and medicines to the affected areas. The Ministry later stated that it would work together with the Indonesian National Armed Forces for the distribution. Military bases were also notified by the Ministry to send medical team to Palu and Donggala. Ministry of Transportation formed a Quick Response Team in Palu and would evaluate and inspect the infrastructures in the affected areas. Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani announced that the ministry would provide 560 billion rupiah for the recovery effort in Central Sulawesi. Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman sent 500 trucks carrying logistics to Palu and Donggala.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
In response to reports that hundreds of inmates had escaped from prisons throughout Central Sulawesi, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights announced an ultimatum for 1 week to the inmates to report and to return to the prison. A special forces unit was also formed by the ministry.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
State-owned electric company PLN sent 125 personnel to Palu to check the electricity in the affected areas. State-owned petroleum company Pertamina sent 4,000 liters of diesel fuel from Tarakan to Palu. Indonesian National Lines (Pelni) stated that it will not impose fee to any kind of logistics and aid. Telecommunication company Telkom announced that it will provide free wifi services and telecommunication services in the affected areas. This was also followed by Indosat Ooredoo. It stated that residents in the affected area could use SMS service for free. Indonesian Bureau of Logistics sent rice, 5 tonnes of meat and other logistics to Palu and Donggala. Ministry of State-owned enterprises announced that a total of 20,000 LPG tanks had been distributed to 37 locations in Central Sulawesi.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education M. Natsir stated that every college students in Palu who were affected by the disaster would be given scholarship from the government. 38 state universities in Indonesia also offered to the affected college students to temporarily study in their university.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
The regional government of Jakarta announced that it would donate a total of 60 billion rupiah for the recovery effort. A total of 83 personnel were also sent to Central Sulawesi. The Government of Toli-Toli Regency sent 25 tonnes of rice, sembako and clothes to Donggala. East Luwu Regency sent 18 trucks carrying logistics, blankets and clothes to Palu, Donggala and Sigi while the regional government of East Java sent volunteers and medical team and donated 5 billion rupiah to the victims.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
The local government of Lamongan, East Java, sent 34 trucks carrying more than 4,000 boxes of mineral water, 15.89 tonnes of rice, 2,000 packages of sembako, canned foods and other aids to Central Sulawesi. West Sumatra sent 1.6 tonnes of rendang and donated 1 billion rupiah to the victims. Gorontalo sent 100 police personnel, 16 social workers, 14 marines, 15 BPBD personnel, 15 personnel from the local Indonesian Red Cross and 100 personnel from Korem 133/NWB. Medical team, ambulance, medicine and aids worth of 256 million rupiah were also sent to Palu and Donggala.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Local government of Boalemo Regency sent blankets, foods and other essential aids as well as medical team and SAR personnel to Palu and Donggala. Disaster response team, Quick Response team, doctors, paramedics, and trucks carrying logistics and medicines were also sent by Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi. Regent of Jeneponto Regency Iksan Iskandar stated that his government will send logistics and donations to the victims of the disaster. East Kalimantan Province sent a ship carrying tents, clothes, and aids to Palu.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Government of West Java donated 2 billion rupiah to the victims while the government of Central Java sent doctors, nurses and personnel from BPBD to Central Sulawesi. Government of Kampar, Riau, sent 3 tonnes of clothes, 4 tonnes of sembako and a donation of 300 million rupiah to Palu and Donggala.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
Helicopters and ships were deployed from Borneo by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency. Regional search and rescue agency from Boolang Mongondow, Kendari and Makassar also sent dozens of personnel to assist the rescue efforts in Sulawesi. Makassar Red Cross stated that they will send 12 personnel and ambulances to the affected areas. Head of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi stated that he had ordered the personnel from the regional search and rescue agency in Gorontalo, Banjarmasin and Balikpapan to assist the rescue operation in Palu.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
In the following days, thousands of people began to evacuate from Palu, either via air or land. The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management noted that, as of 11 October, 18,353 had evacuated from Palu. More than 16,000 people were evacuated to Makassar, Balikpapan or Jakarta. As people began to flee, reports of fuel shortages became widespread. The Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina stated that many of their gas stations had run out of fuel due to the mass exodus. Food shortage was reported throughout the city, and survivors screamed for foods outside a military command in Palu.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
The city of Palu became chaotic as multiple convenience stores were looted. During a live TV broadcast of the rescue mission in Tatura Mall, the rescue attempt was interrupted as dozens of looter raided the mall. The Indonesian National Police initially condoned the looting for "emergency purpose" and the Indonesian Government, including President Joko Widodo and Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Hadi Tjahjanto, initially refuted claims of widespread looting in Palu. The Indonesian Government was also heavily criticized by the public for allowing looting to take place for "emergency reasons".


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
On 2 October, the Indonesian Government ordered the Indonesian National Police to capture any remaining looters. The Indonesian Government later clarified their statement. As aid distribution was hampered due to the destruction in the city, the government announced that any foods, drinks and essential aids that had been taken from any convenience store in Palu would be paid by the government.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response
There were also reports that trucks carrying logistics and fuel were looted in and around the city of Palu. Due to the rising number of looting, soldiers were also dispatched to secure any remaining convenience store and also to secure the aid distribution. The Indonesian National Police dispatched 1,400 personnel to Palu and Donggala while the Indonesian National Armed Forces sent 3 battalion of army. This resulted in minor clashes between authorities and locals.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that, while no official request for assistance had been made as of 29 September, it was ready to assist if international assistance were required. A UN spokesperson echoed this statement, and was in contact with the Government of Indonesia. On 30 September President Joko Widodo agreed to accept international and private sector aid.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
On 30 September 2018, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Korean government will provide $1 million in humanitarian assistance and also consider dispatching Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) after consultation with the relevant ministries and the Indonesian government. On 2 October 2018, Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen announced that two Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130s were en route to Sulawesi to deliver humanitarian supplies–bottled water, meals, tents and medical supplies.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
As requested by the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), both aircraft will stay in Sulawesi to transport survivors to other cities of Indonesia that have better facilities to cope, as the tsunami destroyed much of the existing town. The Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, reported the country would contribute $1.6 million to assist in emergency response efforts, with support and contributions to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Malaysia, through its Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had telephoned Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla to inform him of the dispatchment of the SMART team for search-and-rescue efforts along with a donation of RM500,000 in aid for the victims. Taiwan also dispatched 36 specialists and six sniffer dogs from the New Taipei City Fire Department of the National Fire Agency (NFA) to assist in rescue efforts together with the donation of supplies, a medical team and 10,000 blankets for the victims from the Taiwanese Buddhist humanitarian organisation, the Tzu Chi Foundation. Vietnam offered US$100,000 in relief aid to help the Indonesian people recover from their recent earthquakes and tsunami.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
The Philippine government has pledged $300,000 worth of humanitarian assistance which consist of six units of water filtration systems, six units of generator sets, tents and sleeping kits. The aid will be delivered by a 25-person contingent via a Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane in two batches.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
The European Union on 1 October pledged an initial €1.5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the country. The European Commission also dispatched a humanitarian expert to the region to coordinate European efforts.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
On 2 October, the United States announced they would provide $100,000 through the United States Agency for International Development in initial aid and further assess the conditions on the ground, together with the Indonesian government, to see if more relief efforts are required.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Australia announced that it pledged $500,000 through the Indonesian Red Cross. On 3 October, Australia stated that an additional $5 million in aid would be provided to Indonesia. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated that the $5 million will include emergency healthcare support in the initial phase up to 21 days. Australia also offered assets from the Australian Defence Force to assist the relief effort.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, Osama Mohammed Al Shuaibi, stated that the Saudi Government has distributed 370 tons of basic necessities, 5,000 units of health equipment, and 3,500 tents for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Palu, noting that the aids were from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Qatari Government sent a financial aid of $5 million to Indonesia for the relief effort in Lombok and Central Sulawesi.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that Venezuela would donate a total of $10 million in financial aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, even though the country itself was facing a crisis.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
The Spanish Government sent 255 tents worth of €265,000 and stated that it had allocated a total of €200,000 through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and €100,000 through non-governmental organization Save the Children. Turkish Government sent two Hercules C-130 aircraft carrying 1,000 sleeping bags, 250 tents and Turkish Red Crescent personnel.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Residents in Switzerland set up donation for the victims of the earthquake, with hotlines reportedly set up in the city of Zurich, Geneva, Lugano and Chur. A total of $6.25 million were collected from the public. Swiss News Agency reported that 900 kg of aids and 5 experts were also sent to Sulawesi.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
The Salvation Army's Indonesia Emergency Services Team was activated in response and worked to assess the damage and needs of those injured or displaced by the tsunami. The United Kingdom's defense secretary announced that they were to send a RAF A400M Atlas aircraft, a team of military experts, and HMS Argyll, and make £2m of aid available for the relief effort.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations sent mobile electro-stations and other humanitarian aid.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, stated that Google would donate a total of $1 million for the relief effort and would activate the SOS alert in Palu and Donggala. Apple Inc. also offered to provide financial aid. Both WhatsApp and Facebook donated $1 million to the government of Indonesia.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Response, International and private
Aid deliveries to affected areas are hampered by the vast destruction of the local infrastructure. Most roads are severely damaged and Palu's local airport does not have the capacities to handle the large influx of material, leading to severe delays in aid distribution across the region.


2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami, Aftermath
A month after the quake, 206,524 people had been made refugees. By April 2020, thousands were still without housing or hospital facilities, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
The 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was the 27th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. It was held in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia from 3 to 10 March 2018.


2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
The number of teams for this year's cup was the same as last year's tournament where six teams competed. Japan and New Zealand, who competed previously, did not join this edition and were replaced by Argentina and Ireland. England was Great Britain's only country that participated in this edition.


2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Australia clinched their tenth title in this tournament after defeating England 2–1 in the final match.


2018 Sultan of Johor Cup
The 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup was the eighth edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup, an international men's under–21 field hockey tournament in Malaysia. It was held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from 6 to 13 October 2018.


2018 Sultan of Johor Cup
As in previous editions, a total of six teams competed for the title. The United States who competed in 2017 were absent from the tournament. The team was replaced by New Zealand.


2018 Sultan of Johor Cup, Participating nations
Including the host nation, 6 teams competed in the tournament.


2018 Sultan of Johor Cup, Umpires
A total of eight umpires were appointed by the FIH and National Association to officiate the tournament.


2018 Sultan of Johor Cup, Final ranking
As per statistical convention in field hockey, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics
The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics (Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud de 2018), officially known as the III Summer Youth Olympic Games, and commonly known as Buenos Aires 2018, were an international sports, cultural, and educational event held in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 6 and 18 October 2018. They were the first Youth Olympic Games held outside of Eurasia, and the first Summer Games held outside of Asia and the first to be held in the Western and Southern hemispheres. It was the second Olympic Games held in South America after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Bidding
Six bids were initially submitted for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. Buenos Aires confirmed their bid in September 2011. On 13 February 2013, the IOC selected Buenos Aires as one of the three Candidate Cities for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games. The other two candidate cities were Glasgow and Medellín. Guadalajara and Rotterdam failed to become candidates. Poznań withdrew their bid before the candidate cities were selected.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Bidding
The host city election vote was held at an IOC Session in Lausanne. The results were as follows:


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
In October 2013, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach appointed Namibian sprinter and four-time Olympic silver medalist Frank Fredericks as Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games — Buenos Aires 2018. Fredericks was heading the six-person IOC Coordination Commission made up of several Olympians including Danka Bartekova, the youngest IOC Member and Young Ambassador from the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
This commission was completed by two other IOC members, China's Li Lingwei, winner of three World Badminton Championships, and Barry Maister, a member of New Zealand's hockey team that won the Olympic gold medals at 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal; and Adham Sharara, Canadian President of the International Table Tennis Federation, and Henry Nuñez, head of the National Olympic Committee of Costa Rica. Working along with them there was the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (BAYOGOC), that includes member of the Argentine Olympic Committee (AOC), the local government and the national government, and which CEO was Leandro Larrosa.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
The local organising committee involves young people in all levels of the organization; including an 'Athlete Commission' and a newly established 'Youth Commission' – a group of young consultants chosen by the AOC from local schools and universities – and the employees within BAYOGOC from junior to director level. The first Coordination Commission meeting took place in Buenos Aires on 27–28 September 2014.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
During June 2015 a small delegation from Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (NYOGOC) visited Buenos Aires for a series of debriefing workshops and seminars to pass on their expertise focusing on strategic decisions to be made in the early stages such as legacy, the use of the YOG to impact youth and sport, and benefits of the YOG to engage communities. The CEOs of Singapore 2010, Lillehammer 2016 and Innsbruck 2012 also took part of these meetings that were presided over by Frank Fredericks.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
Football player and Olympic gold medalist Lionel Messi, originally not from Buenos Aires but from Rosario, was named as an ambassador of the 2018 YOG in March 2014, and he delivered a video welcoming message for the young athletes to Buenos Aires during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In December 2015, the four-time olympic medalist Luciana Aymar was also named as an ambassador of Buenos Aires 2018. In July 2017, Olympic gold medalist Luis Scola was named ambassador of the 2018 YOG.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
Joining the Olympic programme for the first time at Buenos Aires 2018 were BMX freestyle, kitesurfing, cross country running, beach handball, sport climbing, karate, breakdancing, and roller sports; and the event programme saw an increased gender balance. FIFA also decided to replace football with futsal at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics, while other sports such as skateboarding were being considered for the programme. Roller speed skating was added to the Olympic programme on 17 March 2017.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Organisation
Three years before the event, a survey showed that public support had reached 82.3 percent in favour of the Youth Olympic games in Buenos Aires. During the second visit of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission to the city, on 13 and 14 August 2015, Mr. Fredericks highlighted the implementation of 13 of the recommendation of the Agenda 2020 by BAYOGOC.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues
The original plan was based on the bid for the 2004 Summer Olympics, in which a 15 km long Olympic Corridor would have worked instead of a more concentrated Olympic Park. For the Buenos Aires bid for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics the Olympic Corridor was adapted into a Green Corridor, one of the two main sports zones as the primary sites of the Games in Buenos Aires 2018, being the other one Parque Roca, to the south of the city. The Green Corridor and the Olympic Corridor shared River Plate Stadium, Tiro Federal, Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires, Parque Tres de Febrero, La Bombonera, La Rural and CeNARD as venues.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues
In order to group the sports in a more compact framework, in September 2014 a new four-clusters concept was revealed, dropping out venues such as La Rural. It was announced then that each cluster will include an area called YOG FEST where sporting experiences, family entertainment and cultural activities will take place. But at the 129th IOC Session, in August 2016, a new venues masterplan was presented, including two new stand-alone venues, adding La Rural once again and replacing Parque Sarmiento with Tecnópolis.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues
The International Olympic Committee members stayed at the Sheraton Hotel, located in the district of Retiro and close to Retiro railway station, one of the most important transportation hubs in Buenos Aires.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues
After numerous changes, in February 2018, the definitive venues plan was presented.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues
The Opening Ceremony was held at the Obelisco de Buenos Aires.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, A. Green Park
Adjacent to downtown Buenos Aires and stretching three kilometres along the scenic banks of the River Plate, this area was distinguished by swathes of parks. It included the barrios of Núñez and Palermo. The Palermo Woods, a highly popular retreat for porteños and visitors alike, was the triathlon and cycling venue.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, A. Green Park
Venues located in Núñez can be reached by Belgrano Norte Line (at Ciudad Universitaria railway station) or by nearby Mitre Line (at Núñez Station) or Buenos Aires underground Line D (at Congreso de Tucumán Station). Venues located in Palermo can be reached by Mitre Line (Tres de Febrero and Lisandro de la Torre station).


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, B. Olympic Park
Located to the South of Buenos Aires, Roca Park is a vast area of 200 hectares in the district of Villa Soldati, a neighborhood that has been targeted by the local Government in need of urban development. One of the greenest areas in the metropolis, it is adjacent to the City Park and the Buenos Aires Automotive Racetrack. The Park, inaugurated in the 1980s, has many sports venues and recreational facilities, including the iconic Roca Park Athletics Stadium and the Roca Park Tennis Stadium. This area was also the site of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV), from where 65 percent of the athletes were able to walk to their competition venues, and after the event it will become the new location for the CeNARD.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, B. Olympic Park
The Parque Polideportivo Roca was fully renovated before the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in order to be used as main Olympic Park. Six pavilions were built: Asia Pavilion (judo and wrestling), Africa Pavilion (fencing and modern pentathlon), Europe Pavilion (karate and weightlifting), Oceania Pavilion (boxing and taekwondo), America Pavilion (gymnastics) and natatorium. The complex also includes hockey and athletics field.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, B. Olympic Park
Olympic Park can be reached by Premetro tram at Cecilia Grierson station, or by the southern Metrobus line.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, C. Urban Park
Located to the east of the city, this cluster occupies a significant portion of the Río de la Plata riverbank and includes the old Puerto Madero docks as venue for water sports. Rowing competitions were held over 500 metres rather than the usual 2,000 metres.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, C. Urban Park
This area can be reached by Buenos Aires Underground lines A, B, D and E.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Development and preparation, Venues, D. Techno Park
Located west of the city and next to the General Paz Avenue which marks the limit of Buenos Aires city, the 50 hectares science, technology, industry and art mega exhibition Tecnópolis was inaugurated in 2011 and was the venue for four sports competitions. This area can be access by Mitre Line Railway at Migueletes station or by Belgrano Norte Line at Saavedra or Padilla stations.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Torch Relay
Athens (Greece) - La Plata (Buenos Aires) - Parana (Entre Rios) - Santa Fe (Santa Fe) - Iguazu (Misiones) - Corrientes (Corrientes) - Jujuy (Jujuy)  - Salta (Salta) - Tucuman (Tucuman) - Catamarca (Catamarca) - La Rioja (La Rioja) - Mendoza (Mendoza) - San Juan (San Juan) - Cordoba (Cordoba) - Neuquen (Neuquen) - Bariloche (Rio Negro) - Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) - Buenos Aires (Federal Capital) (Argentina)


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics was held at the Obelisco de Buenos Aires on 6 October 2018 at 20:00 (8 PM) Argentina Time.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Sports
The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics featured 239 events in 32 sports. 239 events, there will be 12 mixed team events (Mixed-NOCs), 9 mixed team events (NOCs), 1 open event (Equestrian), 113 men's events, and 102 women's events.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Schedule
The schedule for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games was released on 9 May 2018, exactly 150 days before the starting of the games on its official website.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics was held at the Youth Olympic Village on 18 October 2018. The Olympic flag was handed over to the next host city, Senegalese capital Dakar for the 2022 Summer Youth Olympics.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, The Games, Doping
Supatchanin Khamhaeng of Thailand originally won the gold medal at the Girls' +63 kg Weightlifting event, but was disqualified in 2019 after testing positive for a banned substance.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Marketing, Emblem
The official emblem of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics was presented in July 2015, three years before the games. The emblem reflects the diversity of Buenos Aires and it is inspired by the city's vibrant colours, eclectic culture, iconic architecture and the many neighbourhoods that make up the Argentine capital. Each letter represents a famous landmark, including the Floralis Genérica, Space Tower, the Columbus Theatre, the National Library and the Obelisk. A short video produced by the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (BAYOGOC) shows what each letter on the emblem relates to.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Marketing, Slogan
The slogan of these games is "Feel the Future" was unveiled on 8 April 2018.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Marketing, Mascot
The olympic mascot of these games was unveiled on 29 May 2018. The mascot is a young Jaguar, its name "Pandi" is a combination of the scientific name of the species (Panthera onca) and the relationship of the mascot with the "digital world". The president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee, Gerardo Werthein, said that the mascot "seeks to inspire young people on the transformative power of Olympism and sport".


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Marketing, Mascot
The mascot was created by the Argentine agency Human Full Agency with direction of Peta Rivero y Hornos. While the animation short was made by the local production company Buda TV.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Marketing, Official song
The official song of Buenos Aires 2018 is Alive, performed by Candelaria Molfese and Fernando Dente. It was produced by Radio Disney. The name of the song in Spanish is "Vamos Juntos" ("Let's go together"), which was also the name of the governing coalition for the 2017 legislative elections in Buenos Aires city.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table
The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table is a list of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) ranked by the number of gold medals won by their athletes during the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 6 to 18 October 2018.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table
Of the nations that won medals at these Games, two had not won an Olympic medal nor Youth Olympic medal, Honduras and Saint Lucia. Burundi, Iceland, Malaysia, Mauritius, Qatar and Saudi Arabia won their first gold medal at an Olympic/Youth Olympic event, having previously only won silver and bronze medals. Afghanistan, Algeria, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mauritius, Niger, Philippines, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates won their first ever Youth Olympics medals.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table, Medal table
The Organising Committee is not keeping an official medal tally. The ranking in this table is based on information provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is consistent with IOC convention in its published medal tables. By default, the table is ordered by the number of gold medals the athletes from a nation have won (in this context, a "nation" is an entity represented by a National Olympic Committee). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If nations are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table, Medal table
Two gold medals were awarded for a first-place tie in the Mixed BMX freestyle park event. No silver medal was awarded as a consequence. Two silver medals were awarded for a second-place tie in the Boys' 50 m butterfly swimming,  Boys' IKA Twin Tip Racing and Girls' IKA Twin Tip Racing events. No bronze medal was awarded as a consequence.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table, Medal table
In November 2019, in the girls' +63 kg event in weightlifting, Thailand gold medallist had tested positive for a banned substance, and the medal was stripped. As a result, Turkey was raised from a silver to gold medal, Uzbekistan from the bronze medal to silver and New Zealand received a bronze medal.


2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal table, Medal table
In judo (9), karate (6) and taekwondo (10) two bronze medals are awarded in each event (25 additional bronze medals total). Additionally, two bronze medals were awarded for a third-place tie in the girls' 50 m butterfly swimming and girls' 50 m freestyle swimming events.


2018 Summit League Baseball Tournament
The 2018 Summit League Baseball Tournament took place from May 23–26. The top four regular season finishers of the league's six teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at J. L. Johnson Stadium on the campus of Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Oral Roberts won the tournament and earned the Summit League's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2018 Summit League Baseball Tournament, Seeding
The top four finishers from the regular season were seeded one through four based on conference winning percentage during the double round robin regular season. The teams then played a double elimination tournament.


2018 Summit League Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2018 Summit League Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Summit League for the 2017–18 season. All tournament games were played at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from March 3–6, 2018. Regular season champion South Dakota State defeated South Dakota in the championship game to win the tournament and receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.


2018 Summit League Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
All eight teams in the Summit League were eligible to compete in the conference tournament. Teams were seeded by record within the conference, with a tiebreaker system to seed teams with identical conference records.


2018 Summit League Men's Soccer Tournament
The 2018 Summit League Men's Soccer Tournament, was the 25th edition of the tournament. It determined the Summit League's automatic berth into the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.


2018 Summit League Men's Soccer Tournament
Denver won the Summit League title, making it their fifth title in the last six years. They defeated the defending Summit League champions, Omaha, 1–0.


2018 Summit League Men's Soccer Tournament, All Tournament Team
Andy O'Donoghue, Purdue Fort WayneMatthew Lieshout, Purdue Fort WayneKris Luke, Eastern IllinoisCole Harkrader, Eastern IllinoisMarcos Bautista, OmahaNil Ayats, OmahaBilly Hoffman, OmahaMoshe Perez, DenverKenny Akamatsu, DenverJacob Stensson, DenverScott DeVoss, Denver


2018 Summit League Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2018 Summit League Women's Basketball Tournament was a post-season women's basketball tournament for The Summit League. The tournament took place March 3–6, 2018 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Top 8 teams in the final standings qualified for the tournament.


2018 Summit League Women's Soccer Tournament
The 2018 Summit League Women's Soccer Tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Summit League held on November 1 and 3, 2018. The three-match tournament took place at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings, South Dakota. The four-team single-elimination tournament consisted of two rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The Denver Pioneers were the defending champions, and successfully defended their title with a 4–0 victory over the Omaha Mavericks in the final. The win earned Denver the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The tournament win was Denver's third as a member of the conference, all of which have come under coach Jeff Hooker.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament was held at M. L. Tigue Moore Field on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana, from May 22 to May 27, 2018. The tournament used a double-elimination format as in past years. Coastal Carolina, the winner of the tournament, earned the Sun Belt Conference's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament, Seeding
In a change from previous years, the top ten teams (based on conference results) from the conference earned invites to the tournament. The teams were seeded based on conference winning percentage, with the bottom four seeds competing in a play-in round. The remaining eight teams then played a two bracket, double-elimination tournament. The winner of each bracket played each other in the championship final.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game was played on December 1, 2018, between the Mountaineers of Appalachian State and the Ragin' Cajuns from Louisiana. The game was played at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina, due to Appalachian State's better conference record. This was the second time these teams played this year; the first meeting finished 27–17 in the Mountaineers' favor. The winner of the game would play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl while the loser would play in the Cure Bowl.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, History
In 1987, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) approved a proposal made by two Division II conferences that allowed any conference with 12 football members to split into divisions and stage a championship game between the divisional winners, with that game not counting against NCAA limits on regular-season contests. However, the rule would not see its first use until 1992, when the Southeastern Conference, which had added Arkansas and South Carolina the previous year, launched its title game.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, History
In early 2016, NCAA legislation was passed that largely deregulated FBS conference championship games, allowing a conference with fewer than 12 teams to stage a championship game that featured either (1) the top two teams at the end of a full round-robin conference schedule, or (2) the winners of each of two divisions, with each team playing a full round-robin schedule within its division. Several months later the Sun Belt Conference announced that they would be introducing the football championship game to its sponsor sport starting in 2018.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, History
In 2017, the conference announced that its teams would compete in two divisions, to determine participants for a conference championship game. The East and West divisions were created with five teams each, with the top teams to meet in a championship game played at the home stadium of the team with the best College Football Playoff ranking. If neither team was ranked in the CFP selection committee, the conference would determine home field using a formula based on six computer ratings that were used in the old Bowl Championship Series standings.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, Teams, Louisiana
The Ragin' Cajuns came into the 2018 season off of a 5–7 record. They also entered the season to a new face, Billy Napier, after previous head coach, Mark Hudspeth had been fired after three consecutive years of shortcomings and four consecutive New Orleans Bowl victories. Hoping to capitalize on a new face, the Cajuns did just that finishing 7–5 and in the Conference Championship after finishing first in the West Division, but only finishing in a tie for fourth place in the entire conference.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, Teams, Louisiana
The Ragin' Cajun come into the game after beating out-of-conference Grambling State Tigers and the New Mexico State Aggies and Sun Belt Conference foes Texas State Bobcats, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Georgia State Panthers, South Alabama Jaguars, and the winner-take-all game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. The Ragin' Cajuns were defeated by No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, Appalachian State Mountaineers, and the Troy Trojans.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, Teams, Appalachian State
The Mountaineers came into the 2018 season off of a 9–4 season, a Sun Belt Co-Championship, and a Dollar General Bowl victory and shut out 34-0, against the Toledo Rockets. Since coming into the Sun Belt Conference in 2014, the Mountaineers have flourished, finishing every year above .500, two conference championships, two Camellia Bowl wins, a Dollar General Bowl win, and even ranked No. 25 in the nation for a week in 2018, which was the first time in the programs history.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, Teams, Appalachian State
The Mountaineers come into the game after beating out-of-conference Charlotte 49ers, Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, and Sun Belt foes South Alabama Jaguars, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Texas State Bobcats, Georgia State Panthers, and the winner-take-all game against the Troy Trojans. Their only losses of 2018 were to No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions and the Georgia Southern Eagles.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game, Teams, Appalachian State vs. Louisiana series history
This match up will be the 6th all time meeting against the Mountaineers and the Ragin' Cajuns. They last played each other earlier this year on October 20. Appalachian State defeated Louisiana, 27-17. That win made it five in the row, leading to the Mountaineers first appearance in the AP Poll. After the regular season match up, Appalachian State leads the all time series 5-0.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the league for the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was held from March 7–11, 2018, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Lake Front Arena. The tournament winner, Georgia State, received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
All 12 conference teams were eligible for the tournament. The top four teams received a bye to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Teams were seeded by record within the conference, with a tiebreaker system to seed teams with identical conference records.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament was the 24th edition of the Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. The tournament will decide the Sun Belt Conference champion. The tournament will be begin on November 7 and conclude on November 11.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Tournament
Coastal Carolina were the defending champions. However, they were unable to defend their title, losing to Georgia State 1–2 in the Semifinals. Georgia State went on to win the tournament 4–2 over Georgia Southern in the final. This was the first Sun Belt Conference Championship for Georgia State.


2018 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2018 Sun Belt Women's Basketball Tournament was the postseason women's basketball tournament for the Sun Belt Conference began on March 6 and ending on March 11, 2018, at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.