Selection of esports players for Asian Games

Selection of esports players for Asian Games

A final selection event for esports players representing Japan is held in Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture on March 22, 2026, ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which open in the central Japan prefecture in September.

Selection of esports players for Asian Games

Selection of esports players for Asian Games

Esports players representing Japan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture pose for a photo following a final selection event held in Tokoname in the central Japan prefecture on March 22, 2026, ahead of the games' opening in September.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen (C) and his players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen (C) and his players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (R) reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after beating Australia in the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (back, L) opens the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (back, L) opens the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players huddle after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Manager of Japan women's national football team

Manager of Japan women's national football team

Manager of Japan women's national football team Nils Nielsen speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 12, 2026, as the Japan Football Association unveils the Nadeshiko Japan squad for the Asian Cup in March.

ASEAN meeting in Cebu

ASEAN meeting in Cebu

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hold an informal meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

China: Herder Rescues Wild Animal Trapped on Slippery Ice in Xinjiang

Herders in Hejing, Xinjiang, rescued a wild animal trapped on a slippery, ice-covered slope on February 19, 2025. One man carefully approached the struggling animal and used his hands to guide and lift it to stability, allowing it to safely return to firmer ground.

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament house premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament house premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament house premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

Funeral Of Ex PM Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Photo by Habibur Rahman/ABACAPRESS.COM

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

The World Aquatics Championships, held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, produced three world records and 15 championship records in swimming events. Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh shone with four gold medals and one bronze. China's breaststroke specialist Qin Haiyang claimed two golds, one silver and one bronze, finishing as the only Asian swimmer in the gold medal standings. Then-12-year-old Yu Zidi earned bronze with China's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team, becoming the youngest swimming medalist at the worlds. This file photo taken on Aug. 1, 2025 shows Qin Haiyang of China competing during the men's 200m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Photo by Wu Zhizun/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

The World Aquatics Championships, held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, produced three world records and 15 championship records in swimming events. Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh shone with four gold medals and one bronze. China's breaststroke specialist Qin Haiyang claimed two golds, one silver and one bronze, finishing as the only Asian swimmer in the gold medal standings. Then-12-year-old Yu Zidi earned bronze with China's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team, becoming the youngest swimming medalist at the worlds. This file photo taken on Aug. 3, 2025 shows Yu Zidi of China competing during the women's 400m individual medley final of swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Photo by Xue Yuge/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

Top 10 World Sports News Events In 2025

The World Aquatics Championships, held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, produced three world records and 15 championship records in swimming events. Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh shone with four gold medals and one bronze. China's breaststroke specialist Qin Haiyang claimed two golds, one silver and one bronze, finishing as the only Asian swimmer in the gold medal standings. Then-12-year-old Yu Zidi earned bronze with China's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team, becoming the youngest swimming medalist at the worlds. This file photo taken on July 31, 2025 shows Summer McIntosh (top) of Canada competing during the women's 200m butterfly final of swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Photo by Xia Yifang/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks a vending machine in a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks the interior of a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Preparations for 2026 Asian Games

An officer checks the interior of a high-speed ferry with a security dog at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2025, as the police and the Japan Coast Guard jointly tighten security ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in the central Japan prefecture.

Japan-Central Asia summit

Japan-Central Asia summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from R) and the leaders of a group of five Central Asian countries -- Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov (2nd from R), Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (far L), Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon (2nd from L), Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (3rd from L) and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow (far R) -- pose for a photo prior to their first-ever summit, held in Tokyo on Dec. 20, 2025. (Pool photo)