Asia

The 20th Asian Games are under way in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, running from 19 September to 4 October. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing across 43 sports. The Guardian has published a photo gallery from the event, showing scenes from the opening days of competition in Japan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for the creation of a new Eurasian security architecture, urging that regional arrangements replace existing frameworks. His remarks, delivered in a United Nations context, renew Moscow's long-standing push for a security order in Eurasia that would reduce the influence of Western-led alliances such as NATO and reshape regional cooperation arrangements.

ASML, the Dutch company that dominates lithography equipment for chip manufacturing, has said it currently sells no chipmaking machines within Europe. The remark highlights how little advanced semiconductor production actually happens on the continent, even as EU policymakers push to build up domestic chipmaking capacity and reduce reliance on Asia and the United States.

Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services as it seeks new markets and partners in the region.

England are facing Spain in a Nations League match, with live coverage, score updates, line-ups and pundit line-ups drawing wide attention. Outlets including Sky Sports and FourFourTwo are running live commentary and features on the ITV broadcast team for the fixture, and the match is trending in search across Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia as fans follow the score and team news.

A New York Times analysis examines why China treats American-led calls for A.I. safety cooperation with suspicion, framing them as moves that could slow Chinese progress in the technology race. The piece explores how distrust between Washington and Beijing shapes each side's approach to regulating advanced artificial intelligence, and what that means for global governance efforts.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.

Flash floods have struck Nepal, and an expert says climate change is to blame. Rising temperatures are believed to intensify monsoon rainfall, making sudden floods more frequent and severe in the Himalayan region. The comments add to a wider debate about how a warming climate is driving extreme weather disasters across South Asia.

Singapore recorded its joint-highest daily maximum temperature for September after the Woodlands Avenue 9 climate station reached 35.8°C at 3.27pm on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The reading ties the national September record and adds to ongoing concerns about rising heat in the city-state, with observers linking the milestone to broader climate change trends in Southeast Asia.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is working to expand Canada's trade relationships beyond its traditional partners, while acknowledging the practical limits of how quickly and broadly the country can diversify. The push comes as Canada looks to reduce economic dependence on the United States amid trade tensions. Observers are watching whether Carney's outreach to Europe, Asia and other markets can deliver concrete new agreements.

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a possible technical partner in any future deal over Iran's nuclear programme, specifically the handling and storage of enriched uranium. The move signals Central Asia's growing role in nuclear diplomacy as disputes over Iran's uranium stockpile intensify, with talks potentially drawing on Kazakhstan's experience as a former nuclear-armed state and its nonproliferation credentials.

The Asian Games are getting under way in Japan, with coverage spotlighting ten athletes expected to make an impact at the multi-sport event. As competition begins, attention is turning to the standout names across athletics, swimming and other disciplines, with fans and commentators following how the region's top performers fare over the coming days.

Renewed calls are emerging to reform the United Nations Security Council, with critics arguing that its current permanent membership and veto structure no longer reflect global realities. Supporters of change say the body's handling of recent international crises has exposed its limitations, reviving long-standing debates over expanding representation to include powers from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The 20th Asian Games open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in 2026, with athletics results and medallists being tracked live for fans following the continental multi-sport event. Coverage highlights the athletics programme, one of the Games' flagship disciplines, as athletes from across Asia compete for medals. The event is drawing attention as one of the biggest sporting occasions on the Asian calendar.

South China Morning Post examines why investors continue to target Asia-Pacific real estate even as higher interest rates raise borrowing costs across the region. The report points to draws such as expected long-term value, portfolio diversification and income stability, suggesting institutional buyers see opportunities that outweigh tighter financing conditions. Discussion centres on which markets and asset types are attracting capital.

India take on Iran in the kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games, with India also meeting Japan in hockey and Indian athletes competing in athletics events. The clashes are drawing major attention from Indian sports fans, with hundreds of thousands engaging with live coverage of the day's action across the Games.

India's medal prospects for the 2026 Asian Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, are being tracked in a full table of the country's medals tally and winners. Interest centres on how India's athletes will build on recent continental results across athletics, shooting, wrestling and other disciplines when the Games get under way.

Fans are watching highlights of the Under-19 Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India, the fiercest rivalry in cricket. The Pakistan Under-19 side faced India in a tournament clash that has drawn massive attention across South Asia and beyond, with millions of views as supporters debate the result and standout performances.

Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira is aiming to reach the women's 200m final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, where she is expected to face China's teenage sprinting sensation Chen Yujie. The matchup is being billed as a potential historic final for Southeast Asian sprinting, with Pereira among the region's most prominent athletes ahead of the Games.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will head straight from the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah to compete at the Asian Games, according to a Golf Digest report. The decision matters because a medal at the Asian Games could earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service, a major factor in the careers of male Korean athletes.

Attention is turning to India's boxing campaign at the Asian Games 2026, with a full guide circulating covering the schedule, scores, results and medal winners. Fans are using it to track Indian boxers' progress and medal chances in Japan, where boxing is expected to be one of India's strongest disciplines.

The quarter-final fixtures for the men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games have been confirmed, according to the ICC. The announcement sets the bracket for the knockout stage of the competition, with teams now knowing their quarter-final opponents and potential paths to the medal matches. Cricket fans are following the draw as the tournament reaches its decisive phase, with medal positions at stake for the participating Asian nations.

Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra will not compete at the Asian Games 2026, with reports detailing the reasons behind his absence from the event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The news has drawn attention from fans and sports media, given that Chopra has been India's biggest athletics star and a headline attraction at recent multi-sport events.

A complete guide to football at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has been published, covering the full match schedule, groups, standings and all results in one place. Fans and national teams are tracking the tournament draw and fixtures ahead of the Games, which are expected to feature under-23 sides from across Asia competing for gold.

India's schedule at the 2026 Asian Games on September 27 features Anahat Singh and Abhay competing for squash gold, while Tejaswin Shankar looks to hold on to his lead in the decathlon. The day is being closely followed by Indian fans hoping for more medals from the country's athletes in Japan.

India's star javelin thrower and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will not compete at the Asian Games 2026. No detailed explanation was given in the coverage, leaving the specific reason for his absence unclear. Chopra has been India's biggest athletics draw in recent years, so news that he will sit out the continental showpiece has drawn wide attention.