US Olympics body may sanction athletes for Trump protests

Brussels and Washington are expected to put an end to much of the trade tensions fueled by former US President Donald Trump. DW takes a look at the various crises that have strained relations between the two allies.

The former president claims the companies have unfairly censored him and other conservatives. A tech industry trade group called the class action lawsuit "frivolous."

Syrian weightlifter Maan Asaad and high jumper Majd Eddin Ghazal are preparing to participate in the Tokyo Olympics after a 2 year hiatus from competing internationally because of COVID-19. The lack of international participation has impacted Maan according to his brother and trainer, Qays.

Yoko Nishimura, a Japanese mother and housewife, recreates a dish to be served at the Olympic village. She was one of the winners in the Olympic village food recipe contest, in which her recipe was selected to bring the taste of Japan to athletes competing at the Games. The athletes will also be able to enjoy typical Japanese dishes such as tempura, ramen and wagyu beef -- but only at cafeterias inside the village due to tough virus restrictions.

Tokyo residents react after two athletes tested positive for Covid-19 in the Tokyo Olympic Village, raising fears of a cluster just days ahead of the opening ceremony.

Athletes from teams across the globe were filmed arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Thursday, ahead of the Olympic games. Footage shows delegations from USA, Great Britain, Brazil and others greeted by the organising committee employees. The Tokyo 2020 games will be held between July 23 and August 8 after being postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tokyo residents share their support for athletes and coronavirus concerns as Olympic Games enters its Day 4 and Japan taking leading positions on the medal table. "So as long as we try to minimise contaminations, I want to see the athletes perform," said one resident.

At a serene zen garden in a Tokyo park, abstract lines inspired by the movements of Olympic athletes are carefully traced in the gravel -- not by monks, but by robots. The newly installed artwork, titled "The Constant Gardeners", features four large industrial robotic arms that work together to sculpt a traditional Japanese rock garden.

Members of the women's national football team were among a group of female athletes successfully evacuated from Afghanistan. The news was confirmed by FIFAPRO, the association for professional footballers, on Monday.

Allyson Felix says she is proud of fellow sports stars speaking out on mental health issues, although more has to be done to support athletes including those with young children. Felix was speaking shortly before being confirmed as Sportswoman of the Year at the Annual Salute to Women awards in New York. Tennis player Naomi Osaka, who spoke about her mental health problems earlier this year, was given the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award. Felix, 35, is now the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time at the Olympics, and no American has won more than her 11 medals, which included a gold and a bronze in Tokyo.

Trump's two eldest children Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka have also been summoned to testify in an investigation into the family's business practices.

Athletes travelling to next month's Beijing Olympics were warned on Tuesday (January 18) about speaking up on human rights issues while in China for their own safety by speakers at a seminar hosted by Human Rights Watch. Rights groups have long criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for awarding the Games to China, citing the treatment by the Chinese government of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups, which the United States has deemed genocide.