China is Russia's best hope to blunt sanctions, but wary
China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to U.S. and European markets by doing too much.
Russia's reputation, Olympic status on trial for doping
(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)GENEVA – Russia’s status as an Olympic team, and its reputation as a serial cheater in international sports, goes on trial next week in more legal fallout from the country's state-backed doping saga. WADA would let Russian athletes compete only if not implicated in doping or cover-ups. WADA says details of doping tests and emails were deleted or changed, and false trails created to frame whistleblowers. The International Olympic Committee refused WADA’s request to ban Russia outright from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. RUSADA rejected WADA’s proposed punishment, and Russian Olympic officials later fired the RUSADA chief executive who acknowledged the wrongdoing.
On board or overboard? Mixed reaction to Virginia’s new face mask requirement
“I don't think there should have to be an order. “Stay home if you don't want to wear a mask,” said Marieska Carter, who lives in Roanoke. As face coverings go from a recommendation to a requirement, some people are getting on board, but others said it’s overboard. “If you have a medical condition, you don't have to wear a mask so I can't ask what their medical condition is. Many businesses also have face covering requirements for their employees as outlined in Phase One restrictions (restaurants, salons, etc.