David R. Sands

Raised in Northern Virginia, David R. Sands received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He worked as a reporter for several Washington-area business publications before joining The Washington Times.

At The Times, Mr. Sands has covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He is currently the deputy editor for politics. In addition, he has reviewed books and written feature stories for the newspaper and authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993. He is also senior writer for Washington GolfStyles, a monthly publication covering the Mid-Atlantic golf scene.

Articles by David R. Sands

A tale of two matches: Magnus Carlsen retains chess crown as challenger collapses

For many chess fans, the just-completed world championship match between Norwegian titleholder Magnus Carlsen and Russian challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi was like one of those double-edged positions where your evaluation shifts depending on your mood. Published December 14, 2021

USMCA neighbors Canada, Mexico cry foul over Biden’s electric car subsidies

America's USMCA neighbors are unhappy with President Biden's proposed electric car subsidies for unionized U.S. carmakers, putting in question a key piece of the administration's climate agenda as it nears a critical test in the Senate. Published December 12, 2021

U.S., G-7 allies demand Russia pull back from Ukraine border, warn of ‘massive’ response

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations meeting Sunday in England issued a blunt warning to Russia to draw down forces that have massed on Ukraine's border, accusing Moscow of trying to intimidate its smaller neighbor and vowing strong joint action if Russia does not relent. Published December 12, 2021

Magnus Carlsen retains world chess crown with brilliant attack in clinching game

Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has successfully defended his title for the fourth time, clinching his match against Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi with a powerful attack with the Black pieces in the 11th and final game of their scheduled 14-game match in Dubai Friday. Published December 10, 2021

Quiet draw leaves champion Magnus Carlsen just 1 point from victory in world chess title match

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen could make no headway at the board in the 10th game of his scheduled 14-game match with Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai, but the tame 41-move draw Wednesday brought the Norwegian champion ever closer to retaining the title he has held since 2013. Published December 8, 2021

French police say detained Saudi suspect not linked to Khashoggi murder

French officials admitted Wednesday that they got the wrong man, a day after arresting a Saudi national suspected of participating in the brutal murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Published December 8, 2021

Apple cut deal with Beijing government to protect Chinese business lines: report

U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. cut a deal with Chinese officials to protect its business lines in the country, working with government regulators on rules that would allow the company to operate more freely in the country while supporting key government priorities, according to a published report. Published December 7, 2021

Biden warns Putin of sharp reaction if Russia invades Ukraine

There were some blunt words but no "finger-wagging" as President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked face-to-face Tuesday on how to avoid a war over Ukraine. Published December 7, 2021

Magnus Carlsen in control as challenger blunders again in world chess title match

Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen grabbed a stranglehold on his chess title match after Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi allowed his bishop to be trapped and went down to defeat with the White pieces in the ninth game of the scheduled 14-game match in Dubai Tuesday. Published December 7, 2021

Magnus Carlsen takes control of chess title match after challenger’s blunder

It took 136 moves in one game and one fateful oversight in another, but we finally got a pair of decisive results from the title match between Norwegian champion Magnus Carlsen and Russian challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi in their scheduled 14-game match just past the halfway point in Dubai. Published December 7, 2021

Three more hostages released in Haiti, Ohio missionary group says

Three more U.S.-based missionaries were freed by their Haitian kidnappers Sunday evening, Berlin, Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement Monday. Published December 6, 2021

Merkel set to leave as Germany’s Greens agree to join new government

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's era will officially end this week as the final piece fell into place Monday for a new center-left-led coalition government headed by Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and his Social Democratic party. Published December 6, 2021

Carlsen seizes two-game lead in chess title fight after Russian’s blunder

A stunning blunder by Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi gifted world champion Magnus Carlsen his second win in three games in their scheduled 14-game world chess title match in Dubai Sunday. Published December 5, 2021

Taliban deny targeted killings of officials linked to U.S.-backed government

Afghanistan's Taliban leadership on Sunday rejected sharp criticism from the U.S. and a host of Western allies that the regime has embarked on a campaign of targeted killings of security officials linked to the ousted U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Published December 5, 2021

Carlsen keeps lead in world chess title fight after tame Game 7 draw

After a titanic 136-move victory Friday that clocked in as the longest game in the 150-year history of world chess championship matches, Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen comfortably held a draw with the Black pieces against Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi, retaining a one-point lead at the halfway point of their scheduled 14-game title fight in Dubai. Published December 4, 2021

Champion Carlsen takes lead in chess title fight with epic 136-move win

It took 136 grueling moves, but world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway broke through to score the first decisive result of his title match with Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi Friday in Dubai. Published December 3, 2021

Oklahoma sues Biden administration over vaccine mandate for state National Guard

The state of Oklahoma has sued the Biden administration over a Defense Department mandate that its National Guard forces must get the COVID-19 vaccine, calling it an unconstitutional and dangerous overreach by the federal government. Published December 3, 2021

Champ Carlsen suffers, but holds draw to keep chess title fight tied

There were some uncomfortable moments for Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, but he was able to secure a draw with the Black pieces in Wednesday's Game 5 of his scheduled 14-game title match with Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi. Published December 1, 2021

Critics pan Pentagon’s strategic posture review, lack of action on China threat

Critics across the spectrum say the strategic blueprint ordered up by President Biden and outlined by Pentagon officials Monday falls far short of its own self-described mission: to reorient the U.S. military to face what Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin calls the "pacing threat" posed by a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region. Published November 30, 2021

Drawn out: Bloodless opening to Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi world chess title match

'We try." That was a more than slightly peeved Magnus Carlsen, as the Norwegian world chess champion and challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia faced questions Sunday over the three (now four) draws to open their scheduled 14-game title match in Dubai. Published November 30, 2021

Threat Status: High stakes of int’l democracy Daniel Twining joins Guy Taylor

ForAmerica: Trump reshaping foreign policy Watch Tim Constantine and David Bozell