David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Taliban old guard, wanted terrorist leader take top spots in Afghanistan interim government
Afghanistan's Taliban leadership has announced a new "caretaker government" dominated by longtime members of the Islamist insurgency now in charge in Kabul. Published September 7, 2021
Russia’s Lavrov: Nord Stream 2 will be operating in ‘a few days’
A new $11 billion Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline whose geopolitical impact will be felt across Europe is just days away from completion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday. Published September 6, 2021
Mexico breaks up migrant caravan reportedly by force
Mexican security officials have reportedly broken up a sizable new "caravan" of migrants seeking to travel from southern Mexico to the U.S. border. Published September 5, 2021
Chinese bombers again pierce Taiwan airspace
China's provocative probing of Taiwan's defenses showed no signs of let-up Sunday. Published September 5, 2021
Canadian PM Trudeau trails Conservatives ahead of Sept. 20 vote
A new poll shows opposition Conservatives leading Liberals ahead of Canada's snap election. Published September 5, 2021
Iranian, Nicaraguan leaders pledge joint fight against U.S. sanctions
Iran's new hardline president and the head of Nicaragua's increasingly repressive leftist regime have pledged to work together to resist U.S. sanctions and defend "the national sovereignty of independent states and nations." Published September 1, 2021
Taliban spokesman says new government coming within days
A top spokesman for the triumphant Taliban movement said Tuesday a new Afghan government will be formed in very short order, even as celebratory gunfire marked the final exit of U.S. troops and diplomats from Kabul a day earlier. Published August 31, 2021
‘MV-L’ the MVP at powerful Sinquefield Cup chess clash
Fittingly, it was an encore for the Frenchman. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave became the first two-time outright winner of the prestigious Sinquefield Cup, topping a world-class field earlier this month at the St. Louis Chess Club. Vachier-Lagrave is France's strongest player of the modern era and just missed out to Russian GM Ian Neopomniachtchi for a chance to challenge world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway this fall. Published August 31, 2021
Turkey’s Erdogan hints at bigger buy for Russian defense system
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is prepared to buy more units of a Russian-made air missile defense system, even though Ankara's initial purchase of the S-400 sparked sharp divisions within NATO and sanctions from the U.S. government. Published August 30, 2021
Chess GM Evgeny Sveshnikov, variation creator, dies at 71
Aside from having a mountain, a figure-skating move or a disease named after you, perhaps the surest way to ensure your legacy never dies is to get your name on a chess opening. Published August 24, 2021
Like Biden, world leaders face blowback from Afghan debacle
President Biden isn't the only world leader facing blowback from the stunning collapse of the government in Afghanistan and the desperate struggle to evacuate stranded citizens as the Taliban consolidate control in Kabul. Published August 18, 2021
Quick thinking: Nakamura dominates rapid and blitz chess in St. Louis
So much of greatness in sports and the arts comes down to how you measure it. Take the case of American GM Hikaru Nakamura. Published August 17, 2021
U.S., allies join Canada in blasting Chinese verdict on prisoner
The U.S. and some two dozen nations Wednesday joined in a condemnation of China for its sentencing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who was convicted of espionage in a closed court proceeding Tuesday and given an 11-year prison term. Published August 11, 2021
Almost perfect: Alex Lenderman just misses a shutout in U.S. Open chess win
He lost his perfect chess game in -- almost literally -- the bottom of the ninth, but GM Alex Lenderman still emerged with the victory in the just-concluded 121st U.S. Open, held this year in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Published August 10, 2021
Sam Shankland shines in defeat at World Cup chess knockout tourney
The Sam Shankland secret is starting to get out. Long known as one of the best American players, the low-profile California GM is starting to make a name for himself across the pond as well. Shankland captured the Prague Masters tournament in June over a world-class field and just made a strong run in the 128-player FIDE World Cup knockout tournament in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. Published August 3, 2021
Russian envoy puts blame on Iran for nuke deal stalemate
A top Russian diplomat said Iran bears much of the blame for the failure to cut a deal with the Biden administration and restore the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal that President Trump repudiated in 2018. Published August 2, 2021
U.S. says Iran to blame for deadly drone attack on oil ship
The Biden administration is joining its allies in putting the blame on Iran for an apparent drone attack last week that killed two crewmembers aboard a petroleum tanker in the tense Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman. Published August 1, 2021
Russia cites Olympics medal haul amid anti-doping scandals
Russian sports officials are employing the familiar American sports taunt "Scoreboard" against those who would question their athletes about doping. Published August 1, 2021
North Korea warns U.S.-South Korea military drills will damage ties
North Korea warned Sunday that "hostile" U.S.-South Korean military drills planned for later this month could seriously damage the recent push to improve relations between the two Koreas. Published August 1, 2021
Pentagon chief Austin hails arrival of first evacuation flight of Afghans who helped U.S. forces
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday welcomed the arrival in the U.S. of the first contingent of Afghan nationals who aided the 20-year U.S. combat mission in their country and now face potential revenge attacks from insurgent Taliban forces. Published July 30, 2021
