David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Cuba accuses U.S. of inventing spy threat with ex-envoy’s guilty plea
Cuba's foreign minister is accusing the U.S. government of manufacturing an espionage threat in order to justify higher intelligence budgets and "new aggressive steps" against other countries -- just hours after a retired U.S. diplomat agreed to plead guilty of spying for Havana over a long career in public and private service. Published March 1, 2024
Hamas, Israel say Biden out of touch with premature cease-fire talk
President Biden has finally managed to unite Israel and Hamas on one point -- both sides say Mr. Biden's prediction of an imminent cease-fire and prisoner-swap deal is wildly optimistic and out of touch with the realities on the ground. Published February 27, 2024
In the world of team chess, the East is a beast
As the politicians will tell you this election year, support is nice, but it's turnout that's critical. By that score, this year's U.S. Amateur Team East championship, held again in its familiar Parsippany, New Jersey, home, surpassed even its own high standards. Published February 27, 2024
Remembering when the Rooks raged and a chess barrier came down
It might have been the biggest U.S. chess story in the mainstream press since Bobby Fischer's world championship win two decades earlier, and a good one to recall as we mark Black History Month. Published February 20, 2024
Outmanned and outgunned, Ukraine retreats from key town on front lines
Russian military officials say they have established near-total control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after an intense and lengthy battle, pushing Ukrainian forces back several miles along what had long been a frozen front line. Published February 18, 2024
Alexei Navalny, the fiercest foe of Russia’s Putin, has died, Russian authorities say
Russia's official press has confirmed that Alexei Navalny, the country's best-known dissident and a caustic critic of President Vladimir Putin, had died while serving a sentence at a Siberian penal colony. Published February 16, 2024
Russia dismisses ‘unfounded’ Hill speculation over space threat
The Russia "space threat" that has consumed Congress and the Biden White House over the past two days is just a clever ploy to get more money for the Pentagon, the Kremlin's top spokesman told reporters Thursday. Published February 15, 2024
A chess bicentennial: Remembering when the Londoners got Scotched
We're big on anniversaries here as a good excuse for a column, but this is the first bicentennial we've had the opportunity to celebrate. Exactly 200 years ago, the Edinburgh Chess Club, formed two years earlier, cheekily challenged the far more established London Chess Club to a correspondence match, with moves transported between the cities by horse and carriage. Published February 13, 2024
An expansive Walesa reflects on Ukraine, traffic laws and the new world order
Lech Walesa turned 80 a few months ago and has a few things to get off his chest. Published February 11, 2024
Putin: Ukrainian coup put country on collision course with Russia years before invasion
A Ukrainian "coup" in 2015 that ousted the country's pro-Moscow president put Russian and Ukraine on the path to war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a much-touted interview with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson released Thursday. Published February 8, 2024
In Israel, making time for chess in a time of troubles
Chess can be a finicky, demanding pastime, but the game has also proven surprisingly hardy in tough times. Published February 6, 2024
Russia joins Iran allies in condemning U.S. airstrikes, warns of escalation
The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin joined with a collection of Iran-allied forces across the Middle East Saturday in denouncing President Biden's decision to target anti-U.S. militia groups in Iraq and Syria with a string of airstrikes. Published February 3, 2024
Iraqi military protests U.S. retaliatory strikes targeting militias
Iraq's military sharply criticized the barrage of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria Friday as a violation of the country's sovereignty, putting further strains on the relationship between Baghdad and Washington. Published February 2, 2024
Wei emerges as winner after wild finish at Tata premier chess event
They were racing four-wide around the final turn, and no one was taking his foot off the gas. A chess tournament does not usually draw comparisons to NASCAR, but the wild finish at the just-completed Tata Steel Masters Tournament in the Dutch seaside town of Wijk aan Zee made for one of the most memorable outings in the event's storied 85-year history, featuring a satisfyingly high number of decisive games and an unexpected champion. Published January 30, 2024
Ladies Day at Tata tournament as Ju, Roebers score big upsets at the chessboard
It was a banner round for the ladies last week at the first big chess tournament of the new year. Published January 24, 2024
U.S. troops in Iraq receive treatment after militia shelling as region’s tensions mount
American personnel in Iraq suffered minor injuries and an Iraqi security officer was wounded in the Iraqi militias' latest attack on the Ain al-Asad air base, according to reports. Published January 21, 2024
Putin plans for North Korea visit in latest sign of warming ties
North Korea said Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to make a visit to Pyongyang "at an early date." Published January 21, 2024
North Korea says it tested underwater nuclear-capable drone in response to rivals’ naval drills
North Korea said it carried out the latest test of its shadowy unmanned, underwater drone capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, thought to be based on a Russian design, a few days after U.S., South Korean and Japanese naval forces conducted drills. Published January 19, 2024
Russia’s U.S. expats to be able to vote in March presidential election
Russians living in the United States will be able to cast their ballots for another term for President Vladimir Putin in March without having to go home. Published January 17, 2024
No rust on Ding as chess champ returns to the board at Tata Steel Masters
It was more bang than whimper as world champion Ding Liren returned to the chessboard after an absence of more than eight months. Published January 16, 2024
