David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
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
New opening produces another draw in chess title match
Chess champion Magnus Carlsen tried a new opening with White Tuesday, but the result was the same: yet another draw in Game 4 of his title defense against Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi. Published November 30, 2021
Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
Iran refused to meet face-to-face with American diplomats as talks over the Islamic republic's suspect nuclear programs resumed Monday in Vienna following a five-month hiatus -- a period in which a hardline new government has come to power. Published November 29, 2021
Honduras election a cause for celebration — in China
The apparent victory of leftist challenger Xiomara Castro in Sunday's presidential election in Honduras is being warmly welcomed in another capital -- Beijing. Published November 29, 2021
Israeli leaders warn: Iran can’t be trusted as nuclear talks resume
Israeli leaders are escalating a lobbying campaign against the nuclear deal with Iran, even as expectations are low that resumed negotiations in Vienna this week will produce a breakthrough to revive the accord. Published November 29, 2021
Low-key struggle leads to quiet draw as world chess title fight remains tied
They avoided the theatrics of the first two games, but a draw was again the result Sunday as world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Russian challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi remain tied with 1 1/2 points apiece in their scheduled 14-game match in Dubai. Published November 28, 2021